SHORE EXCURSIONS

Not far from Civitavecchia lies Tarquinia, a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to its huge and efficient fleet, Tarquinia was once one of the most powerful Etruscan cities and an artistic centre. Today, it is known for its quaint squares lovely palaces and the Etruscan Necropolis. Visit to Palazzo Vitelleschi, a splendid 15th century Gothic-style castle. The museum contains a wealth of Etruscan treasures. Walk the streets of the old town with its charming character. Some of the impressive medieval walls are still standing.

Visit the Etruscan Necropolis, containing numerous sarcophagi that were found in its tombs lying beneath rolling farmlands just outside Tarquinia. Your guide will lead you past underground tombs decorated with lively frescoes of Etruscan life. Historians have been able to reconstruct life in Etruscan times from these paintings. Your tour culminates with a visit to a local farmhouse where you'll discover the local flavours when you sample their homemade goods.