Vulci
Description
Vulci was a wealthy Etruscan city in northern Lazio about 80 km northwest of Rome. Although little mentioned in ancient texts, archaeology reveals its major role in Etruscan culture, art, and trade.
The city flourished especially from the 8th–6th centuries BC. Rich metal resources and Mediterranean trade connections drove its growth, and its artisans became renowned for bronze work—possibly producing masterpieces like the Chimera of Arezzo and the Monteleone chariot. Vulci was also a major center for imported Attic pottery, with more such vases found in its tombs than anywhere else.
Thousands of tombs discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries—such as the François Tomb, Isis Tomb, and the Tomb of the Sun and Moon—revealed vast treasures, frescoes, bronzes, and jewelry, many now in major museums. Most tombs were later forgotten, though excavations continue to uncover new finds.
At its height in the 6th century BC, Vulci controlled nearby cities and maintained a port at Regae. It influenced early Rome, with figures like Servius Tullius and the Vibenna brothers linked to Vulci. After defeats in the Roman–Etruscan Wars, Vulci declined, losing its coast and autonomy by the 3rd century BC. It remained occupied into the Roman period but was ultimately abandoned by the 8th century AD.
Surviving remains include its extensive necropolis, sections of city walls and gates, a large Roman domus with a cryptoporticus, a triumphal arch dedicated to Publius Sulpicius Mundus, a major temple, a late Roman basilica, and the impressive Ponte dell'Abbadia bridge and aqueduct.