Archeo Trekking

Northern Lazio is an area where history and nature meet in harmony. The thick woods, the valleys and the steep slopes are marked by the heritage of the Etruscan and Roman past. There are a wealth of paths crossing the greenery, letting even the most curious traveler discover the emotion of the first archaeologists who crossed this land. Among the thick trees and rocks, the remains of Etruscan graves, ancient cities and medieval villages reveal themselves. The numerous itineraries remain outside the normal circuit of tourist destinations and allow this places to keep their charm and mystery undisclosed.   Among the most striking sites is the ancient Etruscan city of Norchia, well-known especially for its caved necropolis enmeshed in the rocky walls of deep valleys. An excursion to Norchia lets the visitor admire a landscape which is unique in the world. There the rock seems to give birth to the Etruscan graves, animated by decorations, pediments and fake doors.   A surprising concentration of graves carved in rocks in a more enclosed area can be discovered visiting Castel d'Asso, the first Etruscan necropolis ever discovered and introduced to the world in the beginning of the XIXth century.   One of the most fascinating and intact places to see is Luni sul Mignone. To get to the site the visitors have to cross woods and untouched torrents, populated by a numerous and variegated fauna. Here, the exuberant vegetation penetrates the remains of the Etruscan city, prehistoric and iron age testimonies, together with the ruins of a castle and a medieval church. The landscape is touching and superb. Three water courses limits the level land of the acropolis, where it is possible to admire the Tolfa Mountains and the Wood of Blera.   The surroundings of Tolfa are equally rich on Etruscan testimonies, reachable through many different paths, from which the visitor can admire the unusually beautiful views over the mountains, together with ancient temples and necropolis such as the Grasceta dei Cavalleri and the necropolis of Pian Conserva. From there, it is possible to get to the splendid village of Sasso, following an itinerary of incredible naturalistic beauty and of great historical interest.   Two places which cannot be missed are the ruins of the city of San Giuliano and San Giovenale, an ancient Etruscan center near Blera, which are placed in the Marturanum Park in Barbarano Romano, also known as the Etruscan Park.   Crossing the Valley of Treja and the surrounding countryside, there are numerous paths inviting you to discover the nature and history of Northern Lazio. Among these, the plateau of the ancient Narce, close to Calcata, and the tracing of the old Amerina route, rich of Etruscan and Roman graves with their unique charm, are without doubts two sites, which deserving particular attention.