Central Etruria Itineraries following in the footsteps of the Etruscans Museums and Archaeological sites Local crafts and traditional products Festivals and events Enrico Nannetti Central Etruria Itineraries following in the footsteps of the Etruscans Museums and Archaeological sites Local crafts and traditional products Festivals and events Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici dell’Umbria This project was partly financed with L135/01 funds © 2008 by Regione Umbria All rights reserved The Etruscans in Umbria Etruscans Umbrii Sabini Necropolises Museums 4 Perugia The numerous archaeological relics found in the city centre and in the necropolises of the surrounding area bear witness to the importance and wealth of this ancient city in Etruscan times. Indeed, Perugia was one of the 12 city-states (Lucumone) of Etruria, which covered modern day Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and parts of Umbria, Lazio and Campania. The earliest settlements date back to the 11th and 10th centuries BC and were probably inhabited by Umbrian people. It was somewhat later, from the 8th century BC, that the Etruscans settled on the hill where the city sits today. It was important to them for strategic, military and commercial reasons. From the hill it was, of course, possible to dominate the important route of the river Tiber and keep watch over the bordering territories of the Umbrii people. There was bitter rivalry as well as fruitful trade between the Etruscans and the Umbrii. This was why the city was fortified with imposing travertine walls, which were so effective that they were also used during later eras. The walls that surrounded the city are visible and were incorporated into the medieval defence system. Perugia 5 The imposing Etruscan Arch, also known as the Arch of Augustus, was the main entrance to the city and a sign of the importance of the town at the time. It is certainly the greatest surviving piece of Etruscan engineering. Given the importance of the city, the Etruscans not only built powerful defence walls but also a system of cisterns, to supply the city with water, and important religious buildings. As is often true, these religious buildings were later replaced with the churches we can see today. In fact, archaeologists are currently working on excavations at just over ten metres under the existing cathedral in order to reveal the remains of what was the most important temple. 6 Perugia I Ipogeo di San Manno (San Manno Hypogeum) Used as a store in the past, here we can see an Etruscan inscription on the entrance that attributes the sepulchre to the Precu family. Via San Manno, Ferro di Cavallo - To visit, contact: Comunità Magnificat, tel. 075 5057190 - Free entrance I La necropoli di Strozzacapponi (Strozzacapponi Necropolis) Far from the Etruscan centre, this necropolis was discovered by chance during the construction of the foundations for a building. There are a series of small recesses carved into the rock, which indicate that there was an important settlement in the area. Strozzacapponi - To visit: tel. 075 5140148/49 or ask the staff at the supermarket - Free entrance I L’Antiquarium di Corciano (Corciano Antiquarium) The museum holds numerous exhibits from the necropolis at Strozzacapponi and from various excavations carried out around Corciano, which have brought to light interesting evi- dence about Etruscan life. Of particular interest are the remains of a cart found near San Mariano and various relics found in the hills around Lake Trasimeno, which indicate that there were sanctuaries and places of worship in this area. These ex- hibits were transferred here from the museum in Perugia. Corciano, Via Cornaletto - tel. 075 5188256/5 - fax 075 5188237 I Necropoli dello Sperandio (Sperandio Necropolis) A beautiful sarcophagus was discovered here, which is now preserved in the National Archaeological Museum in Perugia. Private Property To visit, please book though IAT - tel. 075 5736458 075 5772686 I Necropoli di Madonna Alta (Madonna Alta Necropolis) A series of tombs discovered during the construction of the dual carriageway. There remain just a few blocks of traver- tine and some Etruscan inscriptions indicating the names of the families buried here as the site has been looted and damaged over the years. At the Madonna Alta exit from the E45 - Free entrance I Tomba del Faggeto The tomb is situated in a forest of beach trees, from which it takes its name. It is carved into the sandstone and has an unroofed access dromos. The door is interesting as it is made from a single stone slab supported by two hinges. San Giovanni del Pantano. At the time of printing this site was not listed among those