Necropoli dei Monterozzi
The main Etruscan necropolis of Tarquinia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 22 painted tombs open to visitors on the Monterozzi hill.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Monterozzi hill extends for about six kilometres parallel to the Tyrrhenian coast, between the sea and the height of the Civita, where the ancient Etruscan city of Tarquinia stood. The tombs occupy almost the whole hill: more than six thousand are known, mostly chambers cut into the rock and covered by mounds, now almost entirely levelled by farm work. It is precisely these small mounds, which a century ago numbered more than six hundred, that gave the hill its popular name (monterozzi, “little mounds”).
The most valuable core of the necropolis consists of about two hundred known painted tombs, dating from the 7th to the 2nd century BC. The custom of decorating the burials of aristocratic families with paintings is also attested in other Etruscan centres, but only at Tarquinia does it reach such large dimensions and such a long duration, almost equal to the life of the city itself. Massimo Pallottino defined this complex as “the first chapter of the history of Italian painting”.
In the sector open to the public, 22 tombs can be visited, decorated with scenes of athletes, hunters, fishermen, dancers, musicians, jugglers, banquets and demons of the underworld. The paintings also have great documentary value, because they show significant moments in the life of the Etruscans. The necropolis, together with that of Cerveteri, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004 and is managed by the Parco archeologico di Cerveteri e Tarquinia.
Highlights
- Tomba della Caccia e Pesca
- Tomba dei Leopardi
- Tomba delle Leonesse
- Tomba dei Giocolieri
- Tomba del Guerriero
- Virtual tour of the tombs via QR codes along the route
- Operated by
- Parco archeologico di Cerveteri e Tarquinia (Ministero della Cultura)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €13 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2EU young people aged 18 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for visitors under 18. |
| PACT circuit ticket (Tarquinia and Cerveteri, necropolises and museums; valid four months) | €21 |
| PACT annual pass | €30 |
| Annual pass for residents of Cerveteri and Tarquinia | €20 |
Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month (Domenica al museo), with access by booking where provided.
The €13 ticket is the site’s combined ticket: it covers the Necropoli dei Monterozzi and the Museo archeologico nazionale di Tarquinia, and is valid for 30 days from issue. Other free admissions and reductions follow the provisions of the Ministero della Cultura.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The tombs are reached through long access corridors with stairs descending below ground level. The park offers a virtual tour via QR codes along the route, which is also useful for those who have difficulty accessing some parts of the site. The park has adopted a plan to remove architectural barriers.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
The park describes the virtual tour via QR code as suitable for everyone, and also as an occasion for playful learning for younger visitors.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (IT) |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography and video are permitted for private use only; professional equipment requires the administration’s authorisation. |
| Good to know | The audio guides (28 texts) are free and are used via the QR codes shown at the ticket offices or on the park’s website. They are available in Italian; English and French versions are announced. The tombs can be seen through transparent doors that keep temperature and humidity constant. Dogs on a lead (no longer than 1.5 m) are admitted; bicycles, scooters and professional equipment may not be brought in. |
