For me, this old arch was a 5 on the scale of historic attractions. As I looked at it, I wondered about life here when it was first constructed. They were very different times.

You need to be in relatively good shape if you plan to make the walk down over the hill from city center to see the arch because the hill is fairly steep. However, if you make the walk, you will become witness to the engineering and masonry skills of a people (Etruscans) who lived long ago.

Looking at the wall again, I knew that on the day they were finishing the arch, those who constructed it could have had no idea what the world would look like today. You can see my trip to the wall was a philosophical journey through time. I loved it!!

My wife and I got used to seeing Roman monuments during our trip to northern Italy, but in this case we were treated to an up-close look at a structure that easily pre-dates the Roman era. As other reviewers have noted, the arch has much more recent history associated with it as well. We found it interesting that there are people living right next door.

Not only is this a pretty impressive stone arch built during the height of the Etruscan Empire, but it has an interesting modern twist also. During WWII, the Volterrans were afraid that the Nazis were going to blow the arch to slow down Allied forces, so they took it apart stone by stone and filled in the arch. It was reconstructed after the war's end.

Not for travellers with mobility issues as it is on a steep hill down from the main centre. If you can though it is well worth the effort. The gate has a history and tells a story through time-the views from the ancient walls are spectacular.