DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0036
20 CERVETRI. [chap, xxxiii.
land for some miles round it, are the property of Prince
Ruspoli, whose palace forms a conspicuous object in the
scene. This noble seldom makes excavations himself, but
allows them to be carried on by his friends, who are of a
more speculative or philarchaic turn of mind. It is to the
enterprise of the Cavaliere Campana, of General Galassi,
and of the reverend arch-priest of Cervetri, Don Alessandro
Regulini, that we owe the numerous and remarkable objects
of Etruscan antiquity that have been brought to light here
of late years.
The cicerone of whose services and keys the visitor who
would see the tombs must avail himself, is a good-tempered
tobacconist, Flavio Passegieri, to be found in his shop in
the little piazza. Most travellers will find it sufficient to
lionize the site in a day's excursion from Palo, four or five
miles distant, where there is a decent inn; but such as
would devote more than a hurried day to the antiquities of
Caere, and to avoid the transit to and from Palo, are willing
to put up with village accommodation, will find a clean bed
and refreshment in the house of a vetturino, Pacifico Rosati,
one of the most obliging, attentive hosts it has been my
lot to encounter in Italy. He will also dress a meal, if
need be, for the excursionist, who must not expect,
however, the delicacies for which Csere was renowned
of old.6
Remote as are the days of the Etruscans, this city boasts
a far prior antiquity. It was originally called Agylla, and
is classed by Dionysius among the primitive towns of
Central Italy, which were either built by the united Pelasgi
and Aborigines, or taken by them from the Siculi, the
earliest possessors of the land, ages before the foundation
6 Martial relished the pernw of Csere (de Re Rust. III. 3) testifies to the
(XIII. 54), and compared her wines to abundance of her grapes,
those of Setia (XIII. 124). Columella
land for some miles round it, are the property of Prince
Ruspoli, whose palace forms a conspicuous object in the
scene. This noble seldom makes excavations himself, but
allows them to be carried on by his friends, who are of a
more speculative or philarchaic turn of mind. It is to the
enterprise of the Cavaliere Campana, of General Galassi,
and of the reverend arch-priest of Cervetri, Don Alessandro
Regulini, that we owe the numerous and remarkable objects
of Etruscan antiquity that have been brought to light here
of late years.
The cicerone of whose services and keys the visitor who
would see the tombs must avail himself, is a good-tempered
tobacconist, Flavio Passegieri, to be found in his shop in
the little piazza. Most travellers will find it sufficient to
lionize the site in a day's excursion from Palo, four or five
miles distant, where there is a decent inn; but such as
would devote more than a hurried day to the antiquities of
Caere, and to avoid the transit to and from Palo, are willing
to put up with village accommodation, will find a clean bed
and refreshment in the house of a vetturino, Pacifico Rosati,
one of the most obliging, attentive hosts it has been my
lot to encounter in Italy. He will also dress a meal, if
need be, for the excursionist, who must not expect,
however, the delicacies for which Csere was renowned
of old.6
Remote as are the days of the Etruscans, this city boasts
a far prior antiquity. It was originally called Agylla, and
is classed by Dionysius among the primitive towns of
Central Italy, which were either built by the united Pelasgi
and Aborigines, or taken by them from the Siculi, the
earliest possessors of the land, ages before the foundation
6 Martial relished the pernw of Csere (de Re Rust. III. 3) testifies to the
(XIII. 54), and compared her wines to abundance of her grapes,
those of Setia (XIII. 124). Columella