Tarquinia, An Etruscan Day Trip from Rome by Car
While I didn't treat myself to an extensive holiday this year, I did go on some day trips and explored some areas around Rome that I had never been to before. Last week, you could read about my experience at Terme dei Papi, and this week I will take you with me to Tarquinia, a town around 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Rome.
As someone who studied history, I found this Etruscan town, with its fascinating museum and ancient necropolis, particularly interesting. In this blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know about its history, how to get there and what to see. After reading this article, I hope you will feel inspired to visit Tarquinia for yourself!
What Is Tarquinia?
Tarquinia is a town located in central Italy, around 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Rome. The town was once an important Etruscan settlement and later became an important Roman town after the Etruscan civilisation declined.
Today, Tarquinia is particularly famous for its ancient Etruscan tombs. More than 200 painted tombs can be visited at the Monterozzi Necropolis, giving visitors a fascinating glimpse into Etruscan life and beliefs.
The tombs of Tarquinia are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and together with the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia, they make for a fascinating day trip from Rome.
If you are like some of my family members and don't care that much about museums (no judgement), don't worry, there is more to Tarquinia than ancient history. Since the town is located on a hill, you can also enjoy some wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and coastline. The historic centre is very cute, with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, so there is definitely something to enjoy for everyone.
How to Get to Tarquinia from Rome by Car
From Rome, it takes around one hour by car to reach Tarquinia. There are parking options both in the historic centre, where the museum is located, and at the Monterozzi Necropolis, which is only about a five-minute drive from the centre.
This makes visiting both places by car very easy, and you won't have to worry about finding your way between the two sites on foot.
The Monterozzi Necropolis
I would probably say that the most famous sight to visit in Tarquinia is the Monterozzi Necropolis. This UNESCO World Heritage necropolis consists of around 6,000 tombs, the oldest of which dates back to the 7th century BC. Around 200 of these tombs are decorated with beautiful frescoes, which provide a fascinating glimpse into Etruscan life, ceremonies and mythology.
Many different scenes are shown in the frescoes, and each tomb will surprise you with new animals, musical instruments, rituals or simply stunning decorations.
The necropolis consists of a large open field with lots of small buildings above ground. From here, you can take the stairs down into the tombs. Outside each tomb, there is a sign with information about it, available in both Italian and English.
I would like to point out that if you are visiting with someone who has difficulty walking, or you have difficulty walking yourself, this might not be the easiest place to visit. For each tomb, you have to take the stairs down into the darkness and then climb back up again. Basically, a visit to the Monterozzi Necropolis counts as a very good workout, or leg day!
From the necropolis, there is also a stunning viewpoint over the surrounding area, and since I love viewpoints, this alone made the visit worth the ticket price for me. At the entrance to the necropolis, there are also toilets and an area where you can sit down and enjoy some drinks or snacks if you want to.
A ticket to the necropolis can be bought on site, both at the museum (which I will talk about later) and at the necropolis itself. A combined ticket for both the museum and the necropolis costs €13 per person. However, if you are a European citizen between 18 and 25, like me, you can get a discounted ticket for only €2.
It is also good to know that children under 18 have free admission in general, so if you are travelling with kids, this can be a really affordable activity.
The National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia
Next on the list is the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia. With the combined ticket I mentioned above, you can also enter the museum, and I think it is great value to do so.
Inside the beautiful 15th-century palazzo, you will find three floors filled with Etruscan treasures, including sarcophagi, beautifully preserved tomb decorations and a famous example of Etruscan art called the Cavalli Alati (Winged Horses), dating back to the 4th century BC.
There are also plenty of smaller objects to discover, such as vases, jewellery, mirrors and more. It is a very large collection, and the building itself is beautiful too, so there is more than enough to explore.
From the second floor, you can also enjoy a great view over the town and the surrounding countryside, all the way to the sea. You can take some cute pictures here or simply take a moment to enjoy the view.
When I visited at the end of August, I noticed that there was no air conditioning inside the museum, which I thought was worth mentioning since it got really hot, even for me! If you don't handle the heat very well, maybe bring a small fan with you in summer, or consider planning your day trip for autumn or winter instead.
How Long Do You Need in Tarquinia?
I would call Tarquinia the perfect day trip from Rome, especially if you are interested in history. With the museum and the necropolis, you can easily fill a whole day. Depending on the weather, you can visit one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
If it's hot, I would suggest visiting the necropolis in the morning, since it is located in an open field with relatively little shade from the sun. Between visiting the historical sites, you can walk around the town centre, have a drink, grab some lunch or do a little shopping.
Maybe you are looking for a different kind of day trip, to go swimming, for example. In that case, I recommend checking out the day trips from Rome section on my blog! It is divided into day trips by car and by train, so I hope you will find something that inspires you.
Is Tarquinia Worth Visiting?
In the end, I would definitely recommend visiting Tarquinia. The town itself is beautiful, with stunning views of the surrounding countryside thanks to its elevated location. There is plenty of parking available, which makes it very convenient, and all the main sites are relatively close together. This is especially useful if you are travelling with family, for example.
I think the ticket prices, especially the combined ticket, are really fair, and the necropolis is, in my opinion, something truly special that is absolutely worth seeing. If you are visiting in summer, be prepared for the heat at both locations, but other than that, I had a perfect day trip from Rome.
I felt very inspired after coming back from this place, and when you visit, I hope it will do the same for you.
See you soon, my loves!
X Juliette
