Tarquinia: Archaeology, Medieval City Walls and Saltworks

Tarquinia can be explored through a range of historical and natural themes. If you would like to combine archaeological evidence, medieval architecture and a protected coastal landscape, you will find several distinct points of interest here to help you plan your trip. The National Archaeological Museum, the sites of Civita, the city walls and the Saline di Tarquinia nature reserve each give your stay its own focus.

Archaeology at Palazzo Vitelleschi

Palazzo Vitelleschi houses the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia. It displays stone funerary sculptures, including sarcophagi from aristocratic Hellenistic tombs. The first floor also features a terracotta high relief depicting a pair of winged horses. The relief comes from the pediment of the large temple at the Ara della Regina. This gives you a focused introduction to sculpture, funerary culture and monumental architecture, without limiting these themes to a single location.

Civita and Gravisca

The Civita area of Tarquinia includes the monumental sanctuary of the Ara della Regina. Gravisca, an ancient site, is also located in the vicinity of Tarquinia. Its remains include a place of worship consisting of several buildings, dedicated to Greek and Etruscan deities. Anyone interested in the region's religious and architectural past can therefore experience Tarquinia through different forms of ancient evidence: museum objects, a monumental sanctuary and the surviving remains of a larger place of worship.

Monterozzi and the Medieval Cityscape

The approximately six-kilometre-long Monterozzi hill is home to the most important urban necropolis. It runs parallel to the Tyrrhenian coast between the coast and the Civita upland. Santa Maria in Castello provides a different historical perspective: the Romanesque church served as Tarquinia's cathedral until 1435. The town thus brings together far-reaching archaeological connections and a clearly recognisable medieval heritage.

City Walls and Coastal Views

Tarquinia's medieval city walls are very well preserved and include imposing towers. At the Barriera di San Giusto, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Tarquinia coastline. These two places offer different ways to experience the city's historical character: the walls make its medieval fortifications visible, while the Barriera opens up views across the coastal area. Both aspects complement the archaeological themes with a spatial perspective.

The Saline di Tarquinia

The Saline di Tarquinia nature reserve covers approximately 170 hectares. It consists largely of shallow, salty and hypersaline pools. The Saline di Tarquinia was designated a protected area in 1980. Its habitat serves as a resting and breeding ground for numerous migratory birds. If you want to include landscapes and birdwatching alongside culture, this area offers a distinctly different focus from the museum, necropolis, sanctuary and city walls. Tarquinia can therefore be experienced both through its historic sites and through the unique character of its protected landscape.

For further trip planning, you can also explore Civita, Carbognano, Pian Di San Martino, Acquapendente, Vitorchiano, Oriolo Romano, Bagnoregio and Latera.

For the broader travel overview: Viterbo.