Cerveteri (Caere), about 48km north of Rome, is one of the greatest of Etruscan cities which date as far back as 9th century BCE.
The town of Cerveteri, otherwise known as Caere, boasts an incredible Necropolis.
The interiors of these tombs resemble rooms in ancient Etruscan homes. The main burial area is the Necropolis of Banditacca where the Tomba Bella (Tomb of the Reliefs) is located.
On the walls of this tomb are relief depictions of household items, pets and anything the dead would need in the next world.
Of course there are the ‘beds’ for the dead, where Etruscans laid their loved ones for all of eternity.
Many of the tombs are open to the public and you are free to walk the necropolis. We visited near dusk and I was able to get some great shots of the turning leaves and diminishing sunlight and shadows between the tombs.
Simply walking through these tumuli gave an ‘otherworldly’ feeling, and descending and ascending in and out of the tombs was even more of an experience I can compare to no other.
Many of the relics found in Cerveteri can be found in Rome’s Etruscan Museum, the Villa Giulia.
Necropolis of Cerveteri (tel. 06-9940001), Open daily from 8:30am to 1 hour before sunset.
Admission is 6€ ($9.60) for adults and 3€ ($4.80) for children under 18 years of age.
Website: http://www.comune.cerveteri.rm.it/engver/index.html
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