Vetulonia

Vetulonia is a district of the municipality of Castiglione in southern Tuscany. It is situated on a hill at an altitude of 344 m above the valley of the Bruna about 20 km northwest of Grosseto and has about 500 inhabitants.

History

The town is of Etruscan origin. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus Vetulonia was allied in the 7th century BC with the Latins against Rome. Silius Italicus reported Vetulonia conquest by the Romans, who strategically took advantage of the coastal strip and possibly some insignia ( lictors, fasces, Toga ) of this twelve Etruscan league of cities belonging to the city-state took over. Even Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy mention Vetulonia.

At the navigable Great Salt Lake, which spread in the ancient world to the present municipality in the plane ( Lacus Prelius ), the Etruscans had established a thriving port. Busy is the trade in amber and gold work. Across the lagoon was both a connection to the sea and to the second twelve Etruscan league of cities metropolis of today's southern Tuscany, Roselle.

Even in Roman times, however Vetulonia lost its importance. There is no indication that the Romans inhabited the hill at all. The onset in late antiquity silting up of the Maremma, associated with degeneration of the Etruscan channel system by the Lacus Prelius, cut off the historically developed trade routes. Malaria uninhabitable in the coming centuries, large parts of the Maremma.

About the medieval Vetulonia is little known due to lack of sources. It bore the name of Colonna di Buriano and was the bone of contention between the Abbey of San Bartolomeo di Sestinga and the feudal lords Lambardi di Buriano. The Etruscan history was forgotten.

1323 was the territory of the Free City State of Massa Marittima, which was 12 years later conquered by the Republic of Siena; below the place basically told Siena history: 1555 conquest by Florence, 1569 incorporation into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, in 1737 the Habsburgs and from 1860 to the Italian nation-state belonging.

The physician and amateur archaeologist Isidoro Falchi place at the end of the 19th century the Etruscan ruins and pointed in Colonna di Buriano the identity of the lost Vetulonia after. The write-up was initially denied by mainstream archaeologists, but has prevailed in the end. 1887 the site was returned by a regional decree his ancient name.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Etruscan ruins are prepared documentary and are frequented by groups, school groups and interested tourists. The offbeat location of the ruins, which can be reached with patience a winding access road by extensive olive groves and a dirt runway, but prevents infrastructure unsustainable visitor numbers.

Attractions

The Etruscan relics can be found in two zones:

• The ruins of the residential area and city walls ( Mura dell'Arce so -called Cyclopean ) on the hill on the outskirts of the medieval borgo and today
• The necropolis with mound tombs (also Tholos Tombs / tumuli called ) further below.

Etruscan city wall

Left ( east ) from the north ( Grilli ) to Vetulonia up winding road is, just before the entrance to the medieval Borgo, the excavation site of the Via Decumana (also called Via the Cyclops ). Get are only foundations of the 1893 discovered by Isidoro Falchi atrium houses. After the plan is limited to a narrow, tube-like entrance, followed by an anteroom ( faucis ) and then open the main room (atrium ) to close.

Opposite ( right of the road, west ) a 5 m long rest a built of massive blocks of stone town wall has, the Falchi 1895 discovered and named Cyclopean. It is unclear whether the massive structure served only for defensive purposes, or should also support the hill against landslides.

Necropolis

Among the more than a dirt road ( Via dei Sepolcri ) approachable tombs dating from the 7th century BC, further down the hill be lifted three plants documentary:

The Tomba di Belvedere (1897 discovered by Falchi ) is a residue of a quadratic grave chamber; the putative associated center column, vaulting and tumulus are no longer available, the dating uncertain.

The Tomba del Diavolino 2 (" Devil 2 " ) is a large tumulus, today an olive grove covered. Under the 80 m diameter measured Tambour in formal association with a Tholos found Falchi 1903 the central square grave chamber to which a 40 m long dromos ( 15 m of which are covered ) leads. The vault was supported by a massive central pillar, stands of which only the base. Two restorations have taken place in the years 1960 and 1983. It was named by a plant found in the grave horned, devilish -looking figure (identified as Charon ).

In another, also covered tumulus 14 m high mound, 60 m diameter and 28 m long dromos ( Tomba della Pietrera ) discovered grave Falchi 1892 two chambers ( one round and one rectangular ) one above the other to the completely preserved central central pillar. This is explained by the prevailing opinion, with a collapse of the vault of the original chamber, then completion of backfilling and rebuilding a floor above. The excavation and the bottom floor was uncovered, so that the grave chamber looks like two stories today.

Another tumulus with Charon grave Fund, the Tomba del Diavolino 1 (" little devil 1") was demolished and is now in the Archaeological Museum in Florence.

Within the tumuli were also found a number of smaller stone circle graves with grave goods.

Archaeological Museum

The Museo was founded in 1978 Archeologico Antiquarium, which was originally housed in a multi- functional building with the village school, a small library, a cinema and a first-aid station, it was after 19 years of long closure in June 2000, remodeled and expanded as Museo Archeologico Isidoro Falchi reopened. It houses Etruscan grave finds from the 10th century BC to the 1st century.

Economy

Vetulonia is agrarian in nature: olive and wine growing dominated in the 80s still predominant livestock (sheep, pigs, chickens ) is largely abandoned. Until the 1970s and the mining offered in the pyrite mines of Ravi and Gavorrano jobs. Tourism still plays a minor role; interested day-trippers come by, but dining facilities and accommodation are missing.

Local festivities

• Sunday after February 10: Festa di San Guglielmo ( feast of William of Malavalle ); is presented a characteristic pastry of the region, the cialda;
• July / August: Sagra del Tortello e della cucina locale - Art Farmer's Market with local products
• Last weekend in August: Tournament Palla eh! (see below)
• September: Palio delle Contradas - La corsa dei Ciuchi, Donkey race of the four local village districts ( contrade ): Borgo, Torre, San Guglielmo and Colonna.
• Second Sunday in November: Festa dell'olio ( "Festival of the olive oil " ) with tasting opportunity and exhibition of historical oil presses (of which there are still in Vetulonia 11).

Sports

Plays a major role in the entire province of Grosseto common Palla eh, also called Palla 21 ( German " over 21"), a team game, which goes back to ancient roots! ; Südtoskaner some see this as a precursor of modern tennis. Alessandro Tosi is considered unbeaten local hero.

The town also has a football team, Etrusca Vetulonia.