Difference between revisions of "Volterra"

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{{otheruses}}
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'''Volterra''' is a town in the [[Tuscany]] region, [[Italy]]. The town has a history which dates back to the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan Period]].
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{{Infobox CityIT |
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  img_coa          = Volterra-Stemma.png|
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  official_name              = Comune di Volterra|
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name = Volterra|
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  region            = [[Toscana]] |
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  province          = [[Province of Pisa|Pisa]] (PI) |
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  elevation_m          =531 |
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  area_total_km2  = 252|
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  population_as_of  = [[December 31]], [[2004]]|
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  population_total = 11309|
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  population_density_km2 = 45|
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  timezone          = [[Central European Time|CET]], [[UTC+1]] |
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  coordinates      = {{coor dm|43|24|N|10|52|E}}|
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  frazioni          = Saline di Volterra, Villamagna |
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  telephone        = 0588|
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  postalcode        = 56048|
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  gentilic          = Volterrani|
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  saint            =[[Justus|St. Justus]]|
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  day              = [[June 5]] |
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  mayor            = Cesare Bartaloni (since June [[2004]])|
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  website          = [http://www.comune.volterra.pi.it www.comune.volterra.pi.it] |
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  mapx=43.4|
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  mapy=10.86|
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}}
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'''Volterra''' is a town in the [[Tuscany]] region of [[Italy]].  
  
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==External link==
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==History==
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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]].
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==Main sights==
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[[Image:Volterra101.jpg|thumb|left|A view of Volterra.]]
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[[image:Teatro di volterra2.jpg|thumb|left|The Roman Theatre.]]
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*Roman Theatre (1st century BC), excavated in the 1950s.
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*''Piazza dei Priori'', one of Italy's most beautiful squares.
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*''[[Palazzo dei Priori]]''
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*Cathedral of ''Santa Maria Assunta''. It was enlarged in the 13th century after an earthquake. It houses a [[ciborium]] and some angles 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.
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*Medicean Fortress (''Maschio''), now a [[penitentiary]].
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*Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, with thousands of funeral [[urns]] dating back to the [[Hellenistic]] and [[archaic period in Greece|Archaic]] periods.
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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]].
 +
 
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==Volterra in popular fiction==
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*Volterra is an important location in [[Stephenie Meyer]]'s bestselling novel ''[[New Moon (novel)|New Moon]]''. In the story, Volterra is home to the [[Volturi]], a type of royal family of vampires. They live under the city and use one of the ancient and beautiful buildings to lure tourists to their deaths.
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*It is also mentioned briefly in [[Thomas Harris]]'s ''[[Hannibal (novel)|Hannibal]]'', by Inspector Pazzi to the kidnappper Carlo.
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==Twin cities==
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*{{flagicon|France}} [[Mende, Lozère|Mende]], [[France]]
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*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Wunsiedel]], [[Germany]]
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{{Commons}}
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==External links==
 
* [http://www.comune.volterra.pi.it/ Town web site]
 
* [http://www.comune.volterra.pi.it/ Town web site]
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* [http://www.lodgephoto.com/galleries/italy-tuscany/volterra/ Photographs of Volterra]
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* [http://www.volterratur.it/ Tourism Office Web Site]
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* [http://www.alabastroinvolterra.it/ Web Site about Alabaster Craftmanship]
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* [http://www.360tuscany.net/?area=Volterra&mapArea=Volterra 360° Photo Tour & Information on Volterra]
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* [http://www.arteinbottegavolterra.it/ Alabaster Craftsmen Association]
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* [http://www.volterra.net/ Volterra history and Etruscan Museum]
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* {{en icon}} [http://www.volterra.net/guarnacci_museum.htm Guarnacci Etruscan Museum in Volterra]
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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Image:Sunset Volterra.jpg|Sunset in Volterra countryside
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Image:viewonthehillsideofVolterra.jpg|Picture on the hillside
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Image:Volterra.jpg|Short frame of Volterra
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Image:Volterracastle.jpg|Volterra castle
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Image:Volterra-Town-Hall.JPG|Volterra Town Hall
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Image:Volterra-Town-Hall-interior.JPG|Interior of Volterra Town Hall
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Image:A-street-in-Volterra.JPG|A street in Volterra
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Image:Houses-on-a-hillside-in-Volterra.JPG|Houses on a hillside in Volterra
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Image:Balze-di-Volterra.JPG|Balze di Volterra
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Image:Balze-di-Volterra-and-Church.JPG|Balze di Volterra and Church
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Image:Teatro-di-Volterra-in-summer.JPG|The Roman Theatre (in summer)
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Image:Teatro-di-Volterra-in-summer-2.JPG|Another view of the Roman Theatre (in summer)
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</gallery>
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<br>
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{{Province of Pisa}}
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{{coor title dm|43|24|N|10|51|E|region:IT_type:city}}
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[[Category:Hilltowns in Italy]]
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[[Category:Cities and towns in Tuscany]]
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[[Category:Hilltowns in Tuscany]]
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[[Category:Etruscan sites]]

Revision as of 17:33, 27 April 2008

Template:Otheruses

Comune di Volterra
Country Template:Country flagicon2 Italy
Region Toscana
Province Pisa (PI)
Mayor Cesare Bartaloni (since June 2004)
Elevation Template:Convert/LonAonDbSoffTemplate:Convert/test/Aon
Area Template:Convert/sqkmTemplate:Convert/test/Aon
Population (as of December 31, 2004)
 - Total 11,309
 - Density Template:PD km2 to sq mi
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 43°24′N, 10°52′E
Gentilic Volterrani
Dialing code 0588
Postal code 56048
Frazioni Saline di Volterra, Villamagna
Patron St. Justus
 - Day June 5

Location of Volterra in Italy
Website: www.comune.volterra.pi.it

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

A view of Volterra.
The Roman Theatre.
  • 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 angles 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 type of 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 kidnappper Carlo.

Twin cities

Template:Commons

External links

Gallery

  • Sunset in Volterra countryside

  • Picture on the hillside

  • Short frame of Volterra

  • Volterra castle

  • Volterra Town Hall

  • Interior of Volterra Town Hall

  • A street in Volterra

  • Houses on a hillside in Volterra

  • Balze di Volterra

  • Balze di Volterra and Church

  • The Roman Theatre (in summer)

  • Another view of the Roman Theatre (in summer)



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