Rofalco, late-Etruscan settlement
Rofalco is an Etruscan fort in Farnese built on a volcanic plateau with tufa stone. The ruins display defensive walls and towers that once controlled the valley below and monitored passing traffic.
Rofalco was founded by the Etruscans to control a key trade route between the coast and inland areas. The fortress was conquered by the Romans in the early 3rd century BCE and subsequently abandoned.
The name Rofalco connects to the Etruscan past of the region. Local residents view this place as a link to their ancestral roots and the cultures that shaped the land over millennia.
The site is easy to access and can be explored on foot with information boards explaining different areas. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and open ground, so sturdy footwear and water are recommended.
Archaeologists found small clay bullets among the ruins, which are sling stones indicating a fierce battle during the Roman conquest. This discovery reveals the dramatic final moments when the Etruscan garrison was overcome.
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