ヴィトルキアーノ周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

Viterbo lived its period of major splendor and power in the 13th century when it was chosen as the seat of the papacy instead of Rome, where powerful warring families made life too dangerous. Eight different popes lived in Viterbo making it is similar to Vatican City and Avignon in France. The longest papal conclave in history happened here from 1 December 1268 to 1 September 1271. Following Pope Clement IV's death, infighting between cardinals and political pressure led to a 34-month deadlock. The cardinals were locked up cum clave (hence the word conclave) inside the palace’s large Conclave Hall. In desperation the town’s population, who were feeding them and their entourages, eventually reduced the cardinals’ food and wine supplies, trying to speed up the election. Time wore on and they finally decided to remove the roof of the palace: in order to help the Holy Spirit come down and illuminate them, it was quipped. That worked.

The Via Cassia was an ancient Roman consular road that connected Rome with Etruria. Built starting from the 3rd or 2nd century BC, it initially reached Clusium (Chiusi), then was extended to Cortona, Arezzo and Fiesole and, subsequently, towards the Tyrrhenian coast through Pistoia and Lucca from which several routes branched off up to Luni, where the Via Aemilia Scauri began. The Via Cassia started from Rome but did not begin, like all the consular roads, from the golden miliarium located in the Roman Forum. In fact, it originated from the Milvian Bridge, in the northern part of Rome, on the right bank of the Tiber which divided Rome from Etruria (the territory between the Arno and the Tiber ), marking the miles travelled in Etruria.

Following this path, just before reaching the devil's well, it is not clear where to go, the path disappears and also the white and red signs. We had to go a bit by intuition and take a very steep climb in the woods to get there. Once we reach the well, the path continues easily until the end.

Be careful not to lean out!

The Papal Palace in Viterbo served as the Vatican for the 24 years of the thirteenth century when the papacy moved there due to ongoing unrest in Rome.

It is a large boulder of shaped and carved peperino stone, located in a forest between Bomarzo and Chia; It was rediscovered in 2001 by the Archeotuscia association and the archaeological company Pro-Ferento. The structure has 26 steps carved into the volcanic rock, with a height of 8 meters in the upstream part and 16 meters in the downstream part. It is believed to have been an Etruscan rock altar, probably dating back to the 6th-7th century BC, although some hypotheses suggest even older origins.

on the Via Francigena between Montefiascone and Viterbo

Viterbo, the main city of Tuscia, formerly Etruria, owes its rich medieval heritage to the short period (13th century) during which it was a papal capital. The buildings have stood the test of time. Starting with the Papal Palace, one of the most important medieval buildings in Lazio. Take some time to wander the streets of San Pellegrino, a working-class and artisanal district. Note the remarkable arches, towers and exterior staircases, which make Viterbo a pearl of Lazio. The region is also called the new 'Tuscany' and is of special beauty - with volcanic landscapes and the lakes of Vico and Bolsena.