Ecomuseo dell'Alabastro

Volterra


As befits a town that's hewn the precious material from nearby quarries since Etruscan times, Volterra is the proud possessor of an alabaster museum. It's an intriguing exploration of everything related to the rock, from production and working to commercialisation. Contemporary creations feature strongly; there are also choice examples from Etruscan times onwards, as well as a recreated artisan's workshop. The ticket includes entrance to the Pinacoteca Comunale in the same building.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Volterra attractions

1. Pinacoteca Comunale

Local, Sienese and Florentine art holds sway in this modest collection in the Palazzo Minucci Solaini. Taddeo di Bartolo's Madonna Enthroned with Child …

2. Palazzo Pretorio

0.05 MILES

Forming one side of Volterra's central square, the Palazzo Pretorio was the seat of the local mayor. From it sprouts one of the town's oldest towers, the…

3. Teatro Romano

0.06 MILES

The grassy ranks of seating and towering columns of Italy's finest and best-preserved Roman theatre makes this a particularly evocative archaeological…

4. Palazzo dei Priori

0.07 MILES

Volterra's 13th-century town hall is the oldest seat of local government in Tuscany. The staircase bears a fresco of the Crucifixion by Pier Francesco…

5. Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta

0.08 MILES

A handsome coffered ceiling is the standout feature of Volterra's duomo, which was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and remodelled in the 16th. The…

6. Baptistry

0.1 MILES

Just west of the cathedral is the 13th-century baptistry with a small marble font (1502) by Andrea Sansovino.

7. Porta all'Arco

0.15 MILES

City gate built by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC.

8. Museo Diocesano d'Arte Sacra Volterra

0.23 MILES

Offering an innovative and particularly satisfying museum experience, this collection of sacred art is housed in the still-functioning Chiesa di San…