Don’t like driving but love taking trips out of town? Here’s a place to visit without necessarily having a car. Cerveteri is an exceptional destination, world famous for its Etruscan necropolis, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here is a complete overview of what to visit and, most importantly, how to get there easily without a car from Rome.
What to see in Cerveteri: Etruscans and History
Cerveteri, ancient Caere, is one of the most important centers of ancient Etruscan civilization. The focal point of the visit is its archaeological area. We start with the Necropolis of Banditaccia (UNESCO World Heritage Site), considered the largest necropolis in the ancient Mediterranean. It stretches for more than two kilometers and allows you to admire the Funerary Architecture.
The Etruscan tombs of Cerveteri are unique because they are not just simple pits, but real underground reproductions of Etruscan houses of the time. They were dug entirely out of tuff, which makes them incredibly durable. You’ll be able to explore the different types of burials, which reflect the social and architectural changes from the 9th to the 3rd centuries B.C.E. The most famous include the Tomb of the Reliefs (with frescoes and reliefs depicting domestic and war objects) and the Tomb of the Doric Columns.
Then we move on to the Borgo and the Cerite National Museum, which, through the exhibits, documents the various cultural stages of Cerveteri and its territory, allowing you to understand Etruscan daily life and rituals. Also worth seeing is the Ruspoli Castle: an imposing 16th-century fortress that dominates Piazza Santa Maria, in the heart of Cerveteri.
How to reach Cerveteri
Reaching the necropolis by public transportation requires a short change, but it is simple and convenient. Take a regional train from Roma Aurelia to Ladispoli-Cerveteri (duration 23 minutes), usually there every hour. Once you get off at Ladispoli-Cerveteri, you will find a local bus stop in front of the station; the station is in the town of Ladispoli and also serves the town of Cerveteri. The bus will take you to Aldo Moro Square in the center of Cerveteri and the Banditaccia Necropolis.
đź’ˇ Local bus connections (Seatour) between the station and the Necropolis are less frequent on holidays and Sundays, and end early in the afternoon. Always check the updated schedule on the Cerveteri Municipality website before you go!