Difference between revisions of "Volterra"

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m
m
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{X}}
 
{{X}}
 +
[[Image:Volterra-Stemma copy.png|100px|right]]
 +
 +
 
'''Volterra''' is a town in the [[Tuscany]] region of [[Italy]].  
 
'''Volterra''' is a town in the [[Tuscany]] region of [[Italy]].  
−
[[Image:Volterra-Stemma copy.jpg|120px|right]]
+
 
 
==History==
 
==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]].
 
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]].
Line 38: Line 41:
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
−
Image:Sunset Volterra.jpg|Sunset in Volterra countryside  
+
Image:Sunset Volterra.jpg|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Sunset in Volterra countryside  
−
Image:viewonthehillsideofVolterra.jpg|Picture on the hillside
+
Image:viewonthehillsideofVolterra.jpg|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Picture on the hillside
−
Image:Volterra.jpg|Short frame of Volterra
+
Image:Volterra.jpg|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Short frame of Volterra
−
Image:Volterracastle.jpg|Volterra castle
+
Image:Volterracastle.jpg|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Volterra castle
−
Image:Volterra-Town-Hall.JPG|Volterra Town Hall
+
Image:Volterra-Town-Hall.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Volterra Town Hall
−
Image:Volterra-Town-Hall-interior.JPG|Interior of Volterra Town Hall
+
Image:Volterra-Town-Hall-interior.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Interior of Volterra Town Hall
−
Image:A-street-in-Volterra.JPG|A street in Volterra
+
Image:A-street-in-Volterra.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>A street in Volterra
−
Image:Houses-on-a-hillside-in-Volterra.JPG|Houses on a hillside in Volterra
+
Image:Houses-on-a-hillside-in-Volterra.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Houses on a hillside in Volterra
−
Image:Balze-di-Volterra.JPG|Balze di Volterra
+
Image:Balze-di-Volterra.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Balze di Volterra
−
Image:Balze-di-Volterra-and-Church.JPG|Balze di Volterra and Church
+
Image:Balze-di-Volterra-and-Church.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Balze di Volterra and Church
−
Image:Teatro-di-Volterra-in-summer.JPG|The Roman Theatre (in summer)
+
Image:Teatro-di-Volterra-in-summer.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>The Roman Theatre (in summer)
−
Image:Teatro-di-Volterra-in-summer-2.JPG|Another view of the Roman Theatre (in summer)
+
Image:Teatro-di-Volterra-in-summer-2.JPG|<font face="Trebuchet MS" font color=black>Another view of the Roman Theatre (in summer)
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  

Latest revision as of 21:14, 5 March 2009

Volterra-Stemma copy.png


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


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)



Tuscany · Comuni of the Province of Pisa
Bientina | Buti | Calci | Calcinaia | Capannoli | Casale Marittimo | Casciana Terme | Cascina | Castelfranco di Sotto | Castellina Marittima | Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina | Chianni | Crespina | Fauglia | Guardistallo | Lajatico | Lari | Lorenzana | Montecatini Val di Cecina | Montescudaio | Monteverdi Marittimo | Montopoli in Val d'Arno | Orciano Pisano | Palaia | Peccioli | Pisa | Pomarance | Ponsacco | Pontedera | Riparbella | San Giuliano Terme | San Miniato | Santa Croce sull'Arno | Santa Luce | Santa Maria a Monte | Terricciola | Vecchiano | Vicopisano | Volterra
Retrieved from "http://woiweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Volterra&oldid=49651"