MUSEO NAZIONALE ETRUSCO DI VILLA GIULIA
A remarkable museum dedicated to the Etruscan civilization in Rome.
Etruscan civilization is magnificently on display at Villa Giulia, the largest and richest museum of its kind in Italy. This beautiful16th-century villa, once the second home of Pope Julius II, presents a collection of Etruscan archaeology from excavations carried out in the Lazio region, mainly from the sites of Cerveteri and Vulci.
The tour covers 40 rooms on two floors, providing a comprehensive overview of Etruscan civilization. The first halls are devoted to the Vulci site (halls 1 to 5), featuring 9th century BC funerary urns and the reconstruction of a tomb with everyday objects (amphorae, plates, perfume vases, ex-voto), as well as jewelry and bronze and terracotta statuettes. Stop off in room 8 to admire the reconstitution of a Tarquinia necropolis, decorated with frescoes in astonishingly vivid colors. The undisputed masterpieces are the Sarcophagus of the Lion (room 10) and the Sarcophagus of the Bride and Groom (room 12), dating from the 6th century B.C.: the two terracotta spouses are embracing each other, lying on a banquet bed, smiling serenely and at peace, defying all eternity. Continue your visit in room 15 with theApollo de Veies and the Cista Ficoroni, a superb decorated wedding box from the 4th century BC. The tour ends with the private collections, just as interesting, but perhaps a little less spectacular.