Poggiarello Renzetti-Scavi Città Archaeological Area
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Poggiarello Renzetti-Scavi Città Archaeological Area

Leaving the centre of the village behind you, we can reach the National Archaeological Areas on foot in just a few minutes. These areas recount the history of Vatluna from the 3rd to the 1st century BC, in the period after the Romans conquered it, when Etruscan and Roman cities lived together harmoniously, and giving rise to new residential areas such as the Poggiarello Renzetti-Scavi Archaeological Area. We start our visit by standing on the stones (basoli) of the so-called Decumanus Maximums, which was and still is lined with the main shops in our cities. We can enter the best aristocratic houses of the time, the domus ad atrio (central courtyard) from the paved roads that climb up the Poggio. Here we find Casa di Medea, with its courtyard decorated with terracotta slabs (preserved in the “Isidoro Falchi” Civic Archaeological Museum), that tell the story of the lover's revenge of this powerful sorceress of Greek mythology.  

Further on, the large Domus dei Dolia tells us of a privileged life, its rooms with luxurious floors (now covered up to preserve them), walls that were once covered in brightly-coloured frescoes, marble furniture and precious bronze items, that were a real family “treasure” for the inhabitants. There were also storerooms filled with jars ( the dolia from which the house takes its name) for storing food and oil (these items can be found in the “Isidoro Falchi” Civic Archaeological Museum).