Dometaia Archaeological Park
- The great Etruscan necropolis
An impressive necropolis with 56 burials immersed in an authentic and evocative rural landscape. Visit the Dometaia Archaeological Park in Colle di Val d’Elsa.
Dometaia Archaeological Park
Why visit it
Dometaia has a long history, both as a settlement and in terms of its discovery. Reports of the ancient necropolis date back as far as the Middle Ages. In fact, Cennino Cennini mentioned in his “Libro dell’Arte” certain “small caves in Dometaia” where “it is possible to find white.”
It was then at the end of the 19th century that Marquis Bonaventura Chigi Zondadari began investigations in Dometaia, bringing several tombs to light. Research continued until 2010, allowing for the recovery of one of the most important necropolises in the Volterra area which, since 2011, has been established as the Dometaia Archaeological Park.
The park is a unique place, nestled in the hills between Colle, San Gimignano, and Casole d’Elsa, allowing you to retrace Etruscan history while enjoying a rare natural landscape.
What you will find
The necropolis consists of 56 tombs (only some of which can be visited) dating between the 6th century BC and the 2nd century AD, of various types: you will find monumental hypogeum tombs that imitate ancient dwellings inside; pit tombs; and the unique “basin tombs” (tombe a catino) typical of the Valdelsa area.
The rich artifacts found here are exhibited at the “Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli” Archaeological Museum in Palazzo Pretorio – MARB Rooms of Memory, in Colle.
The park itself remains a wonderful open-air museum that offers an immersive and evocative experience. During the summer, it comes alive with initiatives, especially at night, such as conferences, guided tours, and activities related to stargazing, organized in collaboration with the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena.
Useful Information
Seasonal opening hours. With the purchase of a ticket to the Crystal Museum, it is also possible to access Palazzo Pretorio (archaeological museum) and the San Pietro Museum in Colle di Val d’Elsa.
At the moment, the park can only be visited or accessed during special events held on-site.