Sutri
It is called "the very ancient city", at its doors, on Via Cassia, you'll find the archaeological-landscape park. Leave your car near the majestic amphitheater, an exceptional work, dug entirely into a mass of tufo of the promontory and perfectly conserved because it remained underground until, in 1839, Savorelli from the Marches found it buried in the park of this villa. It is an arean with elliptical design, almost circular, with vomitorium, different orders of platforms and stands, which could have originally held up to 30,000 people. As for the date of construction, some scholars attribute it to the Etruscan era; others to the middle of the 1st century B.C.
Going out of the amphitheater, with the door of the arena behind you, follow the tree-lined road that goes up to the left to the monumental necropolises, which are very old: they think they could date back to the 4th to 6th centuries B.C. You can visit 64 tombs completely dug into the tufo, placed on different levels. In the Middle Ages they were raided, and some of them transformed into stalls and agricultural deposits; some were actually inhabited. The niches dug into the walls, with different dimensions, demonstrate that here both funerals with incineration and burials were carried out. One of these tombs, which became a Mithraeum in the Roman Era, was transformed into the medieval church of Madonna del Parto.
Having returned to the arena and now following the street going towards the right: even in this case you'll arrive in an area very rich in Etruscan tombs sculpted in the rocky face. If you have time, go up into the historic center of Sutri, and at least visit the Romanesque Duomo dell'Assunta (Duomo of the Assumption). An interesting fact: Sutri was the first official possession of the Church State. In 728 the Lombard king, Liutprando, donated it by an official act to Pope Gregory II. It seems that the crypt underneath the Duomo dates back to this period, which, the difference from the interior of the church, it has maintained its medieval characteristics and is definitely worth looking at. If you are passionate about Christian history, visit the Museum of Patrimonium, in an old hospital and containing remains that go from the Roman Era to the Renaissance.
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The Amphitheater carved into tufo
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The Amphitheater carved into tufo
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The Amphitheater carved into tufo
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The Amphitheater carved into tufo
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The Amphitheater carved into tufo
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The Etruscan necropolis
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The Etruscan necropolis
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The Etruscan necropolis
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The Mithraeum
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The Mithraeum of Sutri
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The Mithraeum of Sutri
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The Mithraeum of Sutri
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The Mithraeum of Sutri
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Villa Savorelli
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Villa Savorelli
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The amphitheater as seen from Villa Savorelli
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The Etruscan necropolis under Villa Savorelli
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The center of Sutri
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The crypt of the duomo of Sutri
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Sutri
Photographer: Matteo Bordini
Written by: Sara Fratini
The photographers and writers hold the copyright to their works and allow for their non-exclusive use by Rural Journey and Vagabondo for their publication in "Italy Travelguide".
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GPS Coordinates:
42.239067°, 12.228856°
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