Is Tarquinia, in Italy, worth the trip?

Yes, Tarquinia is worth the trip if you're interested in the Etruscans; much less so if you're mainly looking for a pretty medieval town or a beach day. It is located in the Latium, north of Rome, and not in Tuscany. Its main attraction is the Monterozzi necropolis : certaines tombes peintes donnent un aperçu rare des rites et de la vie étrusques. Le site compte des milliers de sépultures et environ 200 tombes peintes, mais seules certaines se visitent.

Plan half a day at minimum for the necropolis and the archaeological museum housed in the Palazzo Vitelleschi; a full day also allows you to wander around the old town. From Rome, allow about 100 km by road: it's doable as a day trip, but less convenient without a car. The combined museum-necropolis ticket is listed at 13 € et les sites sont normalement fermés le lundi ; vérifie les horaires avant de partir, surtout hors saison.

Good to know: the visit to the tombs takes place in a rather austere setting, and the archaeological trail may seem specialized if you're not curious about ancient history. But if you're already passing through Maremma or northern Lazio, the detour is well justified to discover a heritage very different from the classic Tuscan towns.