It’s an undeniable fact that Rome is a beautiful city. Whether you’re winding your way through the tiny Medieval alleyways of Trastevere, or gazing at the sparkling Tiber from the Ponte Palatino, you’re almost always assured to have an awe-inspiring moment… However, during the summertime, you’re probably sure to experience these moments surrounded by thousands and thousands of map-wielding tourists.
As an avid traveller and advocate of “off-the-beaten-path” exploration, I can say without hesitation that the sheer idea of hordes of tourists is enough to send me running for the hills. Quite literally, one saturday a few weeks ago, I did just that. I decided on a whim to take a day trip 2 hours outside of Rome to the beautiful hilltop town of Tarquinia, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Necropolis of Monterozzi.
Not only was the town absolutely breathtaking, I was shocked that I was one of the only tourists in sight!
Before I begin discussing my day trip, I thought it would be best to provide you with some background details regarding the Ancient Etruscans, the forefathers of the Ancient Romans. Dating back over 2500 years, their homeland Etruria (now what is modern day Tuscany, Umbria, and Northern Lazio) was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the ancient world. Interestingly enough, they shared a very strong cultural connection with the Ancient Greeks, a notion that is clearly visible in their works of art. Additionally, like the Ancient Egyptians, the Etruscans believed in the concept of the afterlife. As a result, they took much care in constructing elaborate tombs with distinctive wall art.
Above are a few examples of the Etruscan style, famous for gold jewellery and engaging frescos.
When I arrived at the Necropolis of Monterozzi, I honestly was underwhelmed with the site. I guess, given my knowledge and understanding of Greek and Roman history, that I was expecting to see some vast complex of marble temples. In reality, I’ll I saw was an open field dotted by strangely placed sheds off in the horizon. However, given that necropolis literally translates to “city of the dead,” I knew that there was way more to it then met the eye.
Above Ground at the Necropolis. Notice the aforementioned sheds.
Each of these sheds is the opening to one of the numerous tombs at the site. Upon opening the door, you simply turn on a light switch, walk down the stairs, and suddenly…you’ve time-warped 2,500 years into the past. Take a look at some of these photos!
The Tomb of the Leopards (above) is probably one of the most well known frescos in Etruscan art.
Honestly, how many times in your life can you say that you’ve walked down into an ancient tomb? I felt like Howard Carter discovering the tomb of King Tut! But moreover, the fresco artwork was absolutely astonishing. The Etruscans were absolute masters of capturing the joys of life. In each image, you can see individuals basking in the moment, dancing, and feasting. Not a bad image for others to remember you by, right?
All in all, I throughly enjoyed my day-trip adventure to Tarquinia. Not only was it an absolute pleasure escaping from Rome for a few hours (no offense Eternal City but the heat and the crowds were getting to be too much), but I learned so much about the Ancient Etruscans and had an unique and memorable experience. A definite must-see during your next visit to Rome.
Dishesonly.com offers to you an unique selection of handmade ceramic serving and individual bowls inspired by the elegance and history of Tarquinia. Simple, elegant, and functional, these bowls come in two classic and distinct styles. Click on the photos below for more product photos and information.
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- Aspetto vintage e colore bianco con manici decorati. Immaginate questa ciotola in ceramica su un tavolo di legno, riempita di frutta fresca, un filone di pane o, perché no, di fiori freschi. Dettagli
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- Tarquinia – questa ciotolina in ceramica bianca dal look retrò è disponibile con manici a strisce o a forma di foglia. Realizzata a mano. Dettagli
