Cerveteri

Cerveteri is a town and comune of the northern Lazio, in the province of Rome. Originally known as Caere, it is famous for a number of Etruscan necropoleis that include some of the best Etruscan tombs anywhere.

There is a bus from Rome to the entrance to the old town. The Rome terminus is Lepanto Metro station on Linea A. There is also a train but the station is less convenient. If you hire a car at Rome's Fiumicino airport follow the road to Rome for a few km and then take the Autostrada signposted in the direction of Civitavecchia. The exit to Cerveteri is about 15 minutes later, depending on how fast you drive. The Necropolis is to the north of the modern town and reasonably well signposted.

The most famous attraction of Cerveteri is the Necropoli della Banditaccia, which has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site together with the necropoleis in Tarquinia. It covers an area of 400 ha, of which 10 ha can be visited, encompassing a total of 1,000 tombs often housed in characteristic mounds. It is the largest ancient necropolis in the Mediterranean area. The name Banditaccia comes from the leasing (bando) of areas of land to the Cerveteri population by the local landowners.