Volterra – Etruscan Gate
Lisa told us an interesting story about the ancient Etruscan gate which has stood as an entry to Volterra for more than 2000 years. During WW2 as the Germans prepared to retreat north in the face of Allied advances, they planned to blow up the treasured gate. In the night, the local citizens filled the arch with pavers torn from the nearby streets making the arch impassible and no longer worth the German’s dwindling supply of explosives, thereby saving the ancient gate. It is believed that the keystone rock in this arch is what gave the Romans the idea for the construction of arches in the manner that they so successfully adopted.
Lisa told us an interesting story about the ancient Etruscan gate which has stood as an entry to Volterra for more than 2000 years. During WW2 as the Germans prepared to retreat north in the face of Allied advances, they planned to blow up the treasured gate. In the night, the local citizens filled the arch with pavers torn from the nearby streets making the arch impassible and no longer worth the German’s dwindling supply of explosives, thereby saving the ancient gate. It is believed that the keystone rock in this arch is what gave the Romans the idea for the construction of arches in the manner that they so successfully adopted.
wow- that is history!!!
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