Chiusi lies in the extreme south of the Valdichiana on a hill at approximately 400 amsl. it's a famous city for its Etruscan tombs and its historical center. The city is reached in car from Florence or Rome through the Highway of the Sun (A1), exit Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, from the exit are 3 km more. The distance from Florence is 110 Km, while that from Siena is 80 Km, from Perugia 53 Km and from Arezzo 65 Km.

The city was most important in Etruscan age when it was known with the name of Chamars, it lived its period of maximum splendor from the 7th to 5th century BC and in particolar under the king Porsenna, that besieged also Rome. In 4th century, Chiusi became allied of Rome with the name of Clusium, it was later a military post and from the 82 BC a roman colony. The splendor of Chiusi, continued also in roman and longobard age end beyond 11th century, when the malaria caused its decline. It was a free city from 1337 to 1355. Then it was submitted from Siena and from 1556 was under Florence rule, under the Medici government Chiusi flourished again thanks to the works of reclamation of the Valdichiana ordered by Cosimo I.

Chiusi is famous for the splendid Etruscan remains, innumerable excavations, have carried to the light unique pieces in the world, such precious testimonies are exposed in the Archaeological National Etruscan Museum, that deserves a visit. The Museum, is articulated in three sections in which travels over again the history of Chiusi through the exposure of numerous archaeological masterpieces, vases, terra-cotta and funeral sculptures and urns. The museum is completed by figured attica ceramics, great black figured amphoras and the skyphos of the Painter of Penelope with scenes of the myth of Ulisse. Between the Etruscan tombs, most remarkable are the tombs of the Pellegrina, the tombs of the Scimmia, the Pania and the tomba of the Leone. In the last years it has been opened to the public an interesting archeological route, the so-called Labirinto of King Porsenna, a intricate system of underground passages of the Etruscan age, this route across the subsoil of Chiusi, lead to a monumental Roman cistern (1th century AD) Of the first Christian age are the Catacombs of Santa Mustiola and of Santa Caterina.

In front of the Archaeological Museum is Piazza del Duomo, monumental heart of Chiusi. The Cathedral was erected in 12th century and altered in 16th century, beside the Cathedral is the Museum of the Cathedral, that has important work of art, between which the precious illuminated Benedictines codes. To the left of the Cathedral it's the tower of San Secondiano built in 12th century and transformed in bell tower in 1585. The interior of the Cathedral is with three aisles divided by 18 columns of various styles, some columns coming from old buildings of the roman Chiusi. The walls of the navata and various others parts of the church are covered from paintings in false mosaic works of Arturo Viligiardi (1887-1894). From Piazza del Duomo we can cover the ancient Decuman (via Porsenna), along this way are some interesting palaces between which: the palace Bonci Casuccini, the former Fanelli palace, today Baldetti, of 15th century and the palace Della Ciaia of 16th century. Continuing in via Arunte it's reached the Prato from which a beautiful panorama is enjoyed, from here can be see the Fortress of 12th century, today private property. Taking via Paolozzi we arrives to the Church of San Francesco with the annexed convent with a beautiful cloister, we enters therefore in square XX September where are the Communal Palace, the Tower of the Clock and the Logge, beyond it's the Church of Santa Maria della Morte. About the town-walls of Chiusi, they were in great part demolished in order to re-use stones or during the second world war, a few trackts still remain and only a single gate (Porta Lavinia) of the three gates that were opened originally.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

Weekly Market in Chiusi: Tuesday

Tourist Information Offices - Chiusi
Informazioni e servizi turistici
Piazza Duomo, 1
tel. +390578227667

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The Cathedral with the Porch of the Bishop's Palace, Chiusi, Siena

The Church and Convent of San Francesco, Chiusi, Siena