We stood beneath this ancient Etruscan gate as our guide from Volterra told the story of the towns people who saved the gate from destruction at the end of World War II. The city was occupied by German soldiers and when they heard that the Allied armies were approaching, they posted a notice that the gate would be blown up at dawn the following morning. It was being done to impede the advancing army and locals were warned to stay away. The local residents pleaded with the German Officer to no avail. The men from Volterra had fought with the resistance and the only population remaining in Volterra were the women, children and the elderly. They gathered in the evening of June 30, 1944 and worked through the night prying up paving stones and stacking them inside the gate in order to block the gate. When morning came the Germans deemed it unnecessary to destroy the gate and left town using another gate on the opposite side of town. A plaque on the wall of the gate documents their efforts. Photos are still displayed nearby showing the blockage of the gate and the wild celebration that occurred when American troops arrived.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 22:00:00 +0000
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