Discovering Volterra

Volterra has Etruscan beginnings, therefore B.C, seven kilometres of the great city walls date from that time. It also had a period of Roman rule, it was involved in civil wars, which seems to have been the norm in Italy and by the 1400s it was under the influence of Florence and the Medici. As a result it has a fascinating history clearly  visible for visitors to see. Today we were exploring.

An early morning street view showing lots of styles and changes in the construction.

The church of San Michele Archangelo, a different style to what we have been seeing further east in Tuscany.

Piazza San Giovanni is the location of the Duomo (the Cathedral), the Baptistry and the church of the Confraternity of the Misericordia.

The octagonal Baptistry dates from at least 1161 but the facade with striped marble is 13th century. Inside is the large baptismal font.

The Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta 1120 is also surprisingly plain on the outside but it is amazing inside. The age and quality of art in these churches always impresses.

This Deposition of Jesus from the Cross is dated 1228 - truly amazing!

Our three-in-one ticket included entry into The Treasury of Alabasta, a modern take on this ages old craft. As well as a short film on the theme there were several rooms devoted to the art of locals and their personal collections donated to the city at their death, a fabulous, award winning, domed light shade which throws amazing patterns when lit and a rooftop viewing platform.

The highlight however was a collaborative work connected to the film we had seen at the beginning. It was not so much about alabaster as the relationship Nico Löpez Bruchi had with it growing up in Volterra. An impressive piece of work.

The last room was this display of alabaster work, in its many styles. Such skill but it did look like a first class ticket to emphysema.

Outside the sun was entering the narrow streets and creating different visions.

We peeped into a tiny church, the Oratorio di Sant' Antonio, and found this large glazed terracotta work by Giovanni della Robbia from the mid 1400s. 

This award winning gelato shop has a huge queue every time we pass, still so after 11 pm.

This old church is part museum now. It belongs to the Confraternity of the Misericordia and has examples of an old ambulance, stretchers and even a hearse. The Confraternity still operates ambulance, emergency and health assistance. It is a church based organisation that does good works.

Another view of the landscape and some examples of alabaster in its raw form.

We had some of the best pasta we have ever tasted tonight. Kel's pasta had a hare sauce and mine had sausage from Norcia with porcini mushrooms and olives.

We then finished off the night with some jazz in the piazza. Night time events start at 9.30 pm in Italy.

A bit of everything today, and all exciting and entertaining,