Chiusi: Tuscany’s hidden gem resting on an Etruscan labyrinth

The picturesque town of Chiusi, in the province of Siena, is one of those destinations worth keeping on your radar if you love authentic and complete travel experiences. Especially if you search places to explore in depth, discovering all their different shades with curiosity and enthusiasm.

The purest heart of Chiusi is its Etruscan heritage: an extraordinary archaeological and historical legacy, with a wide network of tunnels that runs beneath the city, as well as the only paleochristian catacombs in mainland Tuscany and a high-quality museum offering. To this, also add nature, outdoor sports, and wellness experiences between Lake Chiusi and Sentiero della Bonifica and the authentic flavors of the local food and wine tradition.

Chiusi is a slow-travel destination that leaves a lasting impression: let's find out why it’s worth visiting in this complete guide, we’ll give you 10 great reasons!

Chiusi is a border town between Tuscany and Umbria, but not simply a crossroads.

Here ancient Etruscan pride blends with the charm of a destination open to slow contemporary forms of tourism, inviting travelers to stop by and enjoy an unconventional experience.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Chiusi, perhaps taking a weekend to experience firsthand all the best of this extraordinary land.

Whether it's a stroll through the historic centre, an afternoon at the museum, a hike along the lake shore or the town's archaeological attractions, and still a bike ride along Tuscany's most picturesque cycle path or a food and wine vacation, we're sure you'll love your trip to Chiusi.

If you can't wait to get started, let's not waste time! Here are 10 reasons to visit Chiusi, the Etruscan town you can experience at a slow pace. In this guide you'll find out:

· Why Chiusi is a human-scale town;

· Chiusi's best historical and cultural attractions;

· Chiusi's best tourist attractions for wellness;

· Chiusi's typical food and wine dishes and products;

· Helpful tips for planning your next trip.

The historic town of Chiusi embodies the pure essence of slow travel and promises to be a beloved destination for true globetrotters, a place to discover and experience with passion, far from the stress and overcrowding of Tuscany's more popular art cities.

An ideal destination for families, here travelers can enjoy the pleasure of slow-paced discovery, strolling through welcoming alleyways and immersing themselves in a complete tourist experience that encompasses cultural charm, outdoor wellness and quality cuisine.

Visiting Chiusi is a unique and engaging adventure. With three impressive museums and an underground world to explore, the history of the Etruscans in Chiusi becomes a stimulating educational challenge that ignites the imagination of children (and adults).

For those seeking a few days off to regenerate body and mind instead, the relaxed atmosphere of Lake Chiusi offers a reassuring welcome in a tranquil and bucolic setting. The perfect destination for a fulfilling retreat, combining culture and fun.

The Porsenna Labyrinth, above which the town of Chiusi now rises, is the most fascinating testimony to Etruscan ingenuity in the region.

The name, however, is misleading: the labyrinth was not built as a place of loss, but as a water supply system dug into the rock with a dense network of tunnels, wells and underground cisterns.

The fame of this archaeological site is related to the legend of King Lars Porsenna, the powerful Etruscan ruler who challenged Rome (between 6th and 5th centuries BC). According to Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia, the king was buried in a majestic mausoleum protected by an impenetrable labyrinth, with a fabulous golden treasure waiting to be found.

What does this legendary treasure contain? According to folk tradition, Porsenna's mausoleum houses a chariot drawn by twelve horses, then a hen with five thousand chicks and a prestigious sarcophagus - all made of gold!

In Chiusi you can experience this underground adventure between myth and history too, just by visiting the Cathedral Museum in Piazza Duomo and the Civic Museum "La Città Sotterranea" in via II Ciminia. The guided tour winds through illuminated tunnels underneath the town.

Chiusi boasts a fascinating array of museums that reveal fascinating stories and unique artifacts. Here you can visit three must-see museums that chronicle the historical evolution of the area, with a particular focus on the Etruscan people.

