Volterra Things to Do

The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art is located in the rectory close to the cathedral. There you can see the ancient cloister built in the 13th century. The museum was founded in 1936 to collect all the ancient objects own by the cathedral and by the other churches of Volterra.

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In front of the Duomo (Cathedral) you can see the baptistery. It has got an octagonal shape and it was built in the second half of the 12th century. The facade in front of the Cathedral has got lines made with green and white marble. Inside the baptistery you can see the baptismal source made by Andrea Sansovino in 1502 with reliefs showing the Hope, the Faith, Jesus' Baptism, the Justice and the Charity.

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The interior of Palazzo dei Priori is very interesting. There you can see many coats of arms of podestaes and Florentine commissioners. Very beautiful is the Sala Del Consiglio with decoration of the 1300.

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This fantastic palace was built by the architect Riccardo between 1208 and 1254 under the reign of Bonaccorso Adimari. It is the ancient city hall of whole Tuscany, The wonderful facade was restored in the 15th century and in its lower part there are terracotta plates enameled with coats of arms of Florentine commissioners and others in marble and in stone. To the first floor you can see five ogival bifores realized in 1200, while to the superior floors you can seethere Romanesque bifores. The tower was restored in the 18ht century after the earthquake of 1846.

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Palazzo Pretorio is located in front of Palazzo dei Priori and it was the house of the captain of the people. You can see a fantastic facade made in the 11th century and on the right there is Torre del Podestà (Podestà's tower) which is the ancient part of the building.

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Palazzo Vescovile was originally the barn of the town. In 1472 it was modified and became the episcopal residence untill 1618.
Palazzo Incontri has got a Renaissance facade which was modified in the years.

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Piazza dei Priori was created in the 11th century with the construction of the representative buildings of the civil power. On the sides of the square you can see the Palazzo Episcopale, Palazzo Incontri and Palazzo Pretorio.

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Located just across the piazza from the cathedral is the cute looking baptistry. The baptistry is an octagonal building, which dates back to the 13th century, though its dome was added in the 16th century.

The façade above the door is decorated in lovely green and white marble. Inside, in the centre of the baptistry, is the baptismal font which dates back to 1760. Of greater historical interest though is the small, octagonal baptismal font in the corner, which depicts the baptising of Christ, and this was sculptured in 1502.

We found the baptistry a peaceful place for reflection and enjoyed checking out the two fonts.

Free admission