Essential Etruscans
Summary
The Etruscans are one of the great forgotten civilisations. Conquest by the Romans meant that the Etruscans only appeared as incidental participants in early histories, but they had in fact flourished throughout the first millennium BCE in a group of prosperous city states which were sophisticated, cosmopolitan and influential. In the area known in antiquity as Etruria the Etruscan people developed the earliest, and possibly the most engaging urban culture in the Western Mediterranean. Their settlements, their artefacts and even their cemeteries testify to this and as we travel through the lovely countryside of Tuscany and northern Lazio, the Etruscans are abundantly on show, if you know where to look.
This tour is designed for those who want the expert guidance from an Andante Guide Lecturer, a carefully curated itinerary and easy access to the sites but with free time to explore, revisit sites and make your own discoveries.
What to Expect
- Discover the beautifully painted tombs of Tarquinia with scenes of dancers, musicians and fabulous beasts
- Admire the remarkable Etruscan collections of the Villa Giulia Museum
- Explore the atmospheric Banditaccia cemetery, a real ‘city of the dead’ with tombs like terraced houses
- Visit Chiusi, famous in antiquity as the city of Lars Porsenna, the Etruscan King who almost captured Rome
