Things to do in Chiusi
From Tuscany, the ancient gateway to Umbria, is a sleepy little village sun-baking on a vintage hilltop. You would never realise that the cobbled streets of Chiusi hide a salubrious past, with rich historical and architectural treasures buried beneath. The peaceful plains of the Valdichiana make it hard to imagine you are standing on the ruins of a town that was once a major player in the Dodecapoli (imagine the European Union of its day), the Etruscan League of Twelve Cities.
Explore Etruscan and Roman Civilization
DIGGING DEEP: The soft, rolling hills of the Umbria-Tuscan landscape, with their eye-stretching views over Lake Chiusi and Lake Trasimeno, have been stopping humans in their tracks since ancient times. The Etruscans began settling this area around 9 BC and layers of history, art and culture are consequently the result.
They have left behind a plethora of burial grounds, works of art and tunnels beneath tuffa-rock topped towns.
Legendary historian Pliny the Elder tells of Porsenna, a legendary Etruscan king.
Porsenna ruled Chiusi from the end of the 5th century BC and is famous for two things. Firstly, leading an ancient siege that defeated the arch-enemy, Rome. Secondly, for being buried, “Inside a magnificent golden sarcophagus, hidden in an intricate labyrinth.” Sadly, Porsenna’s final resting place has not yet been found. However, Etruscan catacombs and burial caves are rich underfoot, weaving under the town and through the surrounding countryside
Explore Porsenna’s Labyrinth & the Etruscan Tunnels
Beneath Piazza Duomo lies one of the most intriguing underground experiences in Tuscany: the so-called Porsenna’s Labyrinth. Despite the dramatic name, it is not a maze but a sophisticated network of Etruscan water tunnels later reused by the Romans.
The guided visit winds through ancient passageways before climbing the bell tower for panoramic views across the Valdichiana, Umbria and southern Tuscany. Above and below in one sweep.
Opening Hours
November to April:
Thursday & Friday: 10:00 to 13:00
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00
May to October
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00
Guided tours run at:
10:10 | 11:10 | 12:10 | 15:10 | 16:10 | 17:10
Advance booking is required for tours outside these times and only available for groups of ten.
Tickets
€4 full price
€3 reduced (ages 6 to 14 and over 65)
Free under 6
Visit the Cathedral ‘Diocesan’ Museum of Cathedral Chiusi
Just beside the Cathedral in Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral Museum offers a quieter, more contemplative layer of Chiusi’s story. Here, the Etruscan world softens into early Christianity and medieval devotion.
Inside, sacred artworks, illuminated manuscripts, reliquaries and liturgical objects trace the town’s spiritual evolution across centuries. It also forms part of the broader underground experience, connecting seamlessly with the labyrinth below — belief above ground, engineering beneath it. Chiusi, as ever, works in layers.
You can purchase a ticket to most of Chiusi’s Etruscan delights in the Cathedral office Piazza Duomo. In the basement of the Cathedral, in Piazza Duomo, you will find the Porsenna Labyrinth – a network of water distribution tunnels excavated by the Etruscans under the old town.
Visit the National Etruscan Museum of Chiusi
For context, gravitas and beautifully preserved artefacts, the National Etruscan Museum of Chiusi is essential. Decorative vases, funerary urns, jewellery and ceramics tell the story of a civilisation that once rivalled Rome.
Entry includes access to several remarkable tombs scattered just beyond the town, although hours (days, weeks) have been very sketchy
• The Tomb of the Lion
• The Tomb of the Pilgrim
• The Tomb of the Monkey
Etruscan Art + Culture
Museo Archeologico Nazionale Etrusco.
A fabulous exhibition documenting Chiusi’s rich history. The collection of decorative artwork includes vases, ceramics, earthenware, funerary urns and jewellery. Admission includes a visit to Etruscan catacombs: The Tomb of the Lion, The Tomb of the Pilgrim and the well-known Tomb of the Monkey.Museo Civico “La Città Sotterranea” isa small museum with Etruscan and Roman artifacts and a large underground complex leading to an underground lake. This must be booked in advance
Catacombs of Santa Mustiola
Named after Chiusi’s patron saint, this early Christian cemetery stretches for around 200 metres through underground galleries carved into the earth.
Its ancient crypt remains strikingly intact, a quiet and atmospheric space where early Christian communities gathered and worshipped. After the grandeur of Etruscan tombs, it offers something more intimate — a human scale to history, and a moment of stillness.
Named after the patron saint of Chiusi, this early Christian cemetery runs through 200 metres of underground galleries. An ancient crypt is as stunning as it was when early Christians first held Mass.
The Chiusi Card
For those who prefer not to choose, the Chiusi Card brings it all together.
It includes entry to:
• National Etruscan Museum
• Cathedral Museum and Porsenna’s Labyrinth
• Civic Museum
€13 full price
€5 reduced (ages 6 to 17)
Free ages 0 to 5
One ticket, several doorways into the past.
