Volterra, Medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy.
Volterra is a hilltop town in Tuscany sitting at 531 meters (1742 feet) above sea level, overlooking wide valleys and distant mountains. The town is enclosed by old walls, and gray stone houses line narrow paved lanes that wind through the center.
The settlement started in the 8th century BCE as an Etruscan center and later became a Roman town named Volaterrae. During the Middle Ages the town lost its importance and came under the control of Florence, ending its earlier independence.
Volterra is known for its alabaster craft, and workshops still produce lamps, figures and bowls made from this soft white stone. Visitors can watch artisans through open doorways and smell the fine dust in the side streets.
Buses from Pisa run several times daily to reach the town, and the ride takes about an hour and a half through the hills. The lanes in the center are steep and uneven, so sturdy footwear helps.
The Guarnacci Museum holds over 600 Etruscan urns, most carved from local alabaster and decorated with scenes from daily life or myth. Each urn carries different motifs, and together they give a window into burial customs from more than two thousand years ago.
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