Etruscan sites of Lazio

Contenu masquer

1 Cerveteri

2 Tarquinia

3 Other Etruscan sites in the province of Viterbo

5 Map of the region with Etruscan sites

6 Informations

Before the Romans, central Italy was largely the territory of the Etruscans. This civilization, long overshadowed by their prestigious successors and conquerors, was nevertheless of great wealth and influence.
Witness the numerous and vast archaeological sites, and the furniture that was discovered there, including luxurious ornaments, in the necropolis in particular. They are found in several Italian regions, with the «epicenter» in Tuscia, north of Lazio.

Cerveteri

In the province of Rome is one of the most suggestive Etruscan sites in Cerveteri. Here the very vast necropolis, go back from the 9th century BC with the previous villanovian culture, until the 3rd century BC. of the Etruscans.

Necropolis of Banditaccia in Cerveteri

The main site is the necropolis of Banditaccia. It has thousands of graves that form an almost urban plan, with neighborhoods, streets and squares. It covers 400 hectares! the visit area is «only» 10 hectares and totals nearly 400 tumulus. Some tombs are monumental, carved into the rock, then topped by impressive circular tumuli. Others are house-shaped, some have bas-reliefs or contain wall paintings.

In the province of Viterbo, a little further north, there are also other remarkable sites of the Etruscan civilization:

Tarquinia

It is with Cerveteri, the most amazing Etruscan site in Lazio. Unlike the previous one, it is not for the monumental exterior. Here the interest lies inside the tombs. The stairs descend into the funeral rooms to offer the visitor a pictorial spectacle, the walls are covered with frescoes, sometimes very well preserved, which tell the life of the deceased, mythical phenomena related to life or death.
The Etruscan Museum of Tarquinia is also the most important in the region with that of the Villa Giulia in Rome.

Other Etruscan sites in the province of Viterbo

Here are some archaeological sites marked by Etruscan culture, including the largest necropolis. You can also consult the section dedicated to Etruscans on Rome-Roma.

Vulci

The important Etruscan city-state of Vulci was colonized by the Romans in the 4th century BC.
The vast archaeological site occupies a plateau of nearly 120 hectares crossed by a river, where nature and archaeology mingle, between the remains of the city, a small lake and animals.

Norchia

Castel d’Asso

Around an acropolis, Norchia is a wild and grandiose site, almost abandoned, where scattered remains date from many eras: prehistoric, Etruscan, Roman and medieval.
The main interest is that of the necropolis, with monumental tombs on the side of several rock walls.

San Giuliano

The site of San Giuliano, around a valley crossed by a river, is one of the most impressive in the region. It is large and well signposted, with paths arranged, which traverse the site to discover in the middle of the woods wonderful Etruscan tombs.

Castel d’Asso

The necropolis of Castel d’Asso is another beautiful Etruscan archaeological area close to a rocky spur occupied by the Romans, and in medieval times.

Blera

Near the small village of Blera, Etruscan necropolis were dug into the rocky walls of the valley.

San Giovenale

There remain in San Giovenale, the rests of an old medieval church, substantial remains of settlements of village culture, from the Bronze Age, with the remains of circular huts, until the Iron Age with the first Etruscans and their houses.