Volterra, Medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy.
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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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Porta all'Arco
676 m
Palazzo dei Priori
613 m
Fortezza Medicea
115 m
Roman Theatre of Volterra
672 m
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary
656 m
Guarnacci Museum
216 m
Cliffs of Volterra
1.9 kmRoman amphitheatre of Volterra
881 m
Defensive walls of Volterra
1.1 km
Santa Maria Assunta a Cellole
14.7 km
Villa di Spedaletto
9.1 km
Volterra City Museum and Art Gallery
202 mPonte sul fiume Cecina
7.4 km
Baptistery of San Giovanni
699 m
Palazzo Incontri Viti
557 m
Porta Diana
1 km
San Lino
907 m
Volterra Museum of Torture
319 m
Chiesa dei Santi Giusto e Clemente
1.8 km
San Francesco
990 m
Palazzo Pretorio
586 m
Porta San Francesco
1 km
Abbey of Sts. Justin and Clement
2.2 km
San Michele Arcangelo
500 m
Palazzo Minucci-Solaini
622 m
Porta a Selci
25 mRiserva naturale di Castelvecchio
11.5 kmRiserva naturale Foresta di Berignone
10 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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