Cerveteri

Introduction

There are two towns at Cerveteri: the modern one which is of little interest and the old walled town that is very small but its complete walls and old buildings, including the museum that was a fort, make it interesting. However its great attraction, and it is a very great one, is its necropolis.
The necropolis was created several centuries BCE by the Etruscans, who were the principal folk of Italy before the Romans. They were firm believers in an afterlife and the necropolis was where they were meant to enjoy it, a true city of and for the dead, built on the same ideas of town planning as their cities for the living. The 'houses' (i.e. tombs) ofen have numerous chambers. Unlike Tarquinia, most tombs have not retained any painting but the site of the necropolis is stunning.
Don't let children play hide and seek unless you have a lot of time to spare. In any event take a torch as most tombs are unllt.

Sights and Activities

• Necropolis
• Museum/Fort
  

  Inside a tomb, Cerveteri

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• Streets and walls of the old town.

Getting There

By Train

Cerveteri-Ladispoli station is a bus ride away.

By Bus

Cotral bus from Lepanto Metro station (Linea A) in Rome.
N.B. There is no direct bus from Tarquinia and in fact it is not possible to see the necropolis of both towns on the same day in winter. Change at Cittavechia - there are few direct buses to Cerveteri from there but the Rome buses will drop you at a road junction from which you can get a local bus to the town.

Getting Around

By Public Transport

There is a local bus from just outside the walls of the old town to the necropolis.

Sleep

Mid-Range

It would seem that the only accommodation in the old town is B&B Casa di Anna, Largo Boccetta 5-6, which is good and friendly.

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

Post Italiane is the national postal services of Italy and has quite an efficient network of postal offices and reliable postal services. Standard letters and postcards (up to 20 grams) cost €0.39 to send within Europe and the Mediterranean countries outside Europe and €0.41 to all other destinations throughout the country. Up to 50 grams, prices start at €0.52 for Europe, €0.62 for other areas. Packages start at €1.55 within Europe, and around €2.50 for other countries. Post office business hours in Italy are from 8:30am to 2:00pm from Monday to Friday, with closing times at Saturday and the last day of the month at 12 noon.