Near the medieval town of Tarquinia , about an hour's drive north from Rome, is an Etruscan necropolis. Dating all the way back to the 9th century BCE when it was actually a Villanovan burial ground, Cerveteri is the site of thousands of tumuli , circular tombs dug into the ground. The burial ground, eerie even on the sunniest day, actually served as a location for scenes in the 1976 film "The Omen." Today you will find it a peaceful spot for a morning's diversion. To get there from Rome, take the E80 toward Civitavecchia. Not far past the exit to Cerveteri on the E80 is Santa Severa , a beachside community known for its medieval castle and the ruins of an Etruscan fortress, known as Pyrgi. Have some lunch, clear your head, and take a swim!