Aurora Il Viaggio Secreto in Italia Volterra Review: A Charming City Tribute With One Quirk

Introduction

Aurora’s Il Viaggio Secreto in Italia series honors different cities in Italy, and the Volterra edition is one of the more charming entries we have come across. The city of Volterra is known for its Etruscan center and for its alabaster extraction and processing, which explains the material Aurora chose for this pen. It is a limited edition of 888 pieces, it is built on the Aurora 88 platform, and it arrives with an unusually complete package. There is a lot to like here, but also one quirk that potential buyers should know about before spending €652.89.

What the Volterra Is and Where It Comes From

At its core, this is another Aurora 88. The silhouette is familiar: a nicely finished finial on top, a rose gold clip, a rose gold center band with Aurora branding, and Made in Italy on the other side. The barrel tapers down slowly into the piston turning knob, and the overall look is refined rather than flashy.

The real draw is the material. The whitish, veined resin genuinely evokes alabaster, and the choice feels well suited to the city the pen is honoring. It is attractive and clearly a step above a standard finish, which is what a limited edition should deliver.

The review unit happened to be number 470 of 888, and it was lent for this hands-on look rather than purchased, so impressions here are based on actual use rather than specs on a page.

The Package: Ink, Bookmark, and a QR Code

The presentation is genuinely lovely. There is an outer sleeve, a large glossy box with an attractive illustrated cover, and inside that a more traditional Aurora box holding the pen in a shiny display tray. Alongside the pen you get a special Aurora ink bottle, a watercolored bookmark, a small protective sleeve for the pen, and a thick, colorful booklet about the brand.

The most unusual extra is a QR code. Scanning it lets you hear the city, though whether that means music from the region or an actual soundscape is not entirely clear from the description. Either way, it is a very cool touch and not something commonly seen in city-themed pens, which makes the package feel thoughtfully curated rather than padded out.

Filling System and Everyday Handling

The Volterra is a piston filler, and Aurora’s pistons have a strong reputation for being reliable. They also typically include a small reserve compartment, so you still have a bit of ink left when the main tank runs dry. The pen has an ink window, two small rose gold rings on the section, and the clip is very tight.

In terms of size, this is not a huge pen. Aurora 88s are on the moderate side, but it is a comfortable size for most hands, and it posts for anyone who wants something a little longer. The section is comfortable to hold, with a fairly wide flare near the grip.

One caveat for daily use: the light-colored material looks like something that could stain if frequently filled with very saturated inks. The test unit was filled with washable blue ink specifically to avoid permanent discoloration, and that is a sensible precaution for anyone considering this pen as a daily writer.

Nib and Writing Experience

The medium 18k rose gold nib is made in-house by Aurora, which still manufactures its own nibs. That matters. It is not yet another stock nib from a third-party supplier, and it gives the pen a bit of extra character. The ebonite feed is a nice touch as well.

Aurora nibs are known for their feedback, and this one is no exception. It is not scratchy in an unpleasant way, but do not expect a glassy-smooth writer. You will clearly feel the feedback as you write, and some people genuinely love that about Aurora nibs. Writing is nice and wet, and the nib is fairly juicy.

Line variation is minimal. This is not a flex nib. If you want flex, Aurora offers its in-house Flex nib, called the Gotha nib, in extra fine or fine. The medium here also runs on the finer side for a medium, and on more absorbent paper the line comes out noticeably finer. Reverse writing produces an even finer line and feels a bit scratchier, but it keeps going without issue.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is €652.89, and certain nib options add more: oblique medium, oblique broad, stub, and italic broad nibs cost €65 extra, and the Gotha flex nib in extra fine or fine is also available. For a gold-nib piston filler that is also a numbered limited edition, the pricing is not outrageous by luxury pen standards, but for most people this is an expensive pen.

The bigger practical concern is the cap. Unscrewing it fully does not free it; it gets stuck partway and needs a firm nudge to come off, and capping it requires a real push. On a pen this expensive, that feels off, and pushing a nib toward a very tight cap is slightly nerve-racking when nibs can bend out of shape. Worse, that push-and-pull almost invariably leaves ink inside the cap, which then transfers to the section and the threads, and can end up on your hands every time you uncap the pen. Carry a cloth or tissue and it is manageable, but in a business meeting it could be embarrassing. Whether this affects every unit or just this one is unclear, but it is worth testing before buying if possible.

There is also the eternal debate about Aurora releasing yet another 88 in a new finish rather than a brand-new model. It is a smart strategy for collectors, but buyers who want innovation may find the catalog repetitive.

Buying Advice

Buy the Volterra if you love the alabaster-inspired material, appreciate the complete presentation package with the special ink and the QR-code soundscape, and want a reliable piston filler with a distinctive in-house nib and honest feedback. It suits collectors of the Aurora 88 family and fans of Italian city editions.

Think twice if a perfectly behaved cap matters to you, if you plan to use very saturated inks in a light material, or if you are hoping for flex out of the box, in which case budget the extra €65 for the Gotha nib. And if you already own several 88s, the main reason to add this one is the finish and the packaging, because the writing experience will be familiar.

Conclusion

The Aurora Il Viaggio Secreto in Italia Volterra is a refined, well-chosen tribute to an alabaster city, with rose gold trim that works beautifully, a dependable piston filler, an in-house 18k nib, and one of the most complete gift packages in its class. The tight, ink-hungry cap is a real annoyance and keeps it from being an easy unconditional recommendation, but for collectors and fans of the series, there is still a lot of joy in this pen.