Tomba etrusca della Montagnola

About the museum

La Montagnola is an earth mound at the foot of Monte Morello, in the Quinto area, which for centuries was thought to be man-made because of its regular shape. Excavations in 1959, directed by the superintendent Giacomo Caputo, led to the discovery of one of the largest known Etruscan tombs, dating from the second half of the 7th century BC and linked, together with the nearby Tomba della Mula, to the flourishing of the Orientalizing period in the Fiesole area.

The tomb is built almost entirely of large blocks of alberese stone and is covered by a mound about 70 metres in diameter. One enters through a long corridor (dromos), at first open and then roofed, which leads to two side cells; the dromos ends in the circular tholos chamber, about five metres in diameter, with a false pointed dome and a central pillar that has no load-bearing function but perhaps an astronomical or religious meaning. Traces of paintings and graffiti with animals, decorative motifs and inscriptions in the Etruscan alphabet survive on the jambs of the cells.

The tomb had already been plundered in earlier centuries, but the objects recovered, now in the Museo archeologico nazionale di Firenze, testify to the wealth of the original grave goods. In 2001 the foundations of a second, smaller tomb were discovered in front of the entrance. The site can be visited thanks to openings organised by the Pro Loco di Sesto Fiorentino, in agreement with the Soprintendenza and the Comune; panels in Italian and English, some of them tactile, illustrate the monument.

Highlights

• Tholos tomb with false dome and central pillar (7th century BC)
• Mound about 70 metres in diameter
• Etruscan paintings and graffiti on the cell jambs
• Foundations of a second, smaller tomb
• Information panels in Italian and English, some tactile

Permanent exhibition

• Tomba a tholos della Montagnola – Visit to the Orientalizing Etruscan tomb with dromos, side cells and tholos chamber.

Operated by

Comune di Sesto Fiorentino (aperture a cura della Pro Loco)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Tactile information panels for partially sighted and blind visitors, with texts in Italian and English and links via QR code.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the site is at Viale Fratelli Rosselli 95, in Quinto Alto.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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