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Montecatini Val di Cecina - This small medieval town sits
 on a hill called the Poggio la Croce overlooking the Cecina Valley in the southern part of Pisa province, near Siena, Volterra and San Gimignano.
Montecatini Val di Cecina's origins and early history before the 10th Century are not known in any detail. The site of the town, however, was within Etruria, land of the ancient Etruscans, and some historians speculate that there may
have been a small Etruscan village here.
Certainly, the small copper mine in the area below the hill,
was mined since Etruscan times. Local agricultural activity and the wealth generated from the old copper mine provided Montecatini Val di Cecina with a degree of prosperityin the early middle ages. The old Copper mine sits between two other very old villages, Casaglia and Gello.
In Roman times Montecatini val di Cecina may have been - and probably was - a look-out post overlooking the busy highway in the valley below.
The castle and tower that dominate the hill were built by Filippo Belforti, whose family dominated the territory for a hundred years or so. By the 11th century Montecatini val di Cecina was in the Catholic parish administered from nearby Gabretto.
Other buildings include the Palazzo Pretorio, with an elegant porch that runs underneath a cross-ribbed vaulted roof supported by six Ionian columns, and the Chiesa San Biagio, built in the Romanesque - Gothic style during the 14th Century. The church has an asymmetrical shape with a very plain portal facing a side street.
The landscape around Montecatini Val di Cecina offers precious glimpses of a
rare beauty with its woods full of wildlife and charming little villages like Castel Querceto, surrounded by thick woods, with the Romanesque Parish Church of Saint John, and La Sassa, situated on a hill overlooking a vast scenery that
goes from Volterra to the Thyrrenian coast, with its old houses embracing the
Tower and the Church of Saint Martin.
Pisa - plays a main role from an artistic point of view: here the renewal 
in architecture, in sculpture and painting anticipate the florentine movement of the renaissance. The famous Leaning tower of Pisa, castles, churches, monasteries, all scattered on the top of hills along the rivers and in the ancient streets. The natural and environmental heritage is particularly attractive: in the area you can visit the Natural Park of Migliarino- San Rosssore, Massaciuccoli, the Pisano Mountain, the Hills, the Coastline at Marina di Vecchiano, Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia The thermal baths are an attractive proposal too: Casciana Terme, San Giuliano and Uliveto Terme.
Volterra - a jewel of Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art, dominates the whole valley of the river Cecina from its birth to the Thyrrenian sea, from a hill 550 m above sea level. History has left its marks in Volterra from the Etruscan period to the  19th century with artistic and monumental traces of great importance. The tourist can admire them simply strolling on the streets of the historic centre or visiting the three city museums: The Etruscan Museum, the City Art Gallery and the Museum of Sacred Art.
Besides the cultural aspect Volterra's charm is due to the uncontaminated landscape, a way of life still moulded on a human scale, and an artistic handicraft unique in the world: the manufacture of Alabaster.
Volterra is a town to live intensely, to discover little by little with its
atmosphere, its contrasts, the pulse of a civilization and a culture that makes it unique and unrepeatable
The “magic and mysterious” city of Volterra has its roots in three thousand years of history. It is possible to find evidence and traces from every historical period which gives the artistic city a unique aspect. The ancient city walls, the imposing Porta all’Arco, the Necropolis of Marmini
and the numerous archeological finds conserved in the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci like the Ombra della Sera with its unique profile, the funeral urns and the finely crafted jewelry, bear testimony of the Etruscan period.
The Theatre of Vallebona survives from the period of Augustus and suggests the importance of Volterra under Roman domination.
Today the city conserves above all a Medieval aspect not only for the 12th century city walls but also because of the urban layout with narrow streets, palaces, tower houses and churches.
The Renaissance had an important influence on Volterra but without changing
the city’s Medieval character.
From this period are the superb palaces of Minucci Solaini, Incontri-Viti and Inghirami, which are built into the Medieval city, the imposing Fortezza Medicea and the Convent of San Girolamo.
What to see and do in Volterra:
Piazza dei Priori
In the heart of the town, it represents one of the most harmonious and scenic medieval piazzas of Tuscany.
Palazzo dei Priori
Built in the 13th C, it is one of the most ancient "Palazzo Comunale" of Tuscany. It is enriched by elegant two-light windows, numerous coats of arms and majolica’s belonging to Florentine families. Palazzo dei Priori is surmounted by a nice tower with turrets.
Palazzo Vescovile
This palace originally built as a grain store became the bishop’s residence after 1472 when the Palazzo dei Vescovi was destroyed by the Florentines to make way for the fortress.
The great arches have been attributed to Antonio da San Gallo the Elder.
Palazzo Incontri
Now the Cassa di Risparmio di Volterra (the local bank), the palace is both Medieval and Rennaissance as recent restoration work has revealed.
After the Council of Trent the palace was a seminary until the end of the 18th century.
Palazzo Pretorio and the tower of little pig
This palace made up of several buildings and modified in the 19th century was originally the seat of the podestà and the captain of the people. The tower considered to be one of the first towers built in Volterra is traditionally known as the Tower of the Little Pig for at the top of the tower there is a stone animal poised on a shelf.
Duomo
Romanesque building (12th C) characterized by a nice portal, big rose window and is richly decorated. 3 nave interior, several works of art: "Deposizione" a notable ligneous sculpture, a marmoreous ciborium bu Mino da Fiesole dating back to 1471 and "Annunciazione by Bartolomeo della Porta. Inside a chapel "Nativià" and "Adorazione", 2 painted terracottas attributed to Andrea della Robbia. On the left is the fresco "Cavalcata dei magi" by Benozzo Gozzoli (1479).
It preserves also other works by Taddeo di Bartolo, Antonio Vanni, Neri di Bicci, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Luca Signorelli.
Battistero
Octagonal building dating back to 1283, with a very nice Romanesque portal. Inside are the baptismal font by Sansovino and the decorated altar by Mino di Pietro.
Museums and Art Galleries
Diocesan Museum of Religious Art
Volterra (Pisa) - Palazzo Vescovile, via Roma, 13
Phone +39 0588 86290
Picture Gallery and Municipal Museum
Volterra (Pisa) - Palazzo Minucci Solaini, via dei Sarti, 1
M. Guarnacci Etruscan Museum
Volterra (Pisa) - Palazzo Desideri-Tangassi, via Don Minzoni, 15
Phone +39 0588 86347
Events in Volterra:
April:
Exhibition of "marzuolo" truffles
Entire day dedicated to local crafts)
May:
Exhibition of historic archery with crossbow.
June:
5th Patron Saint of Volterra
Festivities by the historic groups of Volterra
July:
Volterrateatro - (important theatrical event)
The Etruscan Cup - Agility dog show
August:
Volterra Jazz
The City of Volterra Cup - Automobile hill climb
Volterra A.D 1398 - Medieval Fair (for approximately 2 weeks)
September:
Astiludio - National historic flag throwing competition (first Sunday of month)
October:
Exhibition of white truffles and local traditional products (until the beginning of November)
Restaurants
There are many Restaurants in both Pisa
and Volterra, but one you must visit is Ristorante Del Duca - voted to be one of the best Restaurants in the Province of Pisa.
"Elegant restaurant with wine cellar"
Enoteca del Duca
Via di Castello, 2 angolo Via dei Marchesi
56048 Volterra
Phone: +39 0588 81510
Closed on Tuesdays.
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