• Italy News
  • Italian politics
  • Books on Italy
  • Travel
    • Italy Travel Links
  • Italian food
    • Italian Wine
  • Good Italian Things
  • Italy
    • Italian music
    • Art
    • Life in Italy
    • Italians
    • Italian Design
    • Language
    • Events
    • Milan
    • Speeding fines
  • Property for Sale
  • Home
  • Most Read
  • Shop
    • Alex Roe’s Photography
  • About
    • Blog View
    • Contribute
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Centre
    • Privacy Preferences
      • Privacy – Complaints
      • Privacy – Data Rectification
      • Privacy – Right to be forgotten
      • Privacy – Copy of Data
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies

Italy Chronicles

The Italy You Don't Know

You are here: Home / Italy / Events / Volterra 1398 or 2013?

Volterra 1398 or 2013?

August 15, 2013 by David Wineman

Both actually, because between the 18th and 25th of August, Volterra in Tuscany steps back in time and sloughs off the centuries for its 16th annual Medieval Festival.

All of this takes place in this exquisite, walled hilltop town, a jewel in the much bejeweled Tuscan crown. But Volterra’s history stretches much further back to its more ancient origins under the Romans and, more particularly, the Etruscans. It is, after all, how Tuscany got its name.

Volterra in Tuscany -Photo by Andrés Nieto Porras
Volterra in Tuscany – Photo by Andrés Nieto Porras

The theme for this year’s festival is Mystery, Religion and Superstition. Here you will find the town filled with medieval priests and peasants. There will be lords and ladies, knights, artisans, jugglers and musicians, who will re-enact the life of the town in those times. You will see ancient ways and skills lovingly reproduced and feel the vibrancy and the magical, spell-bound atmosphere of the Middle Ages in one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany.

Euro – No Go!

Volterra Street
A Volterra Street © Jenny Mead

Of course you cannot be expected to participate in, or purchase goods or services during the celebration days of the 18th and 25th, using a currency as modern as the Euro. Oh no! You have to buy the currency of the time- Il Grosso. One copper Grosso will be given in exchange for one Euro, but don’t worry if you do not spend them all, because they will be re-purchased at the same rate.

Piazza dei Priori Volterra
Piazza dei Priori Volterra © Jenny Mead

Sounds intriguing doesn’t it? We certainly think so, because we are packing up the faithful camper van and heading off there next week, to our favorite site – Le Balze, right in the heart of the San Guisto district, a little jewel within a jewel.

So if you are in Tuscany, why not take the time to check it out for yourself?  Failing that, keep reading Italy Chronicles, because Jenny and I will be featuring the festival in all its glory in an extended article. If we ever get back from 1398, that is!

By David Wineman with contributions from Jenny M Want

David Wineman
David Wineman

David Wineman is the pen name of a retired international businessman who has always harboured a passion for writing.

Having retired from a life of travel, he found himself with the time he needed to write, so he put his passion to work and the result was the birth of his debut novel Simon Says.

You can find out more about David’s book here: Simon Says by David Wineman

Or visit David’s website: David Wineman

Note: Italy Chronicles may earn an affiliate commission if you purchase something through links in articles on this website. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Recently Added

An example of Milan's architecture - The red topped UniCredit Tower

Explore Milan’s Architecture with this Book

Visit Florence and see the magnificent Ponte Vecchio

Where to Get Trenitalia Tickets for Your Tour of Italy

Read More on Italy Chronicles

  • Learning Italian?
  • Autumn and Winter Food
  • Good Italian Things
  • Italian News
  • Italy How to’s
  • Images of Italy
  • Italian Wine
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestmail

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Tuscany

You are logged in. Thank you for subscribing.
Thank you for subscribing
Previous article: Italian Rogues of the Week: The Ligresti Family
Next article: Astonishing Barga with Added Haggis
Google
Custom Search

Italy Travel Ideas

Piazza della Loggia Brescia

Visit Italy and See Beautiful Unknown Brescia

An Italian Euscorpius italicus Scorpion

A Spider in Bed? This is Much Worse

Lake Garda offers visitors spectacular views

Seven Things to See and Do on Lake Garda – Part Two

Frasassi Caves in Le Marche, Italy

Unexplored Marche – From the Frasassi caves to the Colli Esini

Milan's Duomo Cathedral

Ten Popular Milan Travel Guides for Expo Visitors

You are logged in. Thank you for subscribing.

Copyright © 2021 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Menu
  • Italy News
  • Italian politics
  • Books on Italy
  • Travel
    ▲
    • Italy Travel Links
  • Italian food
    ▲
    • Italian Wine
  • Good Italian Things
  • Italy
    ▲
    • Italian music
    • Art
    • Life in Italy
    • Italians
    • Italian Design
    • Language
    • Events
    • Milan
    • Speeding fines
  • Property for Sale