Volterra Baptistery, Volterra, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
The Baptistery of San Giovanni an octagonal 13th century religious building standing just in front of the Duomo of Volterra, in the center of the city. It was supposedly set up in the seventh century at the site of a Roman Temple dedicated to Sun worship. Only one of the sides has been furnished with green and white marble. The Romanesque Portal has been attributed to a follower of Nicola Pisano. The 16th-century altar inside has been assigned to Balsimelli da Settignano, using a design by Mino da Fiesole. It has a painting (partially damaged during World War Two of the Assumption of the Virgin by Niccolò Circignani. Beside that altar is a marble font (1502) is by Andrea Sansovino. The Ciborium (1471) was completed by Mino da Fiesole. The Baptismal font (1759) by Giovanni Vaccà. Above it rises a statue of St John the Baptist (1771) by Giovanni Antonio Cybei. The holy water receptacle is an ancient Roman sarcophagus.
Places to see in ( Volterra - Italy ) Baptistery
Places to see in ( Volterra - Italy ) Baptistery
Just in front of the cathedral lies the Baptistery of San Giovanni with a design that is typical of large Baptisteries dotted around Italy. It shows an interesting synthesis of style and decoration taken from the Pisan and Florentine areas while its architectural grandeur demonstrates the importance of baptism as a Christian rite. An intriguing feature of Italian Baptisteries is their often octagonal shape. This is typical of the style used from the XI to XIV centuries and reflects the religious symbolism of the number eight, with both the world beginning and Jesus rising from the dead on the eighth day.
The site of the Baptistery was dedicated by the Ancient Romans to sun worship. As pagan rites became entwined with Christianity the site was taken over by the Catholic church and the octagonal Baptistery is thought to have been completed by the XIII century. The dome was added later in the XV century under the direction of Brunelleschi. For some reason, only one of its eight sides was finished with the attractive intarsia pattern of dark green and white marble seen today. The arched and recessed Romanesque entrance is attributed to the workshop of Nicola Pisano and is finished with sculpted heads of Christ, the Virgin, and the Apostles.
In comparison to the sumptuous richness of the cathedral, the interior of the Baptistery is starker and simpler, lined with warm cream-colored sandstone.
The Baptistery contains a fine XVI century altar, considered to be the work of Balsimelli da Settignano. This is topped by a wood panel containing a scene from The Assumption of the Virgin painted by Niccolò Circignani. Until a recent restoration, visitors could see the damage inflicted on this painting during the Second World War. The altar is finished with a marble frieze, the work of Mino da Fiesole and Alessandro Balsimelli from Settignano.
A font lies at the heart of any Baptistery and here visitors will find two fine examples. The early XVI century marble font repeats the building's octagonal theme and stands next to the altar. It is decorated with scenes depicting The Baptism of Christ and the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity and is the work of Andrea Sansovino. It is topped by a ciborium canopy completed by Mino da Fiesole.
The mid-XVII century saw the introduction of a much larger central Baptismal Font carved by Giovanni Vaccà and surmounted by a statue of St. John the Baptist sculpted by Giovanni Antonio Cybei. Holy water is held in an ancient Roman Sarcophagus, showing that upcycling is not a new phenomenon. The number three plays a significance in the rituals of baptism, with many fonts having three steps up to them, immersion taking place three times and very often the large-scale baptism of new citizens taking place three times a year.
( Volterra - Italy ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Volterra . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Volterra - Italy
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Places to see in ( Volterra - Italy )
Places to see in ( Volterra - Italy )
Volterra is a walled town southwest of Florence, in Italy. The central Palazzo dei Priori has medieval frescoes and a bell tower with expansive views. Volterra Cathedral has a marble entrance and a gilded coffered ceiling. Nearby are the remains of the Etruscan Acropolis. The Guarnacci Etrurian Museum has a rich collection of archaeological artifacts. The Roman Theater complex includes the ruins of 3rd-century baths.
Volterra is a charming town situated in the province of Pisa, not far from Florence, Siena and the coast as well. It is well known for its Etruscan origins and for the many remains belonging to this era.
