CORNETO, kar-niVt6, or CORNETO TARQUINIA (from It. cocoa, horn). A town of central Italy, about 12 miles north of Civitavecchia, occupying a commanding eminence on the left bank of the Marta, and 2 or 3 miles from the Mediterranean, over which it has an extensive view. Corneto arose near the ruins of the Etruscan city of Tar quinii. and was built in part from its remains. It was erected into a city by Pope Eugenius IV, in 1432; hut the picturesque old battlemented walls and towers which surround it are said to belong to an earlier period. During the faction wars of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, this city main tained a firm allegiance to the popes. i'opula tion (commune), in 1901, 7219. The scanty re mains of Tarquinii lie about a mile and a half from Corneto. This city was regarded as one of the most ancient and important of the Etruscan .cities, and took part in the wars with Rome in the fourth century B.C.: but later, with the rest
of Etruria, came under the Roman dominion. It seems to have been destroyed by the Saracens. The Necropolis of Tarquinii, which is far the most important relic of the ancient city, is on the same hill as the modern city. and extends into the neighboring plain. It is of great ex tent, and has been said to cover 16 square miles. Many tombs have been opened. but most of them had been plundered in early times. The most important tombs are those decorated with paint ings on the walls, among which are noteworthy the Grotta delle Iscrizioni (probably one of the earliest). Grotta del Barone, Grotto Querciola. Grotta del Convito Fimebre, Grotta del Tifone, and Grotta dell' Orco. Consult: Dennis, Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria (London. 1878), and Dasti, Yotizie di Torquinia Cornet° (Rome, 1878).