The aim of the Alabaster Ecomuseum is to exhibit more than just a simple collection of objects. Instead it displays an entire territory, its history and its chief economic resource. This museum is an exhibition of time and space, a museum of time because of its focus on well-defined historical sectors, while following an extensive period spanning right to the present day; a museum of space because the ecomuseum formula is correlated to the particular geomorphological and environmental features of the district.

The Alabaster Ecomuseum offers four themed itineraries (The excavation itinerary, Processing and sales itinerary, Punto Museale Centrale and Area archives) which are developed in the Municipalities of Santa Luce, Castellina Marittima and Volterra.

The Volterra Alabaster museum is housed in the medieval Torre Minucci, adjoining the Pinacoteca Comunale. The display describes the history of alabaster working from the Etruscan period to today through a voyage that is original in a number of aspects: the recovery of the stone and the working techniques (technique and material), decorative shapes and the reference models (stylistic), and finally the alabaster market and its diffusion, the life of the alabaster worker and the activity of the workshop (economic and social), all told through a careful selection of testimonies.

The most exemplary objects are two alabaster cinerary urns from the Etruscan age, two capitals, unique examples of alabaster working in the Medieval period, a collection of prized 17th and 18th century sculptures, and a selection of alabaster medallions.

Opening Times
From 16/3 to 1/11
Monday to Sunday and public holidays from 11am to 5pm
From 2/11 to 15/3
Saturday and Sunday from 7pm to 1.30pm
Closed 1/1 and 25/12

Tickets
• € 3.50
• Over 65s, students and children ages 6 to 18: € 2.50
• Family ticket (parents + 2 children ages 6 to 18): € 8.00
• School groups: € 2.50
• Groups (min. 10 people): € 2.50
• Children under 6: free

Information
For further information, to book guided visits and school services contact Sistema Museo on 800 223300, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Note
The museum is housed in the Palazzo Minucci Solaini - Torre Minucci, Via dei Sarti, 1.

Directions from Pisa
By car
Take the Strada di Grande Comunicazione Firenze-Pisa-Livorno (S.G.C. FI-PI-LI), take the Pontedera-Ponsacco exit, continue along the SS 439 towards Volterra.
By train/bus
Take a train for Florence (Firenze SMN), get off at Pontedera (10-15 min ride) and take the CPT bus to Volterra (bus stop is 50 metres from railway station, on the left side).