Volterra Tour from Palazzo San Niccolò

Volterra was founded by the Etruscan on an high tufo cliff overlooking the entire Val di Cecina valley, of the Etruscan period still maintains the Porta all'Arco and the Porta Diana. The centre of the village is Palazzo dei Priori and the same square. Inside of the Palace, there is the Sala del Maggior Consiglio, where we can see paintings and arms from the nineteenth century. There are many other churches that a visitor can see as: the Duomo, built in many times between the XII and XIII century, the Battistero di San Giovanni which has the form of an octagon with white and green marble walls.

Very beautiful is also the Fortezza Medicea, is built in two parts unified by a walls. The ancient rock presents a semi-elliptic plan tower, while the famous Rocca Nuova, is characterized by an imposing tower built after a request of Lorenzo de' Medici. We can not forget to visit the Teatro Romano, that was discovered with the excavation at mid of the twentieth century. This monument was constructed at the beginning of the 1st century b.C. and was founded by the rich family of Caecina. The theatre was partially dug in a natural valley which is made like Greek theatre. At the end of III century the theatre was forgotten and near this monuments were installed a thermal. In this medieval period the walls unified the end walls of the highest part of steps.

During the years many civilizations left their mark in Volterra, and they created a fusion between Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance art, making this town unique and unforgettable.