Never on a Monday
by Bunsch
Not just in Volterra...many (perhaps most) Italian museums are closed on Mondays. This can be a spirit-killer if you're only in a city or town for a single day and the museums are unavailable, which is why the Spirit moves me to suggest that much of Italy's great art is found in its churches, virtually all of which are open every day of the week (and are generally free, to boot). So find your Caravaggios and della Robbias in the local duomo, and soak in the notion that people have been hallowing with their prayers the place where they are situated for many hundreds of years.
Volterra - Velathri
by croisbeauty
Around the 8th century BC, Volterra became an important city of the new Etruscan civilization. At the time it was known as Velathri, bing one of the twelve major centres of Etruria, which was religious and political confederation of city-states. In fact, the archaeological evidence suggests that Volterra gradually became the dominant city of the confederation. Volterra was ruled by a Lucumo, who was both a military and a religious leader.
In the 4th century, however, Volterra became a confederate city in the expanding territory dominated by the Romans. During the period of Roman-Etruscan coexistence, many important monuments were erected in Volterra, including the buildings of the acropolis and the temple near the Roman amphitheatre.
Duomo Santa Maria Assunta
by Bigs
Sure , Volterra has a cathedral.......I think all bigger towns in Tuscany have...... This is quite simple from the inside and (so it´s written in the books) also the inside sall be simple..... I haven´t been in here, cause we didn´t found an open door.............
Imagine yourself as a Roman
by Bunsch
Sue Stone's top-rated Volterra page gives a good description of the remains of the Roman theater, located just outside the Porta Fiorentina. I never saw anyone actually enter the site, but there are numerous places where you can get an excellent view of the ranks of seats, the remaining pillars of the theater (both of which were constructed in the 1st century), and even the elaborate baths (a later 4th century addition) which were a part of the complex. As you can see from the photo, it looks pretty glamorous in the twilight!
Unfortunately, we just missed the Roman Theater Festival, which was due to take place from July 1-17, 2010. If you're likely to be in Volterra around that time next year, be sure to check out the performance schedule -- and really imagine that you're a Roman.
The Etruscan influence
by iandsmith
Strolling the hilltop park we, at times, were beside some Etruscan excavations. Unfortunately for us they were fenced off and inaccessible. Thus it was the only shot available was the sunset as it cast its fading hazy beams across the ruins.
The Etruscan acropolis is situated at the heighest point of Volterra 552 metres above sea level offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding countryside including the sea and the Appennines, always assuming you don't have the seemingly eternal haze!
The acropolis, situated in the beautiful surroundings of a landscaped park named after the Volterran archeologist Enrico Fiumi, is a very interesting archeological site showing evidence of the superimposed layers of the history of the city.
This part of the city was destroyed in 1472 by the Florentines and the site not only encloses the foundations of two Etruscan temples , identified as temples A and B, but the road which delimited the sacred area, the vestiges of dwellings dating back to the Hellenistic period, a complex system of cisterns one of which is known as the Piscina and the ruins of medieval towers and roads .
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The belltower at our shrine
The flutist (not my pic)
Competitive flag-waving in the Piazza
List of museums to visit