The cultural tour begins at the National Etruscan Museum, one of the most important in Italy, where you can admire the famous canopic jars, buccheri jars and the elegant stone sphinx, one of the museum's icons. The museum's collection spans the Bronze Age to the Langobard era.

The tour then continues to the Cathedral Museum, where the collections of sacred art and the precious Benedictine Illuminated Manuscripts from the second half of the 15th century serve as a prelude to the underground descent into the tunnels of the Porsenna Labyrinth, arriving at a majestic Roman cistern. The tour ends with a climb up the bell tower, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the entire town, Lake Chiusi and the hills of the Valdichiana.

And finally don't miss the Civic Museum "La Città Sotterranea" (Underground Town), an extraordinary journey through the tunnel system of the Etruscan water main, recently reused and expanded as cellars for the noble palaces above, which today house the world's largest collection of Etruscan funerary inscriptions. From here you can see an underground lake through a monumental 30-meter-deep well, which were part of the ancient water collection system.

All three museums are accessible with the purchase of the Chiusi Museum Card, a convenient single ticket (discounted rates and free for children) valid for 15 days from the first visit.

Chiusi holds another impressive archaeological record: it is the only town in mainland Tuscany to host paleochristian catacombs.

These are the Catacombs of Santa Mustiola and Santa Caterina, dating back to the first centuries AD, and bearing witness to the roots of Christianity in the Italian peninsula (a third catacomb exists in Tuscany on Pianosa Isle).

The Catacomb of Santa Mustiola, dedicated to the town's patron saint, is located along the road leading to Lake Chiusi. The catacomb winds for over two hundred meters through a dense network of tunnels, with ancient burials located in characteristic arched niches. The route leads to a small and fascinating underground basilica, still vibrant with mysticism and rich in religious symbols and inscriptions.

The Catacomb of Santa Caterina is located instead in the location Chiusi Scalo. This site is particularly interesting for its mixed nature: born from the union of two underground complexes, this catacomb originally housed both pagan and christian burials, a place that bears witness to the epochal transition between the two cultural worlds of ancient Italy.

Both catacombs are open to public and can be explored with guided tours, a perfect complement to your historical-cultural experience in Chiusi if you've already visited its three museums.

The historic centre of Chiusi is the heart of a vibrant, authentic village, proud of its thousand-year history. Take the time to explore it letting your intuition inspire you, at a leisurely pace or perhaps by bicycle.

The main street in the centre is Via Porsenna, along which you'll come across the majestic Concattedrale di San Secondiano in Piazza Duomo. Not far away the grand Bell Tower, the Etruscan Museum and the remains of the evocative Parco dei Forti, among the must-see attractions of this town in the province of Siena.

Also visit Piazza XX Settembre, an elegant corner of the town with the Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo delle Logge (which has been a hospital since the 15th century, under the loggia you can still see a milk container used for foundlings), the fountain and the Clock Tower. Just a few steps away you'll also find the beautiful Church of San Francesco.

Chiusi, however, still preserves a strong artisan and authentic soul. The alleys of the historic centre are lined with artists and artisans workshops, delicatessens, traditional restaurants, and wineries, where the passion for local traditions lives on.

At the same time, Chiusi also offers its more contemporary side: in the area of Chiusi Scalo you can find numerous shops and services for beauty and well-being, fashion and accessories, travel and experiences, food and drink, for a complete experience that blends tradition and everyday life.

Lake Chiusi is an oasis of peace where pristine nature blends with active well-being, an ideal place for those seeking a regenerating escape from the city and wanting to enjoy physical activity and outdoor sports in an idyllic setting.

The lake shores are flat and well-maintained, allowing hikers to enjoy pleasant walks. There are also several piers and walkways, useful for entering the heart of the lake and enjoying peace and breathtaking views or for sport fishing enthusiasts.

The lake environment is also well favorable to water sports, such as canoeing or kayaking, as well as outdoor fitness exercises or yoga practicing, perhaps at sunrise or sunset, taking advantage of this place's unique energy.

You can also stop in Chiusi with your camper: there are equipped rest areas to fully enjoy the touch with nature, and also the option of staying at one of the local agriturismo.

