Nowadays a picturesque hamlet that overlooks the Grosseto plain from the top of a hill, Vetulonia was
once one of the richest and most prosperous Etruscan cities. It is mentioned by the most important
written references of antiquity, as in the works of Dionysius of Halicarnassus, who reminds us that
Vetulonia was allied to the Latins against Tarquinius Prisco. Another example is Silio Italico’s work
which reminds us of how Vetulonia has showed for the first time the symbols of power in Rome: the
fascio littorio, the toga with purple belt and the curule chair.
For several centuries Vetulonia has been an economic, political and artistic leader. An active
commercial centre with many craftsmen’s laboratories producing jewels of inestimable value.
The city gradually lost importance after the capture by the Romans, falling, during the barbarian
invasions, into total oblivion. It was generically indicated with the name of Colonna di Buriano.
It was only in 1887 that the greatness of Vetulonia returned to the limelight, thanks to the
determination of the doctor passionate about archaeology Isidoro Falchi. He brought to light precious
and important archaeological remains and gave her back the ancient name: Vetulonia.
It was only in 1887 that the greatness of Vetulonia returned to the limelight, thanks to the
determination of the doctor passionate about archaeology Isidoro Falchi. He brought to light precious
and important archaeological remains and gave her back the ancient name: Vetulonia.
The glorious past of the city is testified by the sumptuous funeral ornaments and the renowned tombs
of the Etruscan necropolis. These monumental tombs include the Tomba del Belvedere with a
quadrangular chamber, the Tomba della Pietrera consisting of two overlapping chambers, the two
Tomba del Diavolino and Tomba della Fibula d’oro, with jewels worked with fine dust, as far as the
tombs of Poggio Pelliccia, containing precious Greek ceramics, including the famous fragments of
ostrich egg.
Vetulonia’s discovery continues in recent years with a focus on the oldest part of the city, the
Hellenistic quarter of Poggiarello Renzetti. Excavations first brought to light the Medea domus with its
ornaments portraying the myth of Giasone and Medea and afterwards the rooms of the Domus dei
Dolia, so called because of the large jars (dolia) that were found together with wine and oil amphorae.
The Archaeological Museum located at the entrance of the village and named after Isidoro Falchi is
worth a special visit. The Museum is one of the first in Italy to be accessible also to the physically and
visually impaired people