Discover Chiusi: Etruscan Culture, Cathedral and Paths Through the Landscape

Chiusi Between Etruscan History, the Cathedral and the Landscape

Chiusi brings together several very different sides of Tuscany: sacred art, Etruscan archaeology, regional cuisine and a long route for cycling and walking. This makes the town interesting if you do not want to view culture in isolation, but instead combine it with an excursion into the landscape and a local speciality.

Sacred Art and Historical Traces

In the Cathedral of San Secondiano, eighteen reused Roman columns stand out. No two are alike; in addition, the columns have capitals in different styles. The presbytery contains a mosaic from the 4th to 5th century, recovered from an older basilica. Both details give the church interior its own historical depth, without restricting the cathedral to a single era. The cultural character of Chiusi also includes the Cathedral Museum and the Museo Etrusco di Chiusi. The Cathedral Museum displays a collection of illuminated Benedictine codices from the second half of the 15th century. The books come from the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. The Museo Etrusco di Chiusi was founded in 1871 to display the numerous finds from the Chiusi area. At the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Chiusi, the Canopo di Dolciano is particularly noteworthy, an object made of bronze and terracotta from the late 7th century BC. Another historical dimension lies beneath the town. The tunnels of the labyrinth date from the 4th century BC and probably served for waste disposal, drainage and the urban water supply. The labyrinth also includes a monumental Etruscan-Roman cistern from the 1st century BC. Its walls were carved into sandstone. Chiusi's history is therefore evident not only in exhibits, but also in the preserved structures of the ancient city.

A Route for Cycling and Walking

The Sentiero della Bonifica is an approximately 62-kilometre-long unpaved path connecting Arezzo with Chiusi and running along the Canale Maestro della Chiana. It is suitable for cycling and walking and is closed to motor traffic. Access is possible from Chiusi Scalo or Chiusi Città. This means the route complements the historical attractions with an active, landscape-oriented aspect of a stay, without requiring you to view the town solely as a museum destination.

Regional Cuisine at Lago di Chiusi

One local speciality is Brustico. This involves cooking lake fish over an open flame using reeds from the lake, then filleting it and serving it with oil, salt, pepper and lemon. In restaurants on the shores of Lago di Chiusi, Brustico is served as an appetiser or second course. Chiusi therefore offers a clear change between culture, activity and regional cuisine when planning your day. If you would like to visit the Cathedral Museum or the catacombs, please note that their opening hours may vary.

Further Destinations for Your Tuscany Search

For further travel planning, you can also compare [Castelnuovo Berardenga](Castelnuovo Berardenga), [Sarteano](Sarteano), [Buonconvento](Buonconvento), [Casole D'elsa](Casole D'elsa), [Castellina In Chianti](Castellina In Chianti), [Cetona](Cetona), [Badiaccia A Montemuro](Badiaccia A Montemuro) and [Chianciano Terme](Chianciano Terme).

For the overarching travel overview: Siena.