Cerveteri, the modern name for the ancient Etruscan city of Caere, is home to one of the most impressive necropolises in the Mediterranean world. The Banditaccia Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains thousands of tombs organized in a city-like plan with streets, squares, and distinct neighborhoods spanning from the 9th to the 1st century BC.

What makes Cerveteri's necropolis unique is the monumental nature of its tombs, which were designed to resemble the houses of the living. These tumuli (burial mounds) contain multiple rooms arranged around a central hall, with carved doors, windows, columns, and furniture, providing extraordinary insights into Etruscan domestic architecture that has otherwise been lost to time.

The most impressive tombs include the Tomb of the Reliefs, decorated with stucco reliefs depicting everyday objects and tools; the Tomb of the Greek Vases, containing precious imported pottery; and the Tomb of the Capitals, with its sophisticated architectural elements.

The Archaeological Museum of Cerveteri, housed in the 13th-century Ruspoli Castle, displays artifacts recovered from the necropolis and the nearby Etruscan port of Pyrgi, including the famous Pyrgi Tablets with parallel texts in Etruscan and Phoenician.

The modern town of Cerveteri retains its medieval character with narrow streets, stone buildings, and the imposing Ruspoli Castle at its center. The surrounding countryside features the typical Etruscan landscape of rolling hills, Mediterranean vegetation, and ancient tufa rock formations.

As one of the most important cities of the Etruscan League, Cerveteri was a wealthy trading center with connections throughout the Mediterranean. Its archaeological remains offer a fascinating window into the sophisticated civilization that preceded and influenced Roman culture.