The Acropolis
The Etruscan acropolis is situated at the
heighest point of Volterra 552 metres above sea level offering a breathtaking panoramic
view of the surrounding countryside including the sea and the Appennines.
The acropolis, situated in the beautiful surroundings of a landscaped park named after the
Volterran archeologist Enrico Fiumi, is a very interesting archeological site showing
evidence of the superimposed layers of the history of the city.
As this part of the city was destroyed in 1472 by the Florentines the site not only
encloses the foundations of two Etruscan temples , identified as temples A and B, but the
road which delimited the sacred area, the vestiges of dwellings dating back to the
Hellenistic period, a complex system of cisterns one of which is known as the Piscina and
the ruins of medieval towers and roads .
The Etruscan burial Sites
The Etruscan tombs here in Volterra are
relatively simple as compared to the tombs in Tarquinia, Cerveteri, Chiusi and Populonia,
rich in paintings and sculptures.
Many of the tombs were carved into the sandstone below ground level and are often referred
to by the locals as Etruscan holes.
The two tombs dating to the Hellenistic period, possibly belonging to the Gens Calcina, in
the area of Marmini di Sotto are particularly interesting. One is a circular tomb held by
a central pillar the other has a square central chamber leading into four smaller
chambers. Each chamber contains a low wall where the cinerary urns were placed . A 5th
century B.C. tomb is situated close to the church of San Giusto, composed of a few
chambers excavated in the ground and sustained by pilasters carved in the rock.
Other tombs are to be found in the area of Ulimeto enclosed within the hospital complex at
S.Lazzero while the Ripaie burial site has been covered over by a relatively new sports
ground and the Badia burial site was engulfed by the landslip known as Le Balze.
Lid of a cinerary urn, II century b.C.
The Guarnacci Roman Baths
The Roman Baths just beyond the Porta San Felice
are named after Monsignor Mario Guarnacci who uncovered them in 1760. Epigraphic documents
attest that the baths were dedicated to Emperor Giordian III and are thus datable to the
III century A.D.
The remains of the furnace (ipocaustum), two cold baths (frigidarium), a warm bath
(tepidarium), the hot bath(calidarium) above the ipocaustum and the sauna (sudatorium) are
still visible.
This site is presently being restored
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