Volterra AD 1398

A dive into the Middle Ages in the heart of Tuscany

Volterra AD 1398 is the grand historical medieval re-enactment that, for two Sundays in August, transports the ancient city of alabaster back to the year of our Lord 1398. Established in 1998, six hundred years after the date evoked by its name, the event is now one of the most famous and beloved re-enactments in the Valdicecina and all of Tuscany, drawing thousands of visitors every year to the stone alleys of this hilltop village in the province of Pisa.

The city that returns to the past

For the occasion, the entire historic center of Volterra turns into an open-air stage. Hundreds of participants in period costumes—nobles, ladies, knights, merchants, artisans, friars, soldiers, musicians, and jesters—populate the streets, recreating the daily life of the 14th-century city. Artisan workshops, market stalls, scenes of popular life, and constant street performances immerse visitors in an atmosphere that envelops squares and monuments from morning until late at night.

The Grosso volterrano

One of the most fascinating features of the festival is the suspension of the euro: within the event, the only currency in circulation is the Grosso volterrano, a reproduction of the ancient money used in the Middle Ages. The Grosso can be exchanged at dedicated exchange booths (one copper Grosso is worth 1.00 euro, five gold Grossi are worth 5.00 euros) and is used for purchases in the markets and taverns, where you can enjoy traditional food and drinks. Unused coins can be converted back into euros at the exchange office.

Shows, weapons, and ancient crafts

The program is marked by a rich succession of events: tournaments and parades of flag-wavers, exhibitions by crossbowmen and marksmen, historical processions, street theater, medieval music, dances, and demonstrations of ancient crafts. Alongside the historic center, the Enrico Fiumi Archaeological Park hosts a village with military camps, scenes of rural life, hermitages, animals, and displays of weaponry and falconry, completing the picture of a re-enactment curated in every detail.

Volterra and its heritage

The festival is also a prime opportunity to discover the rich heritage of the Municipality of Volterra: with the event ticket, it is possible to access numerous city museums and monuments, from the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum to the Palazzo dei Priori, from the Pinacoteca to the Alabaster Museum, and even the Roman Theater and the Etruscan acropolis. It is a way to combine the charm of the re-enactment with the discovery of one of the oldest and most fascinating art cities in Tuscany.