VISIT VITERBO

The ancient city of Viterbo is located about 80 km northwest of Rome, between the lakes of Bolsena and Vico. DISTANCE FROM VITERBO: Milano km Torino km Aosta km Genova km Trento km Firenze km Bologna km Roma - 75 km Perugia km L'Aquila km Napoli km Palermo km Ancona km Campobasso km Reggio Calabria km Bari km Cagliari km Potenza km Venezia km Trieste km VISIT VITERBO

VITERBO - A CITY OF CHARM

The province of Viterbo, commonly called Tuscia (from the Etruscan populations that once lived in the northern part of Lazio), is an area full of history and art. Its origins date back to an Etruscan settlement called Surrena, that began to develop in the early Middle Ages.

VITERBO - A CITY OF CHARM Viterbo became important during that period when it was a place of refuge for many Popes, earning the title of City of Popes. During the long controversy between the Roman Catholic church and the Emperor, Viterbo became a free city and grew considerably.

VITERBO - A CITY OF CHARM Viterbo's historic center is one of the best preserved uncontaminated medieval towns of central Italy, dating back to the XIIIth century. The main attractions of Viterbo are its medieval towers and walls, the Papal Palace (Palazzo dei Papi), that served as a secondary residence and a repair in time of trouble in Rome, the Cathedral and the Renaissance Palace of the Commune. Today Viterbo preserves a distinctive medieval urban and architectural plan, which you can still enjoy in one of the most suggestive medieval settings: San Pellegrino.

VITERBO - A CITY OF CHARM Another important attraction is the sulphureous termal springs scattered all over the countryside with pools of hot water where you can nicely bathe, particularly at night (excellent for skin care!). At the Terme dei Papi you can also find a lot of services for health, relax and beauty.

VITERBO - A CITY OF CHARM A few miles from Viterbo (easy to reach also with public transports) there are the lake of Vico and the lake of Bolsena, where you can spend a lovely day swimming and relaxing in the sun or in the shade of trees. From Viterbo you can very easily reach Rome. The trains leave every hour from the station of Porta Romana. The ticket (BIRG, 5 zone) costs only 9 euros and allows you to travel by train and on all buses and metro of Rome for one day. From Viterbo you can also reach the beach (Tarquinia, an important Etruscan city, about 30 miles) and the loveliest medieval cities of southern Tuscany (Siena, 80 miles) and Umbria (Assisi, Orvieto and Perugia). Life in Viterbo is much cheaper than in other larger cities like Rome or Florence. You can dine out in restaurants and pizzerias at a very good price. A huge market takes place every saturday in the major square of Viterbo. The surroundings of Viterbo produce excellent red/white wine and olive oil, which you can easily buy in the cellars of the city at a very good price!

VITERBO - A CITY OF CHARM September 3rd Macchina di Santa Rosa 30 m 3,5 and 5 tonnes Every year, on September 3rd, an extraordinary event takes place: at 9 o'clock in the evening you can assist to the transport of the Macchina di Santa Rosa. The Macchina is an artistic illuminated bell-tower with an imposing height of 30 m. It weighs between 3,5 and 5 tonnes and is made of iron, wood and papier- mâché. One hundred and thirty Facchini At the top of the tower, the statue of the Patron Saint is enthusiastically acclaimed by the people in the streets of the town centre, where lights are turned off for the occasion. One hundred and thirty Viterbesi men (known as the Facchini) carry the Macchina from Porta Romana through the major medieval streets of Viterbo, concluding with a strenuous ascension up to the Piazza di Santa Rosa, its final resting place. Each Macchina has a life span of five years, after which a new one is built.

University of Tuscia DAFNE Department Via S. Camillo De Lellis s.n.c VITERBO - ITALY For information: Prof. Danilo Monarca ( ) Prof. Massimo Cecchini and Andrea Colantoni ( ) For information: Prof. Danilo Monarca ( ) Prof. Massimo Cecchini and Andrea Colantoni ( )