WORTH TO BE SEEN
Viterbo still enclosed
within its walls preserves unaltered its medieval appearance.
The 13th Century's Palazzo Papale as a nice open Gothic loggia
at side and Piazza del Plebiscito in the centre is enclosed by
fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Renaissance buildings and courtyards
that, together with the Quarter San Pellegrino, give an exact
feeling of the time in which the town reached its highest splendour.
The ancient artisan traditions survive downtown where one can
walk breathing scent and watching the colours of an ancient time.
Bomarzo is famous for a very bizarre
Park realized in the 16th Century, By the middle of the 16th century,
Vicino Orsini who created, in his estate at Bomarzo, a labyrinth
of symbols.
He populated the "sacred wood" by peperino live rock
carved into fantastic monsters (Park of Monsters)
such as a giant stone tortoises