Volterra, Italy

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Visit Volterra

Volterra, sited on the confluence of the Cecina and Era Valley, is a very ancient city of Etruscan origin (see also history of Volterra).

It is an attractive Tuscan medieval hilltop town with a great deal of interest to discover and enjoy, in an impressive setting with far-reaching views across the plains of Tuscany, which benefits from the the Italian Orange Flag award for sustainable tourism.

Volterra acropolis

The first sight to visit on the ancient Acropolis is the underground cistern (first century AD), which supplied water to the whole area of the Acropolis; it consists of a rectangular chamber with a water capacity of about 1000 cubic metres.The archaeological excavations at the acropolis have unearthed the remains of a neighbourhood dating back to the 6th century BC and continuing through to the Imperial age. The discovery of votive objects (now in the City Museum) also suggests the existence of two buildings of worship (3rd - 2nd century BC).

Another area of considerable interest is that of the Roman architectural complex 'Vallebuona', consisting of the theatre and thermae. The ancient Roman Theatre is of a considerable size an has an auditorium which leans against the hill, and two sets of stairs to hold about 2000 spectators. At the foot of the auditorium, there is a semicircle Orchestra (17 metres in diameter). The Roman baths, the 'Terme di San Felice' are also placed outside the walls. They are composed of various rooms, with some of the tubs for bathing water still visible. At the Via San Felice is a very famous Etruscan artefact, known as the Gate Arch (Porta dell’Arco), south of the walls and characterized by an arch decorated with three heads, probably representing the ancient deities of the city.

Roman theatre in Volterra Volterra castle

Exploring medieval Volterra

Volterra still has a typical medieval appearance, preserved almost intact over the centuries. The 13th century city walls are also well preserved and with a few main gates. Among the many noteworthy sights are the Cathedral of Santa Maria and Piazza dei Priori (XII century), which is surely the heart of the city. It is surrounded by the classic Tower-Houses, amongst these the Porcellino, the Podesta Palace, and the Praetorian Palace, former seat of the Captain of the People.

At the Piazza San Giovanni stands the magnificent 12th century Volterra Cathedral, with three naves, and renovated in the sixteenth century, while the chapels of the transept in the cathedral date from the 17th century. . Among the works of art in the Cathedral note the pulpit, “Deposition", in polychrome wood, ciborium and two angels carved by Mino da Fiesole (1471); the “Annunciation” by Mariotto Albertinelli (1497) and the “Adoration of the Magi", a fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli.

Alongside the cathedral stands the the 13th century Baptistry, with a rectangular plan, which shows traces of the School of Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446 and architect of the extraordinary dome of Florence cathedral).

At Via Roma there is the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, which houses various works from the Cathedral and other churches in the area. At Via Sarti there is a successive series of buildings of great artistic value, such as Salaini Palace, attributed to Antonio da Sangallo the Elder (1455-1534), which houses a collection of paintings of the Sienese School from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century. No less important is the Viti Palace, by Bartolomeo Ammannati (1511-1592).

Volterra Museums

Palazzo Pretorio in Piazza dei Priori At Desideri-Tangassi Palace you can visit the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum. The ground floor is dedicated to proto-historical, archaic, oriental and classical monuments; the second floor shows the historical period of great economic and artistic flowering at the end of the fourth and first century BC in Volterra.

At the beginning of the visit there is a reconstruction of the tombs of the Early Iron Age (IX - VIII century BC.). From the excavations of necropolis note the 'kyathos' (dipper), with a series of bronzes, and the so-called Lorenzini Head, representing a deity and the oldest cult statue in marble of central Etruria. In other halls are some tombs with objects of alabaster, with subjects as the Greek myths, bronze work with mirrors, votive statuettes, potteries, and painted local ceramics with black or red figures.

Also very interesting and challenging is the Art Gallery of the Civic Museum, at Solaini Palace, with extraordinary works by Taddeo di Bartolo [1362-1422] ('Virgin and Child with Saints'); Jacopo di Michele named the “Gera” (active in the XIV century), representing the 'Madonnna and child; the great altarpiece with 'Christ in glory' by Ghirlandaio (1449-1494) and commissioned by Lorenzo de Medici; some works by Luca Signorelli [1445-1523] ('Madonna and Child with Saints'), Rosso Fiorentino (1495-1540) [the 'Descent from the Cross' (1521)], two tableaux by Pieter De Witte (1548 ca.-1628), depicting the 'Nativity' and the 'Lament', and, finally, the 'Madonna and Child with Saints' by Baldassare Franceschini (1611-1689), a local painter from Volterra,

You can conclude the visit to the Museums of Volterra with the Museum of Alabaster which exhibits finds tracing the history of alabaster from the Etruscans to the present.

To enjoy in the Volterra region

Especially for those who love contact with the nature and woods, Volterra offers various hiking trails.

Close to Volterra you will also enjoy wine tasting, and enjoying some typical products of the area such as sheep’s milk cheese and ricotta. And for those who wish, there's also the famous truffle of Volterra.

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Volterra, Italy

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