Volterra in Tuscany is one of the most beautiful villages. Volterra is named in most of the guides, but only few of them spare the deserved attention to this village and will likely drive you to other more famous places. Efffetti Wedding in Tuscany selected Volterra as one of the locations where you can celebrate incredible weddings feeling like a princess in an ancient mansion. You can have a look at this amazing village in the pictures on the site wedding in Tuscany, here is a brief trip among Volterra’s streets.
The first settlements in Volterra date back to the Neolithic Age. Etruscan began to spread out from 8th century BC and built huge defensive walls in the 4th Century BC. You can today see them all with their famous doors. Walls were critical, together with the position of the village (on top of a hill) to have this people growing.
With the original name of Velathri, Volterra was one of the most important of the 12 city states of Etruria (former name for Tuscany). In the 3rd Century BC Volterra had to resign to Romans domination.
Relationships with Roma were alternatively good and factious. The city experienced good and bad of the Roman empire, and yet you can see reminiscence of it in the Roman Theater ruins dated 1st century BC.
In the middle ages (from the 5th century AD) Volterra became the diocese of a vast area (which is still today). In the following centuries the Bishops of Volterra earned more and more power, with great political influence and autonomy. In the 9th century AD the Carolingian emperors conceded Volterra 4 markets and as many religious feast days and markets were exempted from taxes!
After the last Hungarian invasion in the 12th century AD the first medieval quarters of the city were created. This violent century saw the conflicts between nobility and bishop’s rule. This reached the climax in 1150 when Galgano dei Pannocchieschi became bishop. As a symbol of free Comune in 1208 the construction of Palazzo dei Priori started, to end in 1257. This fabulous building is still today one of the centers of the Comune di Volterra, and civil weddings will take place in its marvelous rooms.
In the later years even Volterra was involved in the war with Florence between Guelfs and Ghibelline, and in 1472 Volterra resigned to Lorenzo De’ Medici and Florence.
Since then many families increased their power and thanks to the empowered defensive walls Volterra did not undergo many changes in the renaissance.
But yet many private houses were enriched and still today they can be visited and in Palazzo Viti Efffetti wedding in Tuscany can organize wedding ceremonies (unfortunately only if without children).
After a new rebellion against Florence and the Medici in 1530 Volterra lost definitively and became completely dependent to the Duchy and then to the grand Duchy of Tuscany and began its decline to the 18th century AD.
Alabastro, which is still today one of the typical productions of Volterra, became the artistic strength of the city and you can buy some as a memento of this magnificent and yet not famous village.
Volterra is also a set for the new movie from the book by S. Meyer “New Moon” following the first one Twilight.
Efffetti wedding in Tuscany is an experienced agency specialized in coordinating weddings for non Italian couples and can offer special promo packages for weddings in Volterra. To contact them you can visit the site www.weddingintuscany.info and request for a quotation.
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