Museo della Tortura

About the museum

The Volterra museum is one of the permanent museums born from the travelling exhibition against torture, launched in 1983 in Florence, which over the years has grown into a collection of more than a thousand pieces, divided among five permanent museums and as many travelling exhibitions. The project aims to document, in a historical and sober manner, the violation of human rights and to encourage reflection against torture and the death penalty; in this spirit the exhibition is presented in historic buildings such as towers and castles.

The Volterra collection brings together machines and devices of torture, capital punishment and public humiliation from various European countries. Some pieces are rare originals dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, while others are philological reconstructions from the 19th and 20th centuries of ancient models that can no longer be found. The devices are accompanied by engravings, prints and period paintings.

The route is accompanied by illustrations and explanatory notes in several languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. Proceeds fund the educational activities of the initiative and the creation of further permanent anti-torture museums.

Highlights

• Original instruments from the 16th and 17th centuries and philological reconstructions
• Room with the “Iron Maiden of Nuremberg”
• Instruments of capital punishment and public humiliation
• Engravings, prints and period paintings
• Explanatory notes in seven languages

Admission & discounts

Standard ticket €10, reduced €7, groups €5 per person.

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