The historic town of Volterra lies in a relatively isolated spot in a bleak and hilly landscape, at an altitude of 1,804 ft (550m). Between the 4th and 7th century B.C. the Etruscan city state of “Velathri” was the agricultural centre of Etruria . The town was favoured by the Carolingians and Franks for its strategic location and its rich mineral resources. Its heyday came in the Middle Ages when the city took on its present shape. Today, Volterra’s 14,400 inhabitants make a living from alabaster and from the tourist industry. Things to see include: The Rocca Nuova: A great Renaissance fortress which towers over the city from the heights where the Etruscan acropolis stood, The Torre Buonparenti: Volterra had a large number of torre (house-towers) in the Middle Ages - these were used not only for defence against outside attack but for protection during civil strife and the frequent intra-family feuds. The Roman Theatre: Excavations in the 1950s revealed the ruins of a temple dedicated to the goddess Bona, as well as a theatre and a bathhouse. The bathhouse, which lies directly to the rear, was laid out in the first half of the 4th century A.D. from material taken from the then ruined theatre. The Museo Etrusco Guarnacci: contains one of the greatest assemblages of Etruscan art in Italy. It includes artefacts from the prehistoric era up to the Roman times, and its collection of 600 Etruscan cinerary urns is world famous. The Piazza dei Priori: The focus of political power in medieval Volterra. Lined with both private and public palaces, this square is today one of the finest examples from this era in all of Tuscany.