Volterra

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Volterra-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Volterra
name = Volterra
region = Toscana
province = Pisa (PI)
elevation_m =531
area_total_km2 = 252
population_as_of = December 31, 2004
population_total = 11309
population_density_km2 = 45
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|43|24|N|10|52|E
frazioni = Saline di Volterra, Villamagna
telephone = 0588
postalcode = 56048
gentilic = Volterrani
saint =St. Justus
day = June 5
mayor = Cesare Bartaloni (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.volterra.pi.it www.comune.volterra.pi.it] | mapx=43.4
mapy=10.86

Volterra is a town in the Tuscany region of Italy.

History

The town was a Neolithic settlement and an important Etruscan center with an original civilization; it became a municipium in the Roman Age. The city was a bishop's residence in the fifth century and its episcopal power was affirmed during the twelfth century. With the decline of the episcopate, Volterra was the subject of the interest of Florence, which defeated Volterra many times though rebellions sometimes took place. When the Florentian Republic fell in 1530, Volterra came under the control of the Medici family and later followed the history of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

Main sights

*Roman Theatre (1st century BC), excavated in the 1950s.
*"Piazza dei Priori", one of Italy's most beautiful squares.
*"Palazzo dei Priori"
*Cathedral of "Santa Maria Assunta". It was enlarged in the 13th century after an earthquake. It houses a ciborium and some angels by Mino da Fiesole, a notable wood "Deposition" (1228), a masterwork of Romanesque sculpture and the Sacrament Chapel, with paintings by Santi di Tito, Giovanni Balducci and Agostino Veracini. In the center of the vault are fragments of an "Eternal Father" by Niccolò Circignani. Also noteworthy is the Addolorata Chapel, with a terracotta group attributed to Andrea della Robbia and a fresco of "Riding Magi" by Benozzo Gozzoli. In the nearby chapel, dedicate to the Very Holy Name of Jesus, is a table with Christ's monogram, allegedly painted by Bernardine of Siena. The rectangular bell tower is from 1493.
*Medicean Fortress ("Maschio"), now a penitentiary.
*Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, with thousands of funeral urns dating back to the Hellenistic and Archaic periods.

Outside the city, in direction of Lajatico, is the Medici Villa di Spedaletto. Also in the neighborhood, in the Valle Bona area, are excavations of Etruscan tombs.

Volterra in popular fiction

*Volterra is an important location in Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel "New Moon". In the story, Volterra is home to the Volturi, a royal family of vampires. They live under the city and use one of the ancient and beautiful buildings to lure tourists to their deaths.
*It is also mentioned briefly in Thomas Harris's "Hannibal", by Inspector Pazzi to the kidnapper Carlo.
*Volterra is the site of Stendhal's famously disastrous encounter in 1819 with his beloved Matilde Dembowski: she recognised him there, despite his disguise of new clothes and green glasses, and was furious. This is the central incident in his book "On Love".

Twin cities

*flagicon|France Mende, France
*flagicon|Germany Wunsiedel, Germany

External links

* [http://www.comune.volterra.pi.it/ Town web site]
* [http://www.volterratur.it/ Tourism Office Web Site]
* [http://www.alabastroinvolterra.it/ Web Site about Alabaster Craftmanship]
* [http://www.360tuscany.net/?area=Volterra&mapArea=Volterra 360° Photo Tour & Information on Volterra]
* [http://www.arteinbottegavolterra.it/ Alabaster Craftsmen Association]
* [http://www.volterra.net/ Volterra history and Etruscan Museum]
* [http://www.volterra.net/guarnacci_museum.htm Guarnacci Etruscan Museum in Volterra]
* [http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=241&ref_genre=&ref_item=401/ Video Introduction to Volterra Guarnacci Etruscan Museum] en icon

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