The Cathedral of Volterra

The Cathedral was built in 1120 on a pre-existing church entitle to Saint Mary and later it was enlarged by Nicola Pisano (1220-1278).

The facade is divided in two orders by heavy pillars. It presents a fine portal and a large rose-window.

On the right side of the building is placed the Cappella dell’Addolorata (Chapel of Distressed) where it is possible to admire a crib of earthenware by Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525) and several frescoes. At the bottom of the Cathedral raises a wonderful belfry.

The interior of the Cathedral was restored during the sixteenth and the nineteenth centuries. It was built on the plant of a Latin cross with three aisles divided by columns surmounted by capitals.

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In the middle aisle it is possible to admire a coffered ceiling portraying some saint’s chests. Inside the Cathedral there are a monument built on 1840 by Aristodemo Costoli (1803-1871), consacred to the Archbishop of Florence, Francesco Gaetano Incontri, and Mario Maffei’s sepulchre, the Bishop of Cavaillon.

In the right aisle it is possible to admire some altars portraying saints and scenes of the Holy Scriptures like the Glorification of Our Lady painted in 1578 by Peter de Witte (1548-1628) and the Nativity of Our Lady by Francesco Curradi (1570-1661).

The high altar is placed in the presbytery between two columns surmounted by two angels holding candlesticks up built by Mino da Fiesole (1429-1484), who also built the marble-made tabernacle placed on the high altar.

In the left aisle is placed a fine pulpit built on four little columns formed by marble-made sculptures portraying two lions, an ox and a bull.

Inside the Cathedral it is possible to admire some fine chapels such as the Saint Ottaviano’s Chapel where there is an arch built in 1522 by Raffaele Cioli placed between two angels holding candlesticks up and the Chapel of Deposition that holds inside a series of polychrome wooden pictures.