The 2025 Morgan Europe Trip

March 10, 2025 Today's adventure took us to Volterra, Italy. Volterra dates from the Bronze age to the present day and was a major center of the Etruscan League. Here's what Google has to say about the Etruscan League:

The Etruscan League was a loose confederation of twelve Etruscan city-states in ancient Italy, believed to have existed between 600 and 500 BC, where leaders from each city would meet annually at a sacred site called the Fanum Voltumnae to discuss religious and potentially some political matters, essentially acting as a forum for the Etruscan people; although the exact nature of the league's power and function remains debated by historians due to limited information about their organization.

Volterra was conquered by the Romans around the third century B.C. which takes us to our first site, the Monumental Area at Vallebona. It consists of the remains of a grand Roman theatre of the Imperial epoch, built between 1 B.C. and 20 A.D., in honor of Augustus and Tiberius.

Seen from above.

We had to pass through an entry spot in the wall surrounding the old part of the city to gain access to the city.

Inside the wall

"Busy street"

Old town close quarters

Next was the Baptistery of San Giovanni embellished (not sure what that means precisely) in 1283.

Exterior of Baptistery

Interior. The fonte 1759, and the statue 1771.

The Ascension of Jesus into heaven 1591.

A smaller baptismal fonte 1502.

Same picture from above, but look closely a the top of the painting where the plaster(?) has fallen away. You can see the artist's pencil marks, I think.

This church is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, consecrated in 1120 with other exterior parts dating back to the 13th century.

Inside, looking to the front altar.

Closer to the front altar.

The ceiling.

Where the choir sings, under the organ pipes.

We took time to take in the elevation sites. All these small towns are on top of hills because of defense purposes.

The next church was 'stumbled upon'. (It happens a lot!) St. Lino (Linus) Church is built over the spot of St. Linus' house. Born in Volterra in 18 A.D., the young Linus soon went to Rome to study. He became a friend of the Apostle Peter and was chosen by Peter himself as his successor to guide the Church of Rome. He was mentioned at the end of the Second Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy. He was an admirable example of virtue for all followers of the Gospel, so much so that he did not hesitate to face death at the hands of the pagans in the year 76.

The door to go in. (Not much to look at.)

Plaque next to the door.

The inside. A little more impressive than the front door!

The next church, St. Francis Church built around 1270. (St. Frances of Assisi died in 1226.) St. Francis wasn't here, just a Franciscan Convent community.

The final church of the day, Chiesa dei Santi Giusto e Clemente with some cool cats on the steps! The church was begun on October 28, 1628 and finished in 1775! It replaced a pre-existing church built over the remains of Saints Justus and Clement.