A tourist gets her caricature drawn by one of several local artists in the Tuscan town of Volterra, in northern Italy near Pisa. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
A tourist gets her caricature drawn by one of several local artists in the Tuscan town of Volterra, in northern Italy near Pisa. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Chili peppers decorate the entrance to a store that sells the specialty item in Volterra, Italy. Shop owners cleverly used cartoon faces to denote the varying potency of their peppers. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
An old-style mailbox is still used in the charming, multi-cultured town of Volterra, Italy. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Decorating the old city walls are tribute plaques to soldiers from Voterra, Italy, who died in World War II. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Fields and fields of sunflowers are often synonymous with the Tuscan countryside, seen here near the town of Volterra during the summer. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
The hilltop town of Volterra, Italy, offers visitors a breathtaking view of the rolling Tuscan hills, often punctuated by miles and miles of vineyards. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
The Palazzo dei Priori, built between 1208 and 1257, is said to be the oldest palace in all of Tuscany. The fa?ade is decorated with coats of arms dating to the Florentine magistrates who governed between the 15th and 16th centuries. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
The Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunata was build around 1120, and the fa?ade was completed in 1254. The bell tower to the left, the second one for the cathedral, was completed in 1493 and measures more than 144 feet. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Prayer candles burn before a 16th century painting depicting the Annunciation inside the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunata in Volterra, Italy. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Intricate stained-glass window in Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunata, the main cathedral in the Tuscan town of Volterra. "Cathedral" gets its name for the Italian word "cattedra," which means bishop's chair. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
A close-up shot of the replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, 1:25 scale of the famed bell tower, showing detail of the artists' work. The bell even sounds. The tower is on exhibit in Volterra, Italy, until the end of December. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Voterra, Italy, also is renowned for its production of alabaster - and there is no missing it. From cheese platters to mortar and pestle, wine stoppers, lamps, knickknacks, jewelry, ashtrays, busts - if you can name it, they can probably make it out of alabaster. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
While alabaster items are prominent souvenirs from Volterra, Italy, gifts made from aromatic olive wood also are popular. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
View of the brick buildings of Volterra, Italy, as you walk up a steep hill and into the ancient town that has medieval, Etruscan and Roman roots. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Opposite Volterra's Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunata is the eight-sided baptistery, build in the 13th century. Inside is a baptismal font created in 1760 by Giovanni Vacca, but photography inside the baptistery is not permitted. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
A main pedestrian street through the historic center of Volterra, Italy, is draped with canvas to give the town a medieval feel. Stores, restaurants and ice cream shops line the street. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
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While Volterra might be known to fans of the “Twilight” films as the operational hub of the vampires who inhabit the fictional world of author Stephenie Meyer, this romantic hilltop town will charm you with its eclectic heritage and must-see landmarks, including the oldest palace in Tuscany and a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
For those with holiday shopping in mind, the region is known for its production of alabaster, which is fashioned into everything you could dream of.
Volterra has been shaped by Etruscan, Roman and medieval roots — a history so rich it gives the town more charm than it does an identity crisis.
According to one guidebook, the town came to life around the seventh century B.C. and was called Velathri. In 260 B.C., some two decades after a military defeat of the reigning Etruscans, Volterra sided with Rome and took on the Latin name of Volaterrae.
The town is steeped in the Catholic religion and is the birthplace of St. Linus, the second pope after the Apostle Peter, and today the town’s patron saint.
After parking outside the historic town limits and taking a brisk walk up the steep incline past the old city walls, visitors saunter into Piazza San Giovanni, flanked on one side by the baptistery, which once served as St. Mary Magdalene Hospital, and the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunata on the other.
The cathedral was built around 1120, and the façade was completed in 1254. The bell tower to the left, the second one for the cathedral, was completed in 1493 and measures more than 144 feet.
The Renaissance-style interior, constructed over four years starting in 1580, is divided into three naves, with the long central corridor dominated by the intricate and impressive gilded ceiling, the work of Francesco Capriani, according to a parish information sheet. Worshippers gather on wooden pews flanked by majestic rose-colored marble columns.
Opposite the cathedral is the eight-sided baptistery, built in the 13th century. Inside is a baptismal font created in 1760 by Giovanni Vacca, but photography inside the baptistery is not permitted.
Volterra also is renowned for its production of alabaster – and there is no missing it. From cheese platters to mortar and pestle, wine stoppers, lamps, knickknacks, jewelry, ashtrays, busts — if you can name it, they can probably make it out of alabaster. Souvenirs made from aromatic olive wood are also popular.
The town boasts a beautiful crafted replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa that will be on exhibit until Dec. 31 at the Salone Espositivo dell’ex Ospedale civile in Piazza San Giovanni.
Also famous is the Palazzo dei Priori, built between 1208 and 1257, and said to be the oldest palace in Tuscany. The façade is decorated with coats of arms dating to the Florentine magistrates who governed between the 15th and 16th centuries.
The town is rich with museums and boasts a Roman theater.
While there are many Italian towns similar to Volterra in look and feel and history, there is a special, mystic atmosphere about the town that makes one wonder about the darker side of fantasy; a magic that just might have you wearing a scarf around your neck when you go out at night and seeking out the nearest garlic vendor. But of note, Volterra is not the quaint town depicted in the vampire series; much to the disappointment of some visitors, a few shop owners bemused. In fact, film producers opted to shoot in neighboring Montepulciano, an equally charming Tuscan town perched atop a hill.
DIRECTIONSFrom Naples, head north on the A1 autostrada (portions are toll). Take the Valdichiana exit and head toward Bettolle-Sinalunga. Keep right and follow signs for Siena/Perugia/Grosseto. At the roundabout, head toward Raccordo Autostradale Bettolle-Perugia. Take the exit for Firenze toward Grosseto. Take the superstrada Firenze-Siena. Exit at Colle di Val d’Elsa sud. Take Strada Comunale San Marziale, follow signs for Volterra and/or Via Volterrana SS68.
TIMES
The Leaning Tower of Pisa exhibition at the Salone Espositivo dell’ex Ospedale civile in Piazza San Giovanni is open weekends 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3:30-7:30 p.m. The Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunata asks visitors not to enter during Mass. There are eight museums, all having different operating hours, depending on the weekday and time of year.
FOOD
There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs and ice cream shops throughout the town.
INFORMATION
The commune has a pretty detailed website, though there is no English option. Ticket prices and museum hours are listed under musei at: www.comune.volterra.pi.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1
