Tarquinia Etruscan Necropolis tour: Painted tombs

Walk inside painted tombs older than the city of Tarquinia itself

This guided tour from Civitavecchia port takes you 20 km north to Tarquinia's UNESCO-listed Etruscan necropolis, where you enter tombs decorated with frescoes more than 3,000 years old. After exploring the painted chambers and the medieval city center, you visit the National Etruscan Museum in Palazzo Vitelleschi, then finish with lunch at a traditional local restaurant in the Lazio region. Pickup and drop-off from the port are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tarquinia Etruscan heritage

• Meet at Largo della Pace snc, Civitavecchia
• Transfer to Tarquinia Necropolis
• Visit ancient painted tombs
• Walking tour of medieval city center
• Enjoy authentic Italian lunch
• Visit National Etruscan Museum
• Return to Civitavecchia port

The experience

The Tarquinia Necropolis is the draw here. A cemetery of underground chambers where Etruscan families painted scenes of daily life directly onto the tomb walls: hunters, fishermen, musicians, dancers. These frescoes predate Roman art by centuries and survive in remarkable condition. You walk through the necropolis with your guide, who explains what the painted figures reveal about how the Etruscans lived, worked and celebrated. The site sits only 20 km north of Civitavecchia, so the drive is short and the morning is yours to spend inside the tombs.

After the necropolis, you walk through Tarquinia's medieval city center before lunch at a traditional restaurant serving regional Lazio cuisine. The afternoon takes you to the National Etruscan Museum, housed in the 15th-century Palazzo Vitelleschi. The collection includes pottery, sculpture and everyday objects excavated from the tombs: pieces that have traveled to exhibitions in New York and Paris. Your guide walks you through the displays and connects what you see here to the painted scenes you stood in front of that morning.

The tour runs about 6.5 hours total. You meet your English-speaking driver at Largo della Pace in Civitavecchia (the last stop of the port's free shuttle bus) and return to the same spot by 3:30 PM. The minivan is air-conditioned, and the group stays small: a minimum of two people per booking means you're never on a crowded bus.

What’s included

• Round-trip shared transfer from Civitavecchia port in an air-conditioned minivan.
• entrance ticket to the Tarquinia Necropolis UNESCO site.
• lunch at a traditional local restaurant.
• entry to the National Etruscan Museum.
• pickup and drop-off from the port area.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:45

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by MyloveItaly Travel&Experiences

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a small group (minimum two people per booking), so you travel with other visitors rather than privately. The fixed schedule (departing mid-morning and returning by 3:30 PM) fits the rhythm of a port day and leaves you back at the ship with time to spare, making it ideal for cruise passengers with limited hours ashore.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the painted tombs at Tarquinia actually like when you walk inside them?

The Tarquinia Necropolis contains underground chambers decorated with frescoes showing Etruscan life (hunters, fishermen, musicians, dancers and athletes) painted directly onto the walls more than 3,000 years ago. The frescoes have survived remarkably well and give a vivid picture of daily life in the ancient Etruscan culture, which predates Roman civilization.

How far is Tarquinia from Civitavecchia port, and how much time do you spend there?

Tarquinia is 20 km north of Civitavecchia, so the drive takes roughly 30 minutes each way. You spend the morning and early afternoon in Tarquinia itself: exploring the necropolis, walking the medieval city center, having lunch, and visiting the National Etruscan Museum in Palazzo Vitelleschi.

What's inside the National Etruscan Museum at Palazzo Vitelleschi?

The museum holds pottery, sculpture, and everyday objects excavated from the Etruscan tombs, including pieces that have been displayed in exhibitions in New York and Paris. Your guide walks you through the collection and connects the artifacts to the painted tomb scenes you saw earlier in the day.

What kind of lunch is included, and where do you eat?

Lunch is at a traditional local restaurant in Tarquinia serving authentic Lazio regional cuisine. The meal is included in the tour price and gives you time to rest and taste the flavors of the region before heading to the museum.

Is there a professional guide, or just the driver?

Your English-speaking driver provides commentary throughout the day. The tour does not include a dedicated professional guide separate from the driver.