Venture out of Siena into the Tuscan countryside to visit the medieval towns of San Gimignano and Volterra. Explore ancient ruins and charming streets, enjoy a traditional lunch at a family-run farm, then delve into the region's artisanal heritage with a visit to an alabaster workshop.

Leave the city behind and make your first stop at the well-preserved, turreted fortress of Monteriggioni. Admire the 13th-century bastion, then continue on to San Gimignano. The historic centre of this small, walled citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is famous for its medieval towers and streetscapes. Walk along the Via Francigena—this centuries-old route was trekked by pilgrims from all over Europe on their way to Rome.

Pop into local shops, visit museums, or enjoy moment of quiet in the city's churches, then head down into the countryside to a rustic, family-run farm. A fantastic lunch of regional Italian specialities awaits you, including dishes spiced with fragrant saffron and produce from the farm itself, all of it washed down with crisp glasses of locally made Vernaccia white wine.

After lunch, stop at an alabaster workshop, where you can watch artisans working with the semiprecious white stone before continuing on to Volterra. Built up over the foundations of an Etruscan trading centre, beautiful, windswept Volterra offers plenty to explore. Visit the Etruscan Museum, the ruins of the Roman Theatre, and the ancient Etruscan Arch before your return trip to Siena.