Castello di Vulci
The Castello di Vulci is the castle that overlooks the site of Vulci, once a rich Etruscan city in what is now northern Lazio, in central Italy. Standing beside the river Fiora, the castle guards the medieval bridge near the ancient city’s remains. It links the Etruscan past of Vulci with the medieval and later history of the territory.
At a glance
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Medieval, near the ancient Etruscan city
- Style
- Fortified building
- Location
- Vulci, northern Lazio, Italy
Overview
The Castello di Vulci stands at the archaeological site of Vulci, in northern Lazio. Vulci was a wealthy Etruscan city, and its territory is today an important archaeological landscape. The castle is positioned by the river crossing at the edge of the ancient city.
History
Vulci flourished as one of the great cities of Etruria before passing into the Roman world. After antiquity the site declined, but the strategic crossing of the Fiora retained importance, and a castle came to guard it. The fortress thus belongs to the medieval afterlife of the ancient city.
What you see
The castle stands close to the river and the historic bridge near the Etruscan remains. Its fortified mass overlooks the gorge of the Fiora in a striking natural setting. Around it stretches the archaeological area of Vulci, with the traces of the ancient city.
Cultural significance
The Castello di Vulci is bound to one of the most significant Etruscan sites in Italy. It frames the visit to the ancient city and embodies the long continuity of settlement at this crossing of the Fiora.
Practical information
The castle lies within the archaeological area of Vulci, in northern Lazio. For opening times, the archaeological park and any museum access, check the official website before visiting.
Getting there
Vulci is reached by road in the Maremma area on the border of Lazio and Tuscany, inland from the Tyrrhenian coast. A car is necessary, as the site lies in open countryside away from main towns.