Submitted by Carly Precht on the 2019 summer session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…
This week, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the place we call home for the first 10 days of our journey. Volterra, the oldest city in Italy, originating approximately 3,000 years ago is filled with rich history that is waiting to be explored. The many layers are often overlooked as the town is now one of the smallest in terms of population, housing about 10,000 residents. Annie, our tour guide and new-found friend, spent hours trying to help us unpeel the many layers of this historic, landmark town. In the few short days, I have spent exploring this beautiful city, it continues to amaze me as I only begin to scratch the surface of its rich culture.
It was very interesting to learn that the people of Volterra actually established many of the first architectural structures that are seen throughout Italy today, such as aqueducts and brick arches that today have been modernized throughout the world. Aqueducts are used to transport water from one place to another, especially from areas of different elevation. Their development of aqueducts and underground springs played a critical role in providing fresh water to the residents throughout the course of the year. The credit for the first aqueducts is given to the Romans, but Etruscans were critical in their early development stages. Additionally, we were shown a stone archway known as the Etruscan Gate that overlooked the rolling hills of Tuscany which is actually the oldest archway in Italy’s history. The view was absolutely astounding and one which pictures cannot do justice. These arches found throughout the city were once a critical component for the transportation of materials to surrounding city states. As a region ample in underground resources and still known as the “metal hills” for the presence of sulphur, alabaster, lead, tin and iron, this proved to be critical in the survival of residents during the attack by the Romans. The numerous and plentiful resources kept the Etruscans fighting for five years before they were forced to surrender their beloved city.
Additionally, we toured an alabaster workshop that was filled with years of art work. Roberto, who actually attended the art school in Rome, gave us a demonstration on how he uses a traditional carving apparatus to create beautiful art such as lamps, statues and dishes. This was a very unique experience as we not only got a taste of the local artisanship, but also a look into the past.
Overall, learning the unique history of Volterra has laid a foundation for understanding why Volterra is the way it is today. After the surrender of the city and development of the twelve city states, the population steadily decreased over time from 25,000 to 10,000. The town is streaked with Medieval and Renaissance influences throughout from the architecture (convents) to the narrow streets and churches. Additionally, this explained how the city is set up including original building structures and the presence of local artisans. This tour also set the stage for activities throughout the week in terms of understanding why different regions throughout Italy developed and share in different cultural practices. After the past few days exploring religious practices, food habits and the city’s important history, I cannot wait to see what the next few days have in store.
