The Ancient Cervetri Walking Tour

archaeological research in the ancient city unearthed buildings of grandiose dimensions with richly painted clay decorations, ceramic finds , metal objects , ivory,  goldsmiths of oriental import which testify a great culture and prosperity  between the VII and VI  century  B.C. Of  particular importance is the necropolis of Banditaccia in use from the Villanoval age (  IX century B.C.) which untill the romanization, the largest and most important burial ground of the ancient Cervetri today UNESCO heritage:  imposing tufaceous stone mounds constitue a  tangible memory of the power reached by the Etruscan princeps of the orientalyzing period. The most imposing mounds are that of the oryentalizing period containing the oldest rooms such as the mound II  with the tomb of the  Capanna, or the mound of the Colonnello , or the mound Mengarelli. Among the tomb of the archaic period that we will meet on our itinerary, stands out the tomb of the Capitelli, the tomb of the cornice, the tomb of greek vases, the so called Polycrome mound and the tomb of the reliefs.  After  lunch  we will visit the archaeological museum of Caere , located in the medieval village of Cervetri. Here we will admire the rich grave goods excavated inside the various scattered burial tombs with a chronological horizon that goes from the IX century B.C.  to the I century A.D. The absolute masterpiece of the museum collection is undoubtedly the Euphronios crater found during clandestine excavations, recovered in the United States and recently returned to Italy. Important are also the limestone sarchofagi of the Tasmie tomb, the architectural terracotta of the sanctuary of Hera and the bucchero vases and cinerary urn collection from the villanovan age.  It is also possible to see a modern and sophisticated istallation built by Piero Angela.