Caere

Caere, known in Latin as Cære and in Italian as Caere, is an ancient Etruscan city located at the site of modern Cerveteri in the Lazio region of central Italy. It was one of the major urban centers of the Etruscan civilization, playing a key role in regional politics, religion, and trade. The city occupied a defensible plateau near the Tyrrhenian coast and controlled extensive funerary territories on surrounding hills.

The Banditaccia necropolis, part of the Caere site, is among the most important Etruscan burial grounds and provides crucial evidence of urban planning and social organization. Its monumental tumuli and rock-cut tombs, including the famous Tomb of the Reliefs, illustrate a complex funerary culture and day-to-day objects represented in stone and fresco. The material culture from Caere, such as bucchero ware and inscriptions, has contributed to understanding Etruscan language, religion, and interactions with neighboring cultures.

Caere flourished from the early Iron Age and maintained substantial influence through the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE, engaging with other Etruscan centers and with the rising power of Rome. Following Roman expansion in Latium and Etruria, Caere was gradually absorbed into the Roman state. The city contributed to religious and artistic exchange that influenced Roman religion and material culture.

Today, the Banditaccia necropolis and other Caere remains form a core part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia (designated in 2004). The site stands as a major archaeological resource for understanding Etruscan urbanism, burial practices, and daily life. The modern town of Cerveteri preserves the historical connection to Caere and hosts museums that display artifacts from the ancient city.