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Chiusi is a town full of history and culture as well as an important archeological centre at an international level. It has Umbro-etruscan origins. It experienced a period of great expansion between the VII and V centuries BC; afterwards, it was under the Roman influence.

As seat of the Longobard Dukedom in 1765, it experienced a decay caused by marshland and the consequent malaria. It was first under the influence of Orvieto and then Siena; for a short period it became a free city before being surrendered again to Siena and , as a result, being a part of the Dukedom of Florence.

Going through the main gate with its Etruscan round-arch original form, ruined during the last war, you reach Via Porsenna, borded on the right by Medieval and Renaissance buildings. At the end of the street spreads out Piazza del Duomo, where the subsoil was excavated many times and remains of a building likely dwelled by Porsena were found. In front of the church stands the Episcopal Palace; on the left, stands alone the Bell Tower, whose basement dates back to the XIII century; the most ancient part was probably built with fragments of buildings risen at the times of the bishop Lanfranco, who tried to obtain the control of Chiusi as count-bishop, in the XVI century.

The Cathedral was founded by the bishop Fiorentino in the VI century, completely adjusted in the XII century and most transformed in the XIX century. Inside, three aisles without the transept end each one with an apse. Columns supporting roud arches have different capitals coming from Roman buildings. In the right aisle, there is a font having on the top the statue of St. John the Baptist by the school of Andrea Sansovino. Between 1887 and 1894 the church was painted with a sham mosaic by Arturo Viligiardi, following pre-Christian and Romanesque iconographic criteria. From the Sacristy you get to the Chapter-House where some important illuminated codes coming from the Monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore are kept in a glass show-case.

Going away from the church you reach the Town Museum.
Since the beginning of the XVIII century Chiusi has kept drawing its attention to its Etruscan origins and seeking the remains of its ancient and glorious civilization. Since the XIX century very important tombs have been discovered. However, excavations were not always undergone only by archeologists and scientists, but, sometimes, by tombarolis in a hasty and damaging way.

In 1870 the first section of the Museum was set up with some objects coming from tombs, and then enlarged by new gifts. At the beginning of this century, the Town Museum has began being built; in 1932 the rooms were enlarged. The Museum was damaged during the Second World War and owned by the State in 1963. Its present setting, open in 1992, is ranged in three sections. Objects here shown come from excavations in the near outskirts; that is why they are very important. The very rare and precious inheritance of the Museum consists in relief cippi, bucaros, Canopic vases and inscriptions.