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Tarquinia
  
 
   

Tarquinia, a medieval town famous for its archeological remains, is situated just a few kilometres from Tuscany, in Northern Lazio, very close to Capalbio and Monte Argentario and less than an hour drive from Podere Santa Pia.
The town is situated on a small hill, overlooking the beautiful natural landscape of the Alta Tuscia below and immersed amongst the enchanting valleys of the Marta River and the extraordinary territory of Bassa Maremma.

Tarquinia is custodian of an incredible number of treasures, including very old constructions, ancient palazzi and historic churches; all of which serve as an extraordinary testimony to the past of this town.

The main square of Tarquinia is the Piazza Cavour, at the west end of the town. In this square a magnificent palace, part of it in Gothic style and part of it Romanesque, with a beautiful pillared courtyard, the Palazzo Vitelleschi (1436-39), now houses the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, with one of Italy's best collections of Etruscan finds, including a fabulous group of terra-cotta winged horses from the 4th century BC.
The two magnificent Gothic windows on the main front belong to the older part of the building, while other elements like the triangular tympanum of the entrance witness subsequent modifications.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria in Castello rises on the rocks of the western part of the town, dominating the valley of the Marta river down to the Tyrrhenian Sea. It has been declared Monument of National Interest in 1975. The Chiesa di Santa Maria in Castello is the oldest church in Tarquinia, its construction began in 1121 and was terminated in 1208. Of Romanesque style, it has a front with three portals, the middle of which with Cosmatesque decorations. Also the pavement of the three aisles show traces of Cosmatesque mosaics.
On a square in front of the church stands a slender medieval tower.

Tarquinia's Duomo, once in Romanesque-Gothic style but rebuilt after the 1643 fire, has maintained from the original edifice the 16th century frescoes in presbitery, by Antonio del Massaro. The Church of San Giacomo and Santissima Annunziata is showing different Arab and Byzantine influences.


Comune

Map of Tarquinia url | pdf

 
   

Chiesa di Santa Maria in Castello

Chiesa di Santa Maria di Castello (1121-1208), with Lombard and Cosmatesque influences. The façade has a small bell-tower and three entrances. The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by massive pilasters with palaeo-christian capitals and friezes.
 
   

Ancient Tarquinia was one of Eturuia's most important cities. Tarquinia is one of the best places to see Etruscan tombs and it has an excellent archaeological museum. The Palazzo Vitelleschi has been built around the middle of the 15th century by Giovanni Vitelleschi, born in Tarquinia.

The Etruscan tombs are on a hilltop just outside the main town. About 6000 tombs were dug into the soft volcanic tufa and some were painted inside with colorful frescoes.


The necropolises of Tarquinia and Cerveteri

The two necropolises constitute a unique and exceptional testimony to the ancient Etruscan civilisation. The cemeteries, replicas of Etruscan town planning schemes, are some of the earliest existing in the region.

The necropolis of Tarquinia, also known as Monterozzi, contains 6,000 graves cut in the rock. It is famous for its 200 painted tombs, the earliest of which date from the 7th century BC. Tarquinia's large-scale wall paintings are exceptional both for their formal qualities and for their content, which reveal aspects of life, death, and religious beliefs of the ancient Etruscans.

The necropolis near Cerveteri, known as Banditaccia, contains thousands of tombs organized in a city-like plan, with streets, small squares and neighbourhoods.

Norchia, inland from Tarquinia, has tombs carved out of rocks on the large cliffs.
Sutri, also inland, has an Etruscan ampitheater.

Tarquinia, Tomba del Triclinio


The necropolis of Tarquinia, also known as Monterozzi, contains 6,000 graves cut in the rock. It is famous for its 200 painted tombs, the earliest of which date from the 7th century BC.

The Regional Natural Reserve Selva del Lamone is in the area of the municipality of Farnese at the border between Lazio and Tuscany. It is a truly luxuriant park in which, among wild flowers, mushrooms, squirrels and buzzards, we can enjoy an excursion along the paths and rest in the areas equipped with facilities.

 
 
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