Tuesday, Exploring Volterra: Arco Etrusco and Parco Archeologico
Next we walked down the hill toward the ancient Etruscan gate.
Arco Etrusco
A street
Via P. Arco, the street that leads down to the ancient Etruscan gate.
The city side of the ancient Etruscan gate.
The outside of the ancient Etruscan gate.
Plaques near the ancient Etruscan gate.
Arco Etrusco
Alabaster workshop
Via P. Arco, the street leading up from the ancient Etruscan gate.
Exploring Volterra
More photos of Volterra
A fountain
Via Castello
Via Castello
Parco Archeologico (Archeological Park)
Fortezza Medicea, one of the mightiest Renaissance strongholds in Italy
The Rocca Vecchia (Old Castle) at the east end was built in the 14th century, the Rocca Nuova (New Castle) was built in 1472-75 for Lorenzo de' Médici.
It is currently being used as a prison, so you can't go inside
The prison offers monthly meals prepared, cooked and served by 30 of its 150 inmates.
To attend a meal, visitors must book weeks in advance, send photocopies of their passports for security checks, and pay $44.
All proceeds go to charity.
After leaving bags and mobile phones at the door, the 120-odd guests are led to a candlelit courtyard for nibbles and Prosecco.
The meal is served in a cavernous deconsecrated chapel done up with tablecloths, handmade table decorations, glasses, plates and... plastic cutlery — one of the concessions made to security.
Parco Archeologico
Parco Archeologico
Museo della Tortura. We didn't go in.
A church in Volterra, Oratorio di Sant'Antonio
Inside the Oratorio di Sant'Antonio
