One of the most beautiful landscapes of the Tuscia region can be seen from the medieval walls of Tuscania (VT) which is surrounded by countryside, for the most part safeguarded as a nature reserve. The town’s history is recorded in the Archaeological Museum and by the Etruscan and Roman Necropolises through the collection of sarcophagi and funeral goods found in the tombs of the prominent families of Tuscia between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE. More artefacts can be found in the centrally located Piazza Basile, where the Palazzo Comunale stands, in churches and historical buildings. Piazza Bastianini is dominated by the 16th century Fontana Grande and the Duomo. Two splendid Churches, St. Mary Major and St. Peter, can be found just outside the enclosing walls.
Legends about the city’s origins attribute its foundation to Ascanius, son of Aeneas, or to Tuscus, son of Hercules. In any case, it was first settled in the Bronze Age. The Etruscans made Tuscania prosperous and powerful, profiting from its excellent geographical position at the heart of an important network of roads that connected the coastal cities with the hinterland. By the 6th century BCE it was a flourishing commercial centre, due in particular to maritime trading through the port of Montalto. The Romans assisted in its expansion in the 3rd century BCE with the construction of the Via Clodia: in contrast to other Etruscan centres, the town grew more prosperous thanks to the building of aqueducts, thermal baths and residential buildings.
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