The large burial mound
The surviving structure still conveys the monumental scale of the Etruscan funerary landscape.
Monteroni · Etruscan necropolis
Monteroni Tumuli
Two large tumuli, numerous tombs, and a long history of excavations tell the story of the Etruscan funerary landscape between Caere and the coast of Alsium.WhereVia dell’Acquedotto di Statua · Monteroni
Period7th century BC – Roman era
AccessUnequipped site · no regular opening
THE SITE AT A GLANCE
An entire necropolis, not just two hills.
The necropolis developed along what is now Via dell’Acquedotto di Statua, a road that preserves the memory of the ancient Via Aurelia’s route. From the 7th century BC, limestone ridges were transformed into large burial mounds; between the 6th and 5th centuries, the burial ground expanded with numerous tombs, and some sections remained in use even during the Roman era.
Excavations initiated in 1839 by Teresa de Rossi Caetani unearthed Orientalizing grave goods that were subsequently dispersed. Luigi Canina produced drawings of views, plans, and proposed reconstructions; between 1964 and 1968, the University of Rome produced the first modern scientific documentation, prior to the severe damage caused in the 1970s by quarrying, ploughing, and other interventions.
VIEW, SURVEY, HYPOTHESIS
The same necropolis, interpreted on three levels.
Canina’s plates are extraordinary, but they must be interpreted methodically: they document what the author actually saw and measured, alongside idealized reconstructions explicitly identified as such.
Inside the larger tumulus
Plate XL brings together the large circular perimeter, the corridors, the chambers, and various masonry details. It is a valuable historical survey that should be compared with modern measurements before being used as a basis for a 3D model.
Luigi Canina · Plate XL · Public Domain Mark · UB Heidelberg
The ‘restoration’ envisioned by Canina
Regular bases and conical profiles are part of the author’s proposed reconstruction. The image does not depict the original Etruscan appearance and should not be presented as a certainty.
Luigi Canina · Plate XXXIX · Public Domain Mark · UB Heidelberg
An image for orientation, not evidence
This view evokes the logic of the funerary landscape but does not depict the site's current state, nor does it faithfully reconstruct the Monteroni tombs.
LADISPOLI.IT editorial visualizationESSENTIAL STEPS
The history,
in order.
Confirmed dates, archaeological phases, and traditions are presented for what they truly represent.
- 01
The large burial mounds
Monumental tombs—among the largest in the area—transform the limestone ridges into visible landmarks in the landscape.
fase orientalizzante - 02
The necropolis extends
New tombs are arranged around the tumuli along the route between Caere and the sea.
sviluppo archeologico - 03
The funerary landscape continues
Capuchin-style tombs and funerary monuments reuse certain areas near the Via Aurelia.
frequentazione documentata - 04
The Caetani excavations
Teresa de Rossi Caetani sponsors the exploration of the larger tumulus; the Orientalizing grave goods discovered there are subsequently dispersed.
scavi storici - 05
Hamilton Gray depicts Monteroni
The British traveler describes the construction site and her own experience while touring the Etruscan tombs.
testimonianza edita - 06
Luigi Canina’s plates
Views, plans, and sections document the complex; the ‘restoration’ images remain 19th-century reconstructions.
fonte grafica da interpretare - 07
The first modern scientific investigation
The Institute of Ancient Topography at the University of Rome documented the site prior to the major subsequent transformations.
ricerca documentata - 08
Quarries and plowing
Extraction and agricultural activities have severely damaged the area, though some structures remain discernible.
trasformazione contemporanea
WHAT TO OBSERVE
Reading the site,
detail by detail.
Underground architecture
Corridors and burial chambers transformed a mound of earth into a structure dedicated to family memory.
Between Caere and Alsium
The necropolis occupied a strategic corridor between the Etruscan city, the ancient Via Aurelia, and the coast.
Excavations, accounts, and drawings
Hamilton Gray and Canina allow for a comparison between the 19th-century appearance and what remains today.
BEFORE GOING
Reading the survey without entering unauthorized areas.
There is no established archaeological route with a ticket office or daily opening hours. The complex is situated in a sensitive agricultural landscape, featuring areas that are undeveloped, unsecured, or inaccessible to the public.
Use the map solely for orientation. Do not cross fences or attempt to enter the tombs; for information on guided tours, check recent announcements from the Municipality, the Superintendency, and authorized associations.The necropolis is not an archaeological park open for free public visits, nor does it publish a daily schedule.
The site is located off Via dell’Acquedotto di Statua, in the Monteroni area south of Ladispoli’s town center.
Stay on designated paths; do not climb on the mounds or touch/remove archaeological materials.
CONSULTABLE SOURCES
To learn more,
and verify.
This first edition organizes the most solid information. Individual pages may be expanded with documents, surveys, and archival photographs.
CITY HERITAGE
Monteroni Etruscan Necropolis
Municipality of Ladispoli · GATC · GAR · 2024Updated summary regarding chronology, 19th-century excavations, research conducted between 1964 and 1968, and transformations of the site.
Open the source ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHThe Etruscan port of Alsium
Ancient Studies · 2021New findings and hypotheses regarding the coastal landscape to which the necropolis may have been linked.
Open the source TERRITORIAL STUDYCaere and its landing places
Sapienza University of Rome · 2024Updated overview of the connections between the Caeretan hinterland and the coastal strip.
Open the source 19th-century sourceA Tour to the Sepulchres of Etruria
Elizabeth Hamilton GrayThe account of 19th-century visits and explorations in the Monteroni area.
Open the source HISTORICAL SURVEYSAncient maritime Etruria
Luigi Canina · 1851 · public domainDigitized original volume featuring plates XXXIX and XL, dedicated to the tombs of Monteroni.
Open the source DISCOVER THE SECTORAll the places of memory.
Open the complete catalog of monuments, archaeological sites, and historical landscapes.
Open the sectorCONTINUE THE ROUTE
