Beautiful medieval Tarquinia was one of the oldest and most important of the ancient Etruscan cities, a commercial power by the 8th century BC, home of a dynasty of Etruscan kings, and a miltary stronghold with massive city walls that repelled Celtic invasions and battled extensively and successfully in wars against Rome before finally being subdued in 295BC.

The Necropolis of Monterozzi on the La Civita hill outside the old center is a UNESCO world heritage site because of its wealth of extensive Etruscan tombs, temples, frescos, paintings, and burial chambers, and the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia in town holds a remarkable world-renowned collection of ancient Etruscan art and artifacts.