A fascinating overview of the history of Fiesole, which has seen the presence of the Etruscans, Romans and Lombards. An ideal place to immerse yourself in ancient history and appreciate the natural beauty of Tuscany
The Archaeological Area of ​​Fiesole, located a few kilometers from Florence, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Tuscany and offers a fascinating journey through the Etruscan, Roman and Lombard eras.
It includes several significant monuments, including a Roman Theater, the Baths, an Etruscan-Roman Temple and a Lombard Necropolis.
Roman Theater
Dating back to the 1st century BC, it is one of the best preserved elements of the area. It could accommodate up to 3,000 spectators and is still used today for cultural events, such as theatrical performances and concerts during the Estate Fiesolana.
Roman Baths
Located next to the theater, they include the remains of rooms intended for hot (calidarium), warm (tepidarium) and cold (frigidarium) baths. These spaces testify to the importance of social life linked to the baths in ancient times.
Etruscan-Roman Temple
Originally built by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC, the temple was later rebuilt in Roman times. It was probably dedicated to the Goddess Minerva, as suggested by the votive finds, including a small bronze owl.
Etruscan Walls
The area is delimited by imposing walls built in the 4th century BC, over 2,500 meters long, which testify to the strategic importance of the city in ancient times.
Longobard Necropolis
Dating back to the 7th century AD, it preserves traces of the successive phases of occupation of the area, with burials and funerary objects also exhibited in the nearby museum
– Civic Archaeological Museum
The area also includes the Civic Archaeological Museum, which houses finds from the excavations of the site and the surrounding area.
The oldest finds exhibited at the Museum date back to the Villanovan era and the archaic Etruscan period. Among these, the main ones are:
Villanovan Ceramics
Materials dating back to the Iron Age (9th-8th century BC), which represent the first traces of the Villanovan culture in Fiesole.
Fiesolane steles
Funerary markers in sandstone from the archaic Etruscan period (7th-6th century BC), typical of the Fiesole area. Among the best known is the stele of “Larth Aninies”, which depicts a warrior armed with a spear and axe, dating back to the 7th or 6th century BC.
Votive bronzes
Recovered from the Etruscan temples of the city, they bear witness to the religiosity and worship practiced by the Etruscans.
Etruscan-Roman Temple
The temple cell, originally built in the 7th century BC, is one of the oldest finds in the archaeological area and suggests the sacred use of the place already in the Archaic era
Largo Fernando Farulli 1
Fiesole (Florence)
Tuscany – Italy
What to see in the province in the surrounding area near museums archaeological parks cultural itineraries archaeological areas