Day Twenty-Five - Volterra: | |
We hiked the streets of Volterra today.
And even though we didn't get much farther than just outside the city walls, we got a very good workout. Within sight of San Gimignano, Volterra is a beautiful town surrounded by still-intact, 12th-century walls.
Founded by the Etruscans, Volterra is built on the flat top of a steep hill.
As you drive toward the city, the landscape becomes increasingly barren as the soil is not conducive to agriculture.
Instead, Volterra is famous for its alabaster and items made of alabaster are sold in most of the shops. There is an alabaster museum called Museo Etrusco Guaracci, but we didn't get there.
We did go into the shop and all of the sculptures we saw were very nice.
Volterra is best experienced by trekking through the narrow, cobbled streets. Piazza dei Priori, the heart of the town, is surrounded by well-preserved medieval buildings, towers, town hall (oldest in Tuscany), and a Romanesque church.
It's considered to be one of the finest squares in Tuscany. Volterra is definitely worth visiting - especially if you like to excercise. See:
Brief Guide of Volterra for more about its history. |
Heading Out to Explore Volterra
Volterra Has Very Few "Level" Spots
Heading Down to the Porta all’Arco
Saving The Porta all’Arco: | |
The Porta all’Arco, one of the main gates, has origins dating back to the 7th century B.C.
It was almost destroyed when the Germans withdrew in the face of Allied advances. Negotiations between the townspeople and the retreating Germans produced a settlement that saved it.
In exchange for not blowing it up, the Germans required that they render it (at least temporarily)
impassabe so as to hold up the Allied advance. Working through the night, the townspeople tore up all of the paving stones of the streets,
and re-stacked and cemented them in place inside the gate. |
The Porta all’Arco
Saving The Porta all’Arco in WWII
Quaint
So Many Different Layers of Consttuction
Volterra
Volterra
See the Rain Groove in the Middle of the Street
Alternating stones in the middle have to be beveled in
both directions and have the groove added. Then it all
has to line-up, for every street in the entire town.
Alternating stones in the middle have to be beveled in
both directions and have the groove added. Then it all
has to line-up, for every street in the entire town.
Lots of Arches in Volterra
Looking Through One
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
This'd Be a Fun Place for a Mountain Bike Race
Volterra
Volterra
Yet Another Arch
Now Ya Know Where Ya Are
Another Medievil Gate
Kind of Reminds me: What's the air-speed
velocity of an African Swallow? (Monty Python
affecionados should be able to relate to that)
Kind of Reminds me: What's the air-speed
velocity of an African Swallow? (Monty Python
affecionados should be able to relate to that)
This Church Lost its Head in WWII
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra's Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
The Duomo
Volterra
Volterra
Yep - It's a Scooter Shop
This Gate Was Designed By Archy Stone
Good View of the City Wall
The Midieval Medici Fortress (Fortezza Medicea)
Is Now a High-Security Prison
Is Now a High-Security Prison
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra (Church of San Michele Arcangelo on the Right)
Volterra
Volterra
There's 360° of Countryside View Like This
A Bit Different Perspective
Looks Like a Contrada to Me
Museum of Torture
We didn't go in, but I felt compelled to
take a couple photos because it's so odd.
We didn't go in, but I felt compelled to
take a couple photos because it's so odd.
Museum of Torture
Church of Sant' Agostino
Church of Sant' Agostino
Church of Sant' Agostino
Church of Sant' Agostino
Church of Sant' Agostino
Church of Sant' Agostino
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
Our Hike Took us Right Next to the Prison
Volterra
The Prison Only Houses a Few of
the Worst High-Profile Prisoners
the Worst High-Profile Prisoners
House of Reclusion = Prison
(i.e.: No, You Can't Come Out and Play)
(i.e.: No, You Can't Come Out and Play)
Archeological Park - Next to the Prison
Now That's a Different Shaped Gunsight
View of the Prison From the Park
Volterra
Etruscan Ruins in the Park
Etruscan Ruins in the Park
Another View of the Prison
Bathtub in the Park?
Leaving the Park
Almost Back to Our Room
Nice Yamaha 600
Clean Suzuki DR 650 Enduro
Clean Suzuki DR 650 Enduro
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
Buildings Holding-Up One Another
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
Volterra
A Good View of That Groove in the Street
Beautiful View of the Countryside
Another Nice View
And Another Nice View
My Favorite View
Entrance to Volterra (That's the Prison to the Right)
Go to: Top of This Page
Go to: Next Page
Go to: Previous Page