If you want to enjoy an active, yet relaxing and rejuvenating day off, Lake Chiusi is the perfect destination that transforms sport into an experience of pure connection with the local area.

In Chiusi the journey also meets the table, a triumph of flavors and excellent ingredients celebrating the crossroads of land and water. The main food of the local cuisine is brustico, an Etruscan dish based on fish served as an appetizer or main course.

The fish is roasted whole directly over lake reed embers, and once cleaned it is served with a dressing of extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and a little vinegar or lemon.

Speaking of olive oil, Chiusi and the surrounding area produce the native Minuta variety, with its balanced bitterness and spiciness, perfect for pairing with the delicacies of local cuisine. This oil is also ideal for preparing truly exceptional bruschetta!

Another local culinary specialty is pici served with ragù, garlic, or carp roe. Also worthy of note are the local cheeses and fine wines, such as Chianti Colli Senesi and Rosso Toscano IGP, as well as Cinta Senese cured meats.

Chiusi is also the perfect destination for cycling tourism, thanks to its strategic location between the Valdichiana and Val d'Orcia, lands of villages and hills. The most important route is Sentiero della Bonifica, a 62 km long cycle and pedestrian path connecting Chiusi to Arezzo.

The route follows the Canale Maestro della Chiana from Lake Chiusi and is completely flat, making it perfect for families and those who want to cycle or take long and relaxing walks amidst the picturesque hilly landscape. The route is completely free of traffic, a significant plus for air quality.

In addition to the Sentiero della Bonifica, Chiusi also boasts a network of hiking trails ideal for walking, cycling, or even horseback riding, for those seeking an adventure to remember.

Thanks to the presence of the important Chiusi-Chianciano Terme train station, the city is also an ideal hub for those who want to discover southern Tuscany by train + bike mode.

For more experienced cyclists, the Chiusi area and the provinces of Siena and Arezzo offer more challenging routes that explore vineyards, country trails and medieval villages, an ideal two-wheeled tour to discover magical landscapes.

The Chiusi area offers hiking trails that feel like a journey back in time, immersed in a landscape where history has left its indelible mark.

These evocative itineraries include the famous Etruscan necropolises, such as the Tomb of the Pilgrim, the Tomb of the Lion and the Tomb of the Monkey, known for its extraordinary pictorial cycles. Although these attractions are temporarily closed to public and cannot be visited (the information will be promptly updated as soon as the tombs are accessible again), the path connecting them to Chiusi is nonetheless one of the most fascinating and mysterious walks in the area.

Moving towards the border with Umbria near Lake Chiusi, you can instead find a decidedly "bizarre" architecture, certainly for what concerns its name: we are speaking about the Torre di Beccati Questo (Take That Tower), much more than a simple control watch-point.

Built by Siena starting in 1279 during the era of the struggles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, this structure's sole, true purpose was to mock its rivals from Perugia.

And like a fun and silent game, the tower has watched over one another for centuries with its Umbrian counterpart, the Torre di Beccati Quello (Take This Tower): a clear example of how history has met with playfulness, today offering travelers an iconic glimpse for those exploring the paths that connect these two regions.

Chiusi's favorable geographic position makes the Etruscan a main gateway to Tuscany and Umbria, particularly thanks to its Chiusi-Chianciano Terme train station - a major hub on the Florence-Rome route - and its proximity to Autostrada A1.

Traveling on the road, Chiusi is the perfect base for exploring the region without stress. In less than half an hour's drive you can reach thermal waters centers and wellness centers, or other biggest towns.

For your best stay in Chiusi and its surroundings, we recommend choosing an agriturismo or a retreat surrounded by nature. Many of these accommodations offer immersive experiences, such as cooking classes, tastings of typical products, cycling excursions and yoga sessions immersed in nature.

If you'd rather enjoy the authenticity of the town, perhaps during one of the folk festivals that bring it to life, we recommend one of the characteristic B&Bs or period residences.