Seminario Vescovile di Sant'Andrea

While the primary function of this place is as a diocesan seminary, it is (or used to be, at least) possible to stay here as a guest. The rooms here are large with high ceilings, and I found the room and the bed clean and comfortable. Our room was bigger than a couple places — the whole building — we stayed while in Italy. Our room overlooked the seminary garden (vegetable), which was interesting. The rooms have an old-fashioned elegance, but they aren't especially modern. The breakfast included was basic: coffee, bread, and other items typical of Italian breakfast. The seminary is a short walk up Vittorio Veneto to the gate of Volterra; there is supposed to be a more direct route, but we never found it. And the price is quite low: we stayed here three nights for what one cost elsewhere. While I loved staying here, some others do not. The reviews elsewhere are either raves or rants. I don't get the latter. While my wife didn't like it as much as me, she didn't hate it; she may be the only one in that camp. While I find many of the complaints baffling (though a few seem to expect the Ritz on the cheap), one common thread seems to be that those who like it had 'en-suite' (to use the British expression) facilities, while those who didn't, didn't. So before you decide, remember that this is NOT a hotel but a diocesan seminary. It is cheap, clean, and out of the weather. If you want the things beyond that that a hotel offers, don't stay at a seminary.

While the primary function of this place is as a diocesan seminary, it is (or used to be, at least) possible to stay here as a guest. The rooms here are large with high ceilings, and I found the room and the bed clean and comfortable. Our room was bigger than a couple places — the whole building — we stayed while in Italy. Our room overlooked the seminary garden (vegetable), which was interesting. The rooms have an old-fashioned elegance, but they aren't especially modern. The breakfast included was basic: coffee, bread, and other items typical of Italian breakfast. The seminary is a short walk up Vittorio Veneto to the gate of Volterra; there is supposed to be a more direct route, but we never found it. And the price is quite low: we stayed here three nights for what one cost elsewhere. While I loved staying here, some others do not. The reviews elsewhere are either raves or rants. I don't get the latter. While my wife didn't like it as much as me, she didn't hate it; she may be the only one in that camp. While I find many of the complaints baffling (though a few seem to expect the Ritz on the cheap), one common thread seems to be that those who like it had 'en-suite' (to use the British expression) facilities, while those who didn't, didn't. So before you decide, remember that this is NOT a hotel but a diocesan seminary. It is cheap, clean, and out of the weather. If you want the things beyond that that a hotel offers, don't stay at a seminary.