Archaeological sites in Tuscany

Tuscany is the cradle of Etruscan civilization as well as Lazio. We still have traces of stable human presence between Paleolithic and Bronze Age especially in "Grotte del Belvedere" zone.

Villanovan culture is testified by shifting from little villages to complex urban centres. The symbolic civilization by the way has always been Etruscan's indeed, the most studied and enigmatic of the historic civilizations who occupied a central-northern area called ancient Etruria. Etruscans were masters of the Tyrrhenian sea in fact they were the ones having total control on raw materials and processing of raw materials.

Etruscans were in close contact with Greek culture that not only influenced their custom very much but it also was the reason of Etruscan civilization decay. Later they'll be crash down by growth of Roman rule even if their culture will never be completely covered by Rome splendor. During Roman Etruria period, at first Etruria prospered but then starded losing importance due to ongoing civil wars among Romans and also malaria, a true plague on this land.

When Octavian Augustus came, Etruria was re-called as Regio VII and followed Roman Empire's historic development.