Older than the rolling stones

During ‘Archaeological Nights’ Tuscany shows off its most ancient treasures in a packed calendar of 300 cultural events based on the theme ‘Ancient Tuscany in Europe and the Mediterranean.’ During special exhibits and extraordinary archaeological hikes, Tuscany’s museums and parks will welcome night-time visitors throughout the summer months. Thanks to theme dinners, cultural lectures and international previews of archaeological cinema, history lovers will have their share of excitement this summer. Currently the biggest archaeological festival in Italy and Europe, the initiative was created in 2001 and has gained international fame over the past five years. Designed to expose some of the re-gion’s more hidden treasures, this year’s theme delves deeply into the relationship between the Etruscans and other Mediterranean civiliza-tions. Vivere da Etrusco, Identità e Contaminazioni (‘Living like an Etruscan: Identity and Contamination’) highlights how Mediterranean populations profoundly influenced the Etruscan identity. Nineteen local museums, all members of the Archaeological Museum Association of Tuscany, will come together to host this extraordinary event, which is sponsored also by the Tuscan Region and the Superintendents of Tus-cany’s archaeological patrimony. Greek ceramics found in Etruscan burial grounds take centre stage in Pitigliano, the Archaeological Civic Museum dedicated to Etruscan civilization, in their newest exhibit ‘Heroes, Divinity and Love,’ while the Etruscan Museum of Cortona’s Academy will explore the ancient art of perfume-making in an experimental educational exhibit called ‘La Via dei Profumi’. During this two-month show starting July 1, fra-grance fans can enjoy a myriad of rich essential oils recreated thanks to ancient Latin and Greek texts. For those who prefer the art of eating, the Archaeological and Art Museum of the Maremma will host an initiative called ‘Living like an Etruscan: Banquets, Aristocracy and Wine’ from July 1 to Aug. 31.  Starting July 6, experts at the archaeological mineral park in San Silvestro a Campiglia Marittima will invite rock collectors to hop on a ‘min-eral train’ for a one-and-a-half kilometre trip into the heart of the earth, along the ancient via ferrata used by miners. More than 90 types of minerals can be found in this open-air mineral history museum. Guided visits and hiking routes in Cortona will take the old and new archae-ologists to more than eleven sites within its Archaeological Park from July 1 to July 9. Hikers can follow Hannibal’s footsteps along ancient Roman roads that once hosted the famed Battle of Trasimeno. Those who are looking for some alternative ‘nightlife’ can spend an evening or two in Civitella Paganico and take a night-time stroll around the Roman baths in Pietratonda. From July 2 to 6, brave night owls may carry torches through the Archaeological Park in Piombino and enjoy the monumental necropolis of San Cerbone.