- Chiusi
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For the city in the province of Arezzo, see Chiusi della Verna.
Chiusi — Comune — Città di Chiusi 
Coat of armsLocation of Chiusi in Italy
ChiusiCoordinates: 43°01′N 11°57′E / 43.017°N 11.95°E Country Italy Region Tuscany Province Siena (SI) Frazioni Chiusi Scalo, Macciano, Montallese, Querce al Pino Government - Mayor Stefano Scaramelli Elevation 398 m (1,306 ft) Population (31 March 2009) - Total 8,842 Demonym Chiusini Time zone CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) Postal code 53043, 53044, 53040 Dialing code 0578 Patron saint Sta. Mustiola and St. Secondianus Saint day 17 June Website Official website Chiusi (Latin: Clusium; Etruscan: Clevsin; Umbrian: Camars) is a town and comune in province of Siena, Tuscany, Italy.
Figure from Chiusi - Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe, Germany
Contents
History
- For ancient history, see Clusium.
It was one of the more powerful among the Etruscan 12‑city confederation. Chiusi went into the Roman orbit in the 3rd century BC and took part to the Social War.
In 540 AD it was occupied by the Ostrogoths and was later seat of Lombard duchy. From the 11th century it was under the rule of the local bishop, and was later contended by Orvieto and, from 1231, Siena, belonging to the latter until 1556, when it was annexed to the Grand duchy of Tuscany.
Main sights
The lowlands around Chiusi are a treasure trove of tombs for this civilization. The Etruscan Museum of Chiusi is one of the most important repositories of Etruscan remains in Italy.
Other sights include:
- The Romanesque Cathedral (Duomo) of San Secondiano, built around 560 AD over a pre-existing basilica, and renovated in the 13th century. It has a nave and two aisles supported by antique columns. The Sacrament Chapel houses a Nativity and Saints by Bernardino Fugai. It has a separated bell tower which was turned into a defence tower in 1585. Under the tower is a Roman swim pool dating from the 1st century BC.
- The so-called "Labyrinth of Porsenna", a series of tunnels under the town, built in the 6th-5th century BC and probably utilized in Etruscan-Roman times for drainage of rain waters. According to Pliny the Elder (Naturalis historia, XXXVI, XIX, 91-93), the Labyrinth was part of a monument including the sepulchre of the King Porsenna.
Transportation
Chiusi is served by a gate on the A1 Highway. It is also served by a station on the railway connecting Rome to Florence (Chiusi-Chianciano Terme).
Twin towns
Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France
Neu Isenburg, Germany
See also
- Lars Porsenna
- Tomb of Lars Porsena
External links
Tuscany · Comuni of the Province of Siena Abbadia San Salvatore · Asciano · Buonconvento · Casole d'Elsa · Castellina in Chianti · Castelnuovo Berardenga · Castiglione d'Orcia · Cetona · Chianciano Terme · Chiusdino · Chiusi · Colle di Val d'Elsa · Gaiole in Chianti · Montalcino · Montepulciano · Monteriggioni · Monteroni d'Arbia · Monticiano · Murlo · Piancastagnaio · Pienza · Poggibonsi · Radda in Chianti · Radicofani · Radicondoli · Rapolano Terme · San Casciano dei Bagni · San Gimignano · San Giovanni d'Asso · San Quirico d'Orcia · Sarteano · Siena · Sinalunga · Sovicille · Torrita di Siena · TrequandaCategories:- Cities and towns in Tuscany
- Communes of the Province of Siena
- Etruscan sites
- Labyrinths
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