that may be visited. Perugia 7 I L’Ipogeo dei Volumni (Volumni Hypogeum) This site was used from the 6th to the 1st century BC and is also known as the Necropoli del Palazzone (Palazzone Necropolis). Its numer- ous chambered tombs were discov- ered in 1840. The most important tomb is that of the Dei Velimnas family. The last descendant of this family lived during the 1st century AD: Publius Volumnius Violens; his name written in Latin bears witness to the influence the Etruscan culture had on that of the Ro- mans. The structure of the tomb is similar to that of a house. The sepulchre consists of a main vestibule area that leads to various other rooms off its sides. Rich interior furnishings were discovered in the tomb, which are now preserved, part- ly in the Archaeological Museum and partly in the Antiqua- rium here. The fragments of oil lamps found here are particu- larly interesting as they are probably the same lamps that were used in the houses where these people lived. In the up- per part of the tomb, just as you enter it, there is the head of a Gorgon who watches over the urns of the dead. I Tomba Bella This small, chambered tomb dates back to the 3rd century BC. There are carved floral decorations around the sides of the recesses. You can enter using the iron walkway that has been installed. I Antiquarium In the hypogeum’s new Antiquarium, many of the relics found in the tombs are exhibited, such as cinerary vessels and urns decorated with mythological scenes and scenes of everyday life. In particular there is a depiction of kottabos (a game of skill where the dregs of wine left in a goblet were thrown at a copper pole to which various sizes of discs were attached at various heights, the aim of the game was to hit the discs with the wine) and a beauty casket very similar to those used as trinket boxes these days. Via Assisana, 53 - Ponte S. Giovanni Tel. 075 393329 - Opening hours: September - June 9.00-13.00/15.30- 18.30, July - August 9.00-13.00/16.30- 19.30 (Closed on 25/12, 1/01 and 1/05) 8 Perugia Parking Escalators Minimetrò Information Etruscan walls Rocca Paolina (fortress) Museums Perugia 9 10 Perugia I Arco Etrusco (Etruscan Arch) This is the monumental entrance to the Etruscan city. Built using travertine around the 2nd or 3rd century BC, the arch was later restored under Augustus as the inscriptions on the upper part show. I Mura etrusche (Etruscan walls) To see the walls you just need to walk around the perimeter of the city. The great blocks of travertine that were used to build them are easy to see, although they have often been incorporated into medieval buildings. The most important sections of the walls are to be found beside the Et- ruscan arch, as you walk up Via Ce- sare Battisti, and above Galleria Kennedy (a road tunnel that crosses the city), under Via della Cupa. At the bottom of this section of fortified wall there is a secondary entrance to the city. I Porta Marzia The architect Sangallo incorporated part of this city gate into the Rocca Paolina. He had the gate dismantled in 1540 and added it to the new fortress as a dec- oration. On the upper part there are various statues, somewhat worn by the ravages of time but which prob- ably represent divinities that protected the city. At the top we can see the in- scription Colonia Vibia, which de- notes the status of colony conceded to the city by two Roman emperors: Augustus and later Gaio Vibio Trebo- riano Gallo who was from Perugia. Perugia 11 I Porta Sant’Ercolano The remains of the foundation are all that is visible of this ancient city gate. The narrow peaked arch that we see to- day is clearly medieval. I Porta Eburnea This gate also has Etruscan origins, which can be seen from the large blocks used to build the base. The arch itself is medieval and in medieval times, going through the arch was thought to bring good fortune. So much so that the Baglioni led their troops out of the city by this gate at the beginning of every military campaign. I Arco dei Gigli The arch faces east towards the river Tiber. The same travertine blocks used to build the city walls can be seen here too. I Porta Trasimena This is one of the five original gates to the Etruscan city. The curved arch, supported by the ancient Etruscan stone blocks, dates back to restoration work carried out during the medieval period. At the top we can see a Common Dace carved into the stone, a fish typical to this area and one of the species present in Lake Trasimeno. The gate faces Lake Trasimeno and of course, takes its name from the lake. I Pozzo Etrusco (Etruscan well) This is a masterful example of hydraulic engineering and evi- dence of the construction techniques used by the Et- ruscans.