Submitted by Brynn Dayton on the 2019 summer session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…
This week, we stayed in a small learning village outside of Volterra. One of the activities from this week was a guided walking tour of Volterra. I really enjoyed the tour because it allowed me to have a greater appreciation for the city and the history behind it. On the tour, we learned all about the city both the ancient and more recent historical perspectives. My favorite spot was the ancient bath and theatre. The spot used to be covered up by ancient garbage that turned into a hill where they used to have a donkey race track and a soccer field. The spot was excavated about 20 years ago by 50 men from the local psychiatric hospital who volunteered to spend 10 years of their life on the project. Some men were even deemed mentally stable and were released from the psychiatric hospital throughout the project. I really had a moment of deep admiration for the people of the city and their appreciation and dedication to the history of their home.