volterra is a town in the tuscany region of italy. The town was a neolithic settlement and an important etruscan center with an original civilization; it became a municipium in the roman age. the city was a bishop's residence in the 5th century and its episcopal power was affirmed during the 12th century. with the decline of the episcopate, volterra was the subject of the interest of florence, which defeated volterra many times though rebellions sometimes took place. when the florentine republic fell in 1530, volterra came under the control of the Medici family and later followed the history of the grand duchy of tuscany.
