Leaving the port of Civitavecchia, about 50 miles from Rome

Quite an assortment of ships in the port

Entering the Etruscan burial ground in Tarquinia, founded in the 7th century B.C.

We visited the necropolis, containing thousands of tombs dating from the 6th to the 1st century B.C., many of which have not yet been explored. Several stairways descended to the tombs.

Lush farmland surrounded the tombs area.

From the tombs area, we went to the Palazzo Vitelleschi -- an excellent example of early Renaissance architecture.

The Palace now contains an Archeological Museum housing the remains of the mysterious Etruscan population.