"Round Trip from the Underworld" is a themed experiential trail that combines nature and archaeology between Norchia, Blera, and Barbarano Romano , in the heart of Tuscia. An archaeotrek through the Etruscan rock necropolises , where monumental tombs overlook ravines and the landscape seems suspended in time. The itinerary proceeds from north to south and starts from Norchia , a site inhabited since the Paleolithic and then an important Etruscan centre linked to the orbit of Tarquinia, with its maximum development between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC. In this phase its famous rock necropolises dug into the tuff were born, characterised by cube and semi-cube tombs along the slopes of the valleys. The route continues towards Blera , a Roman center that reached its peak during the Etruscan era. Here, the eastern necropolises , including that of Terrone, preserve rock tombs and clearly legible evidence of the site's funerary organization. The next stop is Barbarano Romano, home to the San Giuliano necropolis, part of the Marturanum Regional Park . This archaeological area is considered unique because it offers a nearly complete picture of the evolution of Etruscan funerary architecture. Descending to the bottom of the gorge, you truly have the sensation of travelling through time, from the 7th century BC to the 3rd century AD, accompanied by the tuff walls dotted with tombs and a still wild nature. The itinerary can conclude with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of the Rock Necropolises of Barbarano Romano , which collects materials and finds from the tombs in the area, ideal for completing the reading of this extraordinary Etruscan funerary landscape.
The main funerary complexes overlooking the waterways are explored:
