VULCI, an ancient town of Etruria, some ro m. N.W. of Tarquinii. The circuit of the walls measures about 4 m., and scanty traces of them and of Roman buildings within them still exist. The Ponte della Badia over the Fiora, a bridge with a main arch of 66 ft. span, 98 ft. above the stream, is also Roman. An aqueduct passes over it. About 02 m. above a dam has been built for a hydro-electric plant to provide at least 6,000 h.p. The former wealth of the town is mainly proved by the discoveries made in its extensive necropolis—Greek vases, bronzes, etc.— many of which are now in the Vatican. In 1828-56 over 15,000 tombs were opened. These were entirely subterranean, but some
of the chamber tombs are being re-examined and cleared. There is one great tumulus, the Cuccumella, and a few smaller ones. The frescoes froth the Francois tomb, illustrating Greek and Etruscan myths, are now in the Museo Torlonia at Rome. Vulci was one of the 12 cities of Etruria. Coruncanius triumphed over the people of Vulsinii and Vulci in 280 B.C.