Photographer's Note
Porta all’Arco (one of the town’s gateways) is the most famous architectural monument from Etruscan Volterra. It was built using different materials and techniques, and this is a sign of the modifications made over the centuries. The gateway has a stone arch, decorated with three sculpted heads on the outer façade. The doorposts are made of sandstone blocks and date to the 4th century BC.
The three heads and the arch date to the 3rd and 2nd century BC: The stone used is different: the ashlars of the arch are made from a calcareous stone from the neighbourhood of Volterra, while the heads are made of selagite a kind of stone coming from the area of Montecatini Val di Cecina.
It is still unclear what these three heads decorating the arch represent, eaten away by centuries of exposure to the strong winds coming from the sea. It is generally thought that they represent the triad of the Gods guardians of Volterra, Jove, Juno and Minerva from the Greek and Roman mythology. Alternatively, they could be Jove and the two Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux.
An urn housed in the Guarnacci Museum from the 1st century has an illustration of a siege taking place around a gateway decorated with three heads: this probably is the most ancient representation of Porta all’Arco existing. In the Middle Ages a further tower was added, on top of the Etruscan tower, of which we know little or nothing as it was demolished in 1544.
The gateway is the only Etruscan element remaining from the southern part of the ancient walls of Volterra, replaced by a more modern perimeter wall in the 13th century, following the same route.
Critiques | Translate
snunney
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 10627 W: 63 N: 29874]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(130967) 2016-12-08 2:44
Hello Daniel,
A very interesting story lies behind this historical gateway. The image is ideally exposed and has beautifully rich red tones. Superb rendering of the textural detail to be seen in the ancient stones.
npecanhuk
(79329) 2016-12-08 2:47
Hi Daniel!
Wonderful details!
Very beautiful, attractive, interesting and agreeable picture!
Sharpenss, exposure, colors, vertical format, black & white borders, chosen pov, contrasts and composition are all excellent photo qualities that I really enjoyed!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan
dta
(98848) 2016-12-08 4:26
Hello Daniel ,
A superb perspective through the old stoned gateway .
Regards
jhm
(211734) 2016-12-08 5:03
Hello Daniel,
A wonderful pictoresque picture with a look through, through the gate.
Sharpness and clarity are very well.
We see very well a very good composition.
A nice composition, TFS.
Very well done,
John
Sergiom
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 9717 W: 0 N: 11656]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(117241) 2016-12-08 5:53
Bonjour Daniel,
Cette photo parait très bien dans la galerie. Les couleurs explosent littéralement.J'aime le passage sous la voûte ainsi que ce que l'on voit de la rue au loin.
Amicalement
Serge
Nicou
(193806) 2016-12-08 7:38
Hello
Quelle vue de cette fameuse ville Toscane quelle entrée et porte quel arche et rendu sur la pierre et les tons et couleurs mervielleuse vue sueprbe.
Bravo et amitié
NMciou
Cricri
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 16597 W: 159 N: 27]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-s.gif){kind=small}
(176) 2016-12-08 10:16
Hi Daniel
Tout bon POV, les couleurs sont très belles, magnifique réalisation
amitiés
cricri
Silvio1953
(220443) 2016-12-08 10:26
Ciao Daniel, great view of fantastic gate, excellent perspective, fine details, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
cornejo
(61504) 2016-12-08 10:53
Hello Daniel, very good photograph of this beautiful and interesting composition with the interesting door and its beautiful content, very well captured in this beautiful image, with good clarity, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations, my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.
Good night and happy weekend.
Best wishes from the south of Spain.
Angel.
GyurMaster
(24668) 2016-12-08 11:30
Hello Daniel,
Very good composition and colours as usual! I wanna go through this gate and explore what is inside.
Best Wishes,
Gy.
PaulVDV
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6774 W: 24 N: 16009]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(62746) 2016-12-08 12:56
Hello Daniel,
Wow, this is really a very beautiful picture. I like it a lot.
A splendid view through the old town gate.
Beautiful textures of the stones, those of the wall and also those of the pavement.
And especially very attractive warm tones.
Best regards, Paul
ourania
(51103) 2016-12-08 13:28
Hello Daniel,
I like very much the solid and dynamic composition you created by placing the arch high in the frame and ensuring an attractive perspective through it. The sharp textures and the warm colours are enchanting and the contrast and mood added by the dark shadows and the yellow lights is superb too. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a good night,
Ourania
daddo
(28748) 2016-12-08 14:22
Hi Daniel. The stones speak of centuries gone by. Dramatic colours accentuated by excellent natural light. Inviting bend of the path and the fork ahead. Excellent DOF and sharpness. Regards. Klaudio.
bukitgolfb301
(54014) 2016-12-08 17:40
Hi dear Daniel
So stunning and impressive image at all. Great idea to peep the gate and focus on another same rocky buliket houses, so nice repeat. Macro and wide angle setting also cause very positive suppresing image.
All the best and have a good day! Takero
jemaflor
(146168) 2016-12-08 23:32
Hi Daniel,
Beautiful architecture with pleasant warm colors, light is well captured,good depth with the view of the street through this gate, tfs.
CamCam
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 16 W: 0 N: 97]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(515) 2016-12-09 13:41
I like this view through the arc toward the ancient town. Very natural colors.
Ciao
Cam
carlo62
(81265) 2016-12-09 13:43
Ciao Daniel
la bellissima porta etrusca che troviamo in tutti i libri di storia, l'hai fotografata molto bene e le luci artificiali hanno contribuito ad accentuare l'atmosfera.
Buon we
Carlo
adramad
(72524) 2016-12-12 15:01
Hello Daniel.
Stunning this ancient arch on the wall, one of the entrance gates in the town, beautiful as it is framed in the same old stone house that we see, a fantastic set.
Well done. I like it.
I wish you a nice week.
Best Regards.
Luis.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Daniel Draghici (dkmurphys)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5849 W: 83 N: 11987]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(79209) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2016-08-18
- Categories: Arquitectura
- Camera: Canon PowerShot G1 X
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Tema(s): Toscana [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2016-12-08 2:38
