Starting with the imagery depicted on the walls of Etruscan tombs, Etruria as a setting, or a concept has always been a source of inspiration. Translated into all forms of creative expression.  

Some famous examples: Salvator Dali produced a short film in 1948 after visiting the 16^th C.  mannerist “Monster Garden” of Bomarzo, A few decades later Niki de Saint-Phalle responds with her version of a “surreal” and poetic garden close to the sea, the Giardino dei Tarrochi. 

Further north, Tomaso Buzzi conceived his own esoteric, post -mannerist version, La Scarsuola,  

18^th C. French painter Nicolas Poussin translated his visions of Etruria into landscapes, while Balthus, as Director of the French Academy in Rome and recent owner of the forttress of Montecalvello, recalls to his memories of its surrounding views of the Tiber Valley in his later paintings. 

Enrico Castellani, “the father of Minnimalism “, chose to live in the remnants of an austere fortification, whilst Cy Twombly enjoyed sojourning in the summer month at his Palazzo in Bassano in Teverina. 

Haendel is said to have written some of his most important compositions during his stay at Castello Ruspoli. Today, Francis Kuipers, a film and music composer has his studio located above Bolsena lake.  

Pier Paolo Pasolini looking for a suitable setting for “Il Vangelo secondo Matteo” struck by what he saw, decided to buy a medieval tower and parts of a ruin that he transformed into his creative environment. A house nestled in the old ruins overlooking a spectacular green gorge and a newly built wooden structure within the parc served as studio. 

Today creative production, an intense cultural life, persists.  A selected list of artist foundations and residencies, places to perform music, theater, dance or workshops, sculpture gardens, small museums will be updated in time.  

These cultural initiatives see it as their mission to engage the participants and the public in a dialogue of what is Etruria Now.