The Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia is located about three kilometers outside the built-up area of the city in the suburb of Monterozzi. It is one of the most important Etruscan sites, with an extraordinary number of beautifully decorated tombs.
Etruskische Necropolis Tarquinia
Address, opening hours and ticket price
The address is Strada Provinciale Monterozzi – Marina, V. Ripagretta – 01016 Tarquinia. Entrance fee (Etruscan Museum + Necropolis): 8 Euro. Young people between 18 and 25 years: 4 Euro. Children under 18 and people over 65: free. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 08.30 to 14.00 hrs. closed: Monday, January 1, December 25.
History and description
The Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia extends over an area of about 750 hectares. It is not the only place with frescoed burial palce, but here the phenomenon is so widespread that it can almost be considered a guide to the evolution of Etruscan society from the 7th to the 3rd century BC.
There are about 200 cemeteries with (parts of) paintings, which were only used in the tombs of aristocrats. Generally they are scenes from the daily life of the deceased, probably to indicate the continuity of life after death.
Currently, only 14 tombs can be visited: The Tombs del Cacciatore (“of the Hunter”), dei Giocolieri (“magicians”), della Pulcella (the Virgin”), Cardarelli, della Fustigazione (“of the flagellation”), Fiore di Loto (“Lotus Flower”), delle Leonesse (“of the Lionesses”), dei Gorgoneion (a Gorgoneion was an ancient Greek amulet with the head of a Gorgon), dei Caronti (from the figure Charon in Greek mythology, who carried the dead across the river Styx to Hades), dei Leopardi (“the Leopards”), delle Baccanti (“the Bacchants”), della Caccia e Pesca (“of hunting and fishing”).