Volterra - Citadel

(Local Name: Fortezza Medicea) On the highest point of the hill is the massive fortezza, one of the mightiest Renaissance strongholds in Italy (now a penal establishment; not open to the public). The Rocca Vecchia (Old Castle) at the east end was built in the 14th century, the Rocca Nuova (New Castle) in 1472-75 for Lorenzo de' Médici. The central round tower of the New Castle (built 1472 onwards) is known as the Maschio (Male), the semi-elliptical tower of the Old Castle as the Femmina (Female).