VOLTERRA (anc. Volaterrae), a town and episcopal see of Tuscany, Italy, in the province of Pisa, from which it is 51 m. by rail S.E., and 35 by road W.N.W. from Siena. Pop. (1931) 6,355 (town) ; 19,054 (commune). It stands on a com manding olive-clad eminence 1,785 ft. above sea-level, with a magnificent view over mountains and sea (the latter some 20 m. distant), and is surrounded by the massive remains of its ancient walls of large, roughly-rectangular blocks of stone, some 41 m. in circuit, enclosing an area which must have been larger than was actually needed for habitation. Tombs of the later Villanova period (end of the 9th century B.c.) have been found within its circuit, but only at the north-west extremity. Here the clay of which the hill is formed is gradually giving way, causing land slips and the collapse of buildings, notably of the abbey church of S. Salvatore (I030) and SS. Giusto e Clemente. The mediaeval town occupies only the southern portion of this area. The most important relic of its Etruscan period is the Porta dell' Arco, an archway 20 ft. high, the corbels of which are adorned with almost obliterated heads. Volterra contains many picturesque mediaeval towers and houses. The Palazzo dei Priori (1208-57), contain ing the picture gallery, is especially fine, and the Piazza Maggiore in which it stands most picturesque. The museum contains a valuable collection of Etruscan antiquities, especially cinerary urns from ancient tombs of alabaster, with the figure of the de ceased on the lid, and reliefs from Greek myths on the front.
They belong to the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.c. The cathedral, en larged and adorned by Pisan artists in 1254, has a fine pulpit of that period, and on the high altar are sculptures by Mino da Fiesole ; it contains several good pictures. The sacristy has fine carvings. The baptistery (1283) has a font by Andrea San sovino, and a ciborium by Mino da Fiesole. Both these buildings are in black and white marble. S. Francesco has frescoes of 1410, and S. Girolamo terra-cottas by Giovanni della Robbia and pic tures. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of vases and other ornaments from alabaster found in the vicinity.
Volaterrae (Etruscan Velathri) was one of the most powerful of the 12 confederate cities of Etruria. During the war between Marius and Sulla it withstood the latter's troops for two years in 82-8o B.C. In the 12th and 13th centuries it enjoyed free institu tions; in 1361 it fell under the power of Florence. It rebelled, but was retaken and pillaged in 1472.