Etruscan Necropolis of Cerveteri - photo by CC Roby Ferrari, Flickr

For our usual sunday trip, today Giorgio and I went to the etruscan necropolis of Cerveteri (Necropoli della Banditaccia): another italian magic place, which I founded wonderful (not to be missed!).

Only to give you an idea: we felt like Indiana Jones.. between the ruins of a disappeared esotic town in the middle of the forest… or something like that…

I know, I have a lot of phantasy.. but the atmosphere of the place was really great:-)

First of all, the place: unique! an entire necropolis, a completely original architecture, more then two kilometers road between enormous domes with tombs inside, which you can visit alone inside and over them, in complete privacy… between secular maritime pines and oaks, flowers and plants of every kind (I just can imagine how it can be in spring or summer). Not that inside they have so many things or peintures (for those, you have to go to Tarquinia necropolis and the archeological museum of Tarquinia and Cerveteri) but the architecture, the vegetation, the sensations of the place …are simply wonderful.

Then of course, the period was great: begin of december…so, we were alone… in the whole necropolis!! you can’t imagine the sensation..

Every time we discover such a beautiful place, I really get energy from it. Energy from the richness of these places, energy from the history, energy from the art and from the uman work spent on doing it.  I love imagining the people of the past working on this.. spending their time on it… I imagine their aspect, their thoughts, their feelings and hopes.

The etruscan necropolis of Cerveteri is located in northern Lazio, near Rome, next to the seaside. If you are in southern Tuscany, you will be able to do a daily trip to Cerveteri or.. even better.. I suggest you to plan some days also in this region, as it is so plenty of things to discover (I will go on telling you about them, of course). The area is not unspoilt and “perfect”, like some areas of Tuscany (especially the Siena territory and some areas of Maremma, for example) but the archeological sites are objectively so important, that simply you can’t miss them— you will have to close your eyes about the rest (a little bit like Pompei or Ercolano near Neaples)

If you plan a vacation in this area, I  suggest you a visit of Rome of course, which I consider the most beautiful town of all and then I suggest you to plan some days in the area around Rome, which was inhabited since very ancient times, by Etruscans and then by Romans, which buit in the countryside around Rome so many wonderful beauties, you can’t imagine!! I’m thinking about Tivoli, ancient Ostia, Cerveteri, Tarquinia, Civita di Bagnoregio, Lake Bolsena….

For more information about Cerveteri: click here for Wikipedia link