Etruria was an ancient Italian region located in the central part of the Italian peninsula. It was inhabited by the Etruscans, a pre-Roman civilization that flourished from the 8th to the 3rd century BC. The region was known for its art and culture, and it was home to some of the most important cities of the ancient world, such as Rome, Florence, and Pisa. Etruria was eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BC.