VITERBO
It is the main city of Tuscia, with 60,000 inhabitants; once it was a Pontifical seat, and a business centre for the whole surrounding district. It is known for its wonderful medieval quarter of San Pellegrino, for the Popes’ Palace, the archaeological sites of Castel d’Asso and Ferento, dating back to the Etruscan and Roman age. In its various museums (the Town Museum, the National Museum, the Pottery Museum, the Museum of the “Facchini Society” and the Museum of the Cathedral Hill) it is possible to run through centuries of history; thanks to the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Tuscia you can visit the beautiful Botanic Garden, situated close to the thermal spring of “Bulicame”, where you will pass through various environments, which recreate different continents. The traditional transport of the “Macchina di Santa Rosa”, 30 meters high, carried on the shoulders by 100 men named “Facchini” (i.e. porters) takes place on the evening of 3rd September, along a historic path, and represents the most exciting event of the Viterbo September, consecrated to the celebration of the Saint. |
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
The village of Bagnoregio saw the presence of many important civilisations including the Etruscans and the Romans, suffering fights and sackings of the barbarians invasions. In very ancient times, it was an episcopal seat, then it was included in the Papal States, and afterwards it was given to the noble family of Monaldeschi. One of the most famous and charming places to visit is Civita di Bagnoregio, called by the writer Bonaventura Tecchi “the dying city”. Situated on a hill and separated from the surrounding territory, Civita can be reached through a suspended bridge, leading to the small ancient village lying on a rock. Civita di Bagnoregio is one of the most striking places of the whole Tuscia, because of its unique landscape, sweeping from the valleys below the village to the Apennines in the distance. The Church of St. Augustine is worth visiting, built in 1735 in a romanesque-gothic style and rich in paintings as well as the Cathedral (probably of 5th Century) and the Church of St. Bonaventura, with its neo-classic dome. |
ETRUSCAN PATHS
Tuscia has very ancient origins. It was formed between the geological eras of Pliocene and Holocene, which characterised its morphologic aspect as a consequence of huge tectonic-volcanic movements. The earliest remains of a civilisation in this area date back to the Proto-Villanovan and Villanovan period (10th – 8th Century b.C.), followed by the Etruscan period (8th - 1st Century b.C.) then the Roman period and the medieval period came, which both left precious traces in the architecture and the history of our towns and villages.
There is a large number of places worth visiting, but if we had to advise the tourist about where it is possible to find the most precious and interesting Etruscan remains, we would propose Tuscania, the ancient town of Vulci, with its castle-museum, and Tarquinia, the most important centre for the presence of Etruscan tombs – some of which with wonderful paintings and still in a very good state; many finds of those tombs are kept and exhibited at the Museum situated in the Vitelleschi Palace. On the shore, the nearby remains of the Etruscan harbour of Gravisca (6th Century b.C.), which was afterwards used by Romans under the name of Porto Clementino. Another very charming site is Norchia, a monumental necropolis excavated in the tuff: it is impressive for its architectural grandeur, and it can be reached by the road leading from Tarquinia to Vetralla, following the relevant directions after Monteromano. |
ORVIETO
Orvieto is 16 km far from Bolsena. It is situated on the top of a tuff hill, in a defence position; the visitor can enjoy its living town centre, with its majestic Cathedral: the façade of that church is so beautifully decorated with mosaics that it can be seen from very far while approaching the town. In the Cathedral the relics and other fragments of the floor stained with blood during the event of the 1263 Eucharistic Miracle are kept. Another very interesting site to be visited is the so-called “St. Patrick’s Pit”: the visitor can come down to its maximum depth through a double spiral stairs lit by 72 windows (project of Sangallo the Young). The shopping products are mainly pottery and D.O.C.G. wine (certified and guaranteed denomination of origin). |
SPA AND RELAX
Within the territory of the municipality of Viterbo there are many sulphur water springs, which led to the development of spa of a high curative value, or simply offering a moment of relax. Beside the Big Thermal Swimming Pool of the “Terme dei Papi” structure, it is possible to enjoy all the services (natural cavern, massages, body care and wellness), even for short stays |
