Villa la Pettina

Volterra is a beautiful, medieval hilltop town in Tuscany that is incredibly picturesque. Elegant, cinematic, and seemingly untouched by time, it feels as though one has stepped into the past when walking around the pretty cobbled squares and historic buildings. There is a reason that it was chosen as the setting of the Italian headquarters of a very ancient and powerful vampire coven in the movie series based on Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” saga. However, beneath this beautiful exterior, there is a lot of darkness and the town of Volterra is steeped in local myth and is home to quite a few macabre attractions. Perhaps, another reason as to why it was chosen as the fictitious home of a group of deadly vampires!

If you are intrigued by the more spooky or creepy things in life, a vacation rental in Volterra is a great idea as it offers all of the charm and typical features of a Tuscan town and Tuscan life, along with some fascinating morbid surprises. Head to the crossbow festival in May, the Jazz festival in August, the delicious truffle fair in October, the horrifying and informative Torture Museum, and the site of a witch trial. Or, you could go and explore the abandoned Ospedale Psichiatrico di Volterra, a crumbling old mental institution that looks upsettingly just like the setting of a very scary horror movie.

For whatever reason, Tuscany is full of torture museums to choose from – I guess because of a long and rich history...? – but one of the best and one of the most appropriately located has to be the Museum of Torture in Volterra. The walled medieval town looks as though little has changed since those acts of torture were perpetrated and this adds to the creepy atmosphere. If you are interested in history and in the more morbid side of humanity, this fascinating museum is sure to intrigue. Just find a vacation rental in Volterra and come discover the twists and turns of this interesting Tuscan gem.

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If you are planning to holiday in the Volterra area of Tuscany then you have the chance to learn all about the legendary and gruesome trial of a woman called Elena di Travale who was accused of witchcraft and subjected to horrific torture in June 1423! Thousands of women suffered the brutal repercussions of being accused of witchcraft by a then paranoid European population who believed anything out of the norm was the work of the devil and his co-conspirators!

There is a great selection of fantastic holiday villas with pool nearby Volterra where you can stay and learn all about this intriguing legend and experience all the delights the area has to offer!

Elena came from the small medieval village of Travale in the Val di Cecina where a great deal of geothermal activity takes place. Thick vapour gases are often seen rising in the air through cracks in the earth because of the volcanic activity going on beneath the tectonic plate here. But back then, people feared it was the work of witches who gathered in the area to practice dark magic.

When people think of important monuments and sites coming from the time of the Roman Empire, places like Pompeii, Herculaneum and the city of Rome itself tend to come to mind. However, the Romans possessed such a vast expanse of land all across Europe and elsewhere that there is a huge amount of fascinating remnants of their life and times scattered around the world. Archaeological sites may not be the first thing you think of when someone mentions Tuscany but there are many of great interest in the region that would enhance any trip and your understanding of the history of Italy. In fact, a new site was just discovered in Volterra which is thought to have been an amphitheatre like the Colosseum. If you want to discover Tuscany's past, just find a holiday rental in Volterra and start exploring Tuscany's Roman roots!

Foodies often choose to vacation in Tuscany as there is a wide breadth of different culinary experiences to enjoy in the region. There are lots of local delicacies to be tried, famous gelato shops, bakeries, and restaurants to visit, specific food festivals to attend, traditional markets selling the freshest produce, and much more besides to experience in Tuscany. In fact, one could readily (and happily) spend a whole holiday in the region just going on a foodie road trip around Tuscany to try it all! However, if you were considering a villa with pool in Volterra and you are looking for a highly unique, inexpensive, and fascinating dining experience, then we have just the thing for you: a visit to the restaurant in the Fortezza Medicea.