Volterra and/or San Gimignano
 

We are staying just outside of Florence and would like to visit one or both of these twons. Can they be done in the same day? If not, should we choose one over the other?

These can be done in the same day, assuming you have a car. Both are wonderful. San Gim is quite touristy, but has good shopping, and all those towers are wonderful.

Volterra has a great park to have a picnic in, high over the city. We enjoyed going to the Etruscan museum there.

I recommend going to both. Get an early start and see both in one day.

Yes, I agree with Dog Mother. I would do Volterra first, have lunch there, then San Gimignano in the afternoon and have dinner. San Gim changes a lot when the daytrippers go home. You can appreciate what a charming town it is.

Let me just say, after an extensive discussion of this on another thread made me realize it was not just us, that it can be difficult to find your way back onto the autostrada at Poggibonsi at night. It's not well signposted and there's no one about to ask. I don't have any solutions, just a warning.

I agree that you can do both in one day if you have a car. But if you have to pick one I would go for Volterra. San G is fabulous but it can be pretty over run during the day with crowds from tour buses. And Volterra offers you the opportunity to shop in some of the great alabaster showrooms----some of their products are really fabulous. Bottom line---leave early in the AM and try to do both---you'll want to do a return a trip!!! Enjoy.

Absolutely--do both. I too would start in Volterra and try to be there by 0930.

A Picnic lunch in the park at Volterra is wonderful and I agree about finishing with San Gim in the afternoon, and I really agree with Marilyn about the autostrada entry at Poggibonsi, I saw ay to much of the Poggibonsi suburbs one evening !!!

I accidently drove thru a pedestrian square in my attempt to exit Poggibonsi! Many incredulous looks from pedestrians.

Marko, only one evening? I swear it happened to us every time we came through there.

WE made a point of attempting it in only full daylight...I may be slow but I did learn !