Necropolis Banditaccia, Etruscan necropolis in Cerveteri, Italy.
The Necropolis Banditaccia is an Etruscan burial site in Cerveteri with thousands of chamber tombs carved into tuff rock. The graves form streets lined with burial rooms, showing how families buried multiple generations together in large underground houses.
The site began in the 9th century BC and evolved over centuries. Graves grew from simple pit tombs into elaborate multi-chamber family vaults, reflecting the growing wealth of Etruscan society.
The Tomb of Reliefs displays carved stones showing everyday Etruscan objects, weapons, and religious symbols on its walls and pillars. These carvings reveal how the people who were buried here lived and what they believed in.
The site is accessible most weekdays and visitors should wear sturdy shoes since paths cross uneven ground. Guided tours help explain the different tomb types and their significance.
Some tombs still show traces of colored wall paintings that hint at the original vibrant decoration. These remnants give visitors a rare glimpse into the artistic work that once adorned these underground rooms.
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