Velathri, the Etruscan name of the town, was one of the twelve main towns that belonged to the Etruscan confederation; at the end of the 4th century BC, the 7300 meters long fortification walls were built up to protect not only the urban center, but also the surrounding fountains, cultivated fields and pastures from foreign invasions. After the Frankish and Lombard dominions, Volterra passed under Roman control and changed its name into Volaterrae (where the modern name comes from); later, it fell under Florentine supremacy until the town passed under the Grand Duchy of Tuscany before finally becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.
Today, Volterra is particularly renowned for its peculiar urban layout that reminds us of its Etruscan origins: people can still visit part of the majestic protective walls built during the 5th to 4th centuries BC - including the well-preserved Porta dell'Arco and Porta Diana, two gates for entering the city - as well as the Acropolis that houses several buildings and the foundations of two ancient temples. There are many Roman remains to visit as well, like the Roman Theater, dating back to the end of the first century AC, built in a natural amphiteatheater shape area. For more suggestions on what to see in Volterra, take a look at our top sights to see in in Volterra.
Stroll down the historical center, step back in time and enjoy the timeless atmopsphere that surrounds the town: taste its typical products and visit the handicraft workshops, where you'll find many ideas for souvenirs from Tuscany, especially alabaster hand-made objects, which Volterra is famous worldwide for.
Volterra's well-preserved medieval ramparts give the windswept town a proud, forbidding air that author Stephenie Meyer deemed ideal for the discriminating tastes of the planet's principal vampire coven in her wildly popular Twilight series. Fortunately, the reality is considerably more welcoming, as a wander through the winding cobbled streets attests.
Alot to see in Volterra such as :
Roman Theatre of Volterra
Piazza dei Priori
Palazzo dei Priori
Pinacoteca
Volterra Cathedral
Volterra Baptistery of San Giovanni
Fortezza Medicea (Medicean Fortress)
Guarnacci Etruscan Museum
The Etruscan City Walls
The Medici Villa di Spedaletto
( Volterra - Italy ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Volterra . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Volterra - Italy
Join us for more :
Volterra, Tuscany part 2
Part 2: In Volterra the Baptistery and Cathedral form the core of Piazza San Giovani, the religious center of town, with a history reaching back nearly 1,000 years. Annie Adair, local guide, explains the significance of the sites. See her web site for information about Volterra.
Volterra, Tuscany, Italy
Volterra, in Tuscany, Italy is one of the most attractive of all the Tuscan walled towns. It's amazingly preserved. The town is about a thousand years old and the buildings we see today easily date back to the Middle Ages and the earliest foundations of Volterra go back to the Etruscan days, nearly 3000 years ago. This movie features local Tuscan guide, Annie Adair, who will take us on an extended walking tour through Volterra. Annie explains about the history, architecture, culture and daily life in the city today. She conducts regular tours in Volterra and Tuscany, and can be found at her website, for more information.
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This is a newly-revised version of an earlier video on Volterra.
Siena (Italy ) - Baptisterium
Baptistery
On the rear of the cathedral as an extension of them. Built in 1317 - 1382 Domenico D'Agostino's work. The marble
The reliefs are made by Giovani fountain of Turinno, Donnatelo, Lorenzo Giberti. Pisano's school Statues
Background music, Haydn, Symphony No. 100 sequences
Pisa Baptistery June 2019
An example of the superb acoustics inside the Pisa Baptistery.
Church of St. Michael, Volterra, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
The Church of St. Michael is located in Volterra, in the province of Pisa, diocese of Volterra. It is remembered for the first time in 987. The present building, from the 13th century, has a gabled façade, in the lower register, by a series of two-tone striped marble arches supported by elegant capitals; in the center there is a deep splayed portal with leaf capitals and human figures. The same design is present in the upper register. The interior underwent profound transformations between 1826 and 1827 that changed its original appearance, creating a neoclassical classroom. In the presbytery there is a Madonna and Child by Andrea della Robbia in glazed terracotta (15th century), enclosed in a marble tabernacle sculpted by the Balsimelli of Settignano; a Sacred Family by Carlo Maratta (XVII century), and the Madonna del Riscatto, a fresco attributed to Cenni by Francesco di ser Cenni (XV century) are also to be mentioned.
Battistero - Volterra Television YOUTUBE
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Battistero del XIII secolo, con un portale romanico ed il fonte battesimale di A. Sansovino (1502). - Volterra (Pisa)
Volterra
(English and italian version)
Photographer: Sandro Sansone
Directed and created by Sandro Sansone
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Volterra stands on a rocky hill some 1770 feet above the sea level, located between the rivers Bra and Cecina, and is surrounded by strong walls. The district is rich in alabaster, the working of which was an important industry of the city, and in mineral waters, such as those of S. Felice and the Moie, or salt springs. Still more important are the Soffoni of Larderello, from which boric acid is extracted, the sulphur lake of Monterotondo, the copper springs of Caporciano, and the baths of Montecatini Val di Cecina.
The Cathedral (duomo) of Volterra, consecrated by Callistus II in 1120, was enlarged by Andrea Pisano in 1254, and again in 1576. The high altar is adorned with sculpture by Mino da Fiesole. Among the pictures is an Annunciation by Luca Signorelli, and there are pictures by Benvenuto di Giovanni, Leonardo da Pistoia, and others. In the baptistery (1283) are a font by Sansovino and a ciborium by Mino da Fiesole. The Palazzo Publico (1217) holds the extensive archives of the city. The Palazzo Tagani houses an important museum of Etruscan and Roman antiquities.
In the Etruscan period, Volterra, called Felathri by the Etruscans and Volaterrae by the Romans, was one of the most important cities in the Etruscan Confederation. From the period of the kings, it was at war with Rome. In 298 B.C., when he became consul, Scipio gained a victory here over the Etruscan armies. In the Punic Wars, however, the city was allied with Rome. In 80 B.C. it was taken by Sulla, after a siege of two years. Remains of the ancient surrounding walls, including the Etruscan the Porta dell' Arco, may still be seen, as well as of baths, an aqueduct, an amphitheatre, and, above all, of several Etruscan burial places.
In the Carlovingian period, Volterra belonged to the Marquisate of Tuscany. With the approval of Henry, son of Barbarossa, the government of it afterwards passed into the hands of the bishop, until his temporal authority was suspended by the commune. In the wars or factions of the thirteenth century, Volterra, being Ghibelline, was continually embroiled with the Florentines, who captured it in 1254, but obtained definitive possession of it only in 1361. In the middle of the city rises the Rocca Vecchia, built in 1343 by the Duke of Athens and enlarged by the Florentines. In 1472, it attempted a rebellion against Florence but without success, and was then deprived of many of its rights.
The richness of the Etruscan finds made in and near Volterra make it a mecca for enthusiasts of all things Etruscan, with an unparalleled collection of Etruscan antiquities being displayed in the Guarnacci Museum.-
Volterra: dagli etruschi al Rinascimento, la storia tra le mura
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La storia di Volterra è segnata da numerose lotte e dal passaggio del territorio per le mani di molti conquistatori. Principalmente fu abitata degli etruschi: furono loro a creare la città di Velathri nel IV secolo a.C. incorporando tutti gli insediamenti che si erano creati sul colle fin dal Neolitico, e costruendo una lunga cinta muraria. Fu appena un secolo dopo invasa dai romani e sottomessa al loro impero, di cui fu un florido municipio, fino all'arrivo delle invasioni barbariche. Fu dominata dai goti, poi dai bizantini e in seguito dai longobardi. Nel Medioevo Volterra riuscì a diventare libero comune, prima di cadere nelle mani dei Medici di Firenze. Con la caduta della signoria medicea vi fu un progressivo periodo di decadenza che durò fino all'Ottocento. Con l'Unità di Italia la città diede avvio a una serie di opere di riqualificazione del territorio urbano, modificando i collegamenti stradali ed edificando numerosi edifici. Oggi qualche industria contribuisce all'economia di Volterra, ma i turisti sono sempre la sua fonte di reddito più preziosa.
I luoghi da visitare a Volterra conservano tutti il passaggio delle varie popolazioni che l'hanno abitata, e le tracce delle varie epoche sono perfettamente visibili. I resti etruschi come quelli romani fanno da contraltare agli stupendi palazzi dell'era rinascimentale, rendendo questo comune un piccolo capolavoro tra i gioielli della Toscana. Inoltre, come nella miglior tradizione strategico-militare dell'antichità, Volterra è eretta su un colle a oltre 500 metri d'altitudine: un tempo da là sopra si avvistavano i nemici, oggi si ha un ampio sguardo sulla stupenda campagna toscana.
Volterra in 4 minuti
vedere,
dormire,mangiare,comprare
con introduzione descrittiva della città
FIRENZE - Il Battistero - Florence - The Baptistery
Firenze Maggio 2015 - Il Battistero è dedicato a San Giovanni Battista patrono della città , sorge difronte al Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore in Piazza San Giovanni .
Volterra
Sereno Variabile a Volterra
Amazing Place Florence Baptistery
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L'antica Badia Camaldolese di Volterra torna a splendere
Dopo anni di lavori è stata riaperta al pubblico, nelle scorse settimane, l'antica chiesa della Badia Camaldolese di Volterra. Una riapertura ad uso turistico che propone questo antico e suggestivo luogo di culto come una sorta di San Galgano volterrana.
After years of work has been reopened to the public in recent weeks, the ancient church of the Camaldolese Abbey of Volterra. Be reopened for tourism offering this ancient and charming place of worship as a sort of San Galgano Volterra.
MOV01567.AVI
On the way to baptizing the people. After 9 kilometers we reached this place. This tells the need to construct baptisteries.
Paestum And Naples, 1950's - Film 4948
Amateur home movie of Pisa, Paestum, Naples and the Amalfi coast.
Two shots of the leaning tower of Pisa. The baptistery in Piazza del Duomo. Two shaky pans of the city and the gulf of Naples from above. Abbey of Montecassino. Closer shot of the Abbey. Hazy landscape through an archway. Detail of the Abbey: bifora windows. Immense view from the Abbey, vast green valley and mountains in the background. Mediterranean-looking white house on the side of a mountain, with steep steps that go all the way to the top, where there are more houses. Two pans of Amalfi and the sea below. Another house built on the side of a mountain. View of the mountains of Amalfi. Houses in the centre of Amalfi. Parents and their two children hold hands. Two shots of lemons resting on a surface in the street, perhaps for sale. Four happy Italian children pose for the camera. They sit and play with rocks on the beach, push each other, then walk away. Group of children playing around a fountain. View of the tower of Saint Andrew's Cathedral, duomo of Amalfi, and of the church itself. Brief shot of il Chiostro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise). Typical ceramic plates and souvenirs from Amalfi. Long shot of the Amalfi coast from afar. Ruins of a Roman town, mountains in the background. Roman road by the Greek site of Paestum and view of the temples. Bright shot of a temple. Pan of the temples. Three shots of the Temple of Athena. Many shots of the Second Temple of Hera. Trees around Paestum. The Second Temple of Hera once again. Two shots of the ruins. A column. Temple of Athena. Front and side of the Temple of Athena. Long shot of the ruins of the Roman town by the temples.
Italy: Hill Towns of Tuscany & Umbria – Rick Steves Travel Talks
In this travel class, Rick Steves describes Italy's Tuscany and Umbria — adjoining regions famous for their scenery, food, wine, and fine cities and hill towns (including Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano, Orvieto, Civita, and Assisi). Visit for more European travel information.
Pisa - Plaza del Duomo.mpg
The Piazza del Duomo contains four masterpieces of medieval architecture from the 11th to the 14th centuries: the cathedral, the baptistery, the Campanile (the Leaning Tower) and the cemetery .UNESCO Heritage