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- Destinations
- Europe
- Italy
- Siena
- Etruscan Sites
Etruscan Sites
Attracted by the mineral wealth found in the regions of Tuscany,
Lazio and Umbria, the Etruscans made their way to Italy around 900
BC. Traces of Etruscan civilisation can be found in their burial
sites and in the artefacts found in their tombs. They were
preoccupied with the afterlife and dedicated much effort to
building burial sites carved into rock, or constructed from stone
slab and reached by purpose-built rock-cut roads.
For an exploration of Etruscan artefacts start at Grosseto. The
Museo Civico Archeologico in Grosseto contains a selection of
Etruscan artefacts that were found in tombs nearby. Head north from
here to Roselle, the most important excavated Etruscan and Roman
remains in Tuscany. From here, follow the road leading east for 34
miles (54km) to the Etruscan village of Saturnia to explore its
rock-cut tombs and then on to Sovanato to see the famous Ildebranda
Tomb.
The town of Pitigliano is peppered with Etruscan tombs and
tunnels. The town itself is a spectacular vista of houses jutting
out over soft limestone cliffs and caves bordering the River Lente.
The cliffs contain numerous caves that have been used to store
local wines and olive oils and the town itself is a labyrinth of
medieval streets that have carried the passage of many a traveller.
From this quaint town, head west to the extensive necropolis on the
outskirts of Marsiliana. Complete the trip with a stop at Talamone
and Maremma, for a visit to the Etruscan temple, Roman villa and
baths.
Information & Facts
Address
Language
The official language of Italy is Italian. English is
understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of
the country.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into
100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtain
Euros through any bank, ATM or bureaux de change. ATMs are
widespread. Travellers cheques can be exchanged with ease in the
large cities, not so in the smaller towns. Credit cards are
accepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities.
Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates than
casas de cambios.