Tarquinii had developed over time on the hill called Civitas, which was bordered on the north, by the river Marta. It must have been so much easier then to commune with the waters of the river. It had sheer limestone cliffs, which provided additional protection. The main protection was the wonderful stone wall surrounding the city. A few hundred years ago, Tarquinii was a city of major importance in many ways. The control of the Tolfa mountain metals provided the wealth necessary to build the city and expand Tarquinian influence and control. It was such a pity that the city of Caere has wrested control of it. There were the ports that supplied Tarquinii with goods and from far places and took Tarquinian goods to them. Yes the Greeks brought new ideas for pots, for buildings, for paintings, but we kept the Etruscan love of life, light and colour.
Our art was intensely our own even with the borrowings
I have heard the stories about the Golden Days; I miss them even though I wasn’t there. Sometimes Roman life is too restrictive.

I have walked through the necropolis and looked at the paintings full of live and a love of living. You can see the changes in art styles through the centuries, the various influences, the enrichment of the furnishing and the subject matter and the Women seemed to be freer and happier.

Some of the jewelry I now possess has been in my family for hundreds of years. The craftsmanship is unmatchable.