Volterra - perhaps my favorite Tuscan hill town

Monday, May 08 – Volterra scenes

Volterra's tower of the Palazzo dei Priori

View of the cupola of the Bapistry from outside the town walls

Entering the town from the square near the underground parking structure

The receptionist at the front desk gave us a map of Volterra and told us the best place to park.  It was easy to find – simply turn right at the end of the road, and you’re there in 15 minutes.  (That is, unless you travel with me and have to stop for photos every kilometer or so…)  It’s a climb up to the top of a tufa hill to reach the outer walls of the city.

We parked in the underground parcheggio and quickly arrived at the Piazza dei Priori, after looking out over the town walls on the west side to see the vistas. 

View of the Palazzo dei Priori from the piazza

Advertising for the Farmacia with the guild shield displaying the caduceus

Voltaire eventually lost it's independence as a city state to Florence - hence the lions flanking the Palazzo

We visited the Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and then walked through the Parco Archeologico to the Medici fortress, which now serves as a maximum security prison for the region.

The fortifications of the Medici Rocca viewed from the large Parco Archeologico - a maximum security prison since the 1500's.

The fortified town walls

Michael, always ahead of me - without a camera...

Via Gramsci - a main pedestrian way through town

A tempting spot for lunch -- but we were still satisfied from our amazing Borgo breakfast

We found a bulletin for a conference in Volterra that starts tomorrow: "Alcoholism and Stress"

and one of the sponsors is the NIAAA - Mike was tempted to ditch the vacation...

A spot for coffee and a snack in the main Piazza

The local crowd

Waiting for the bus, Volterra style

And now we're ready to tackle the Etruscan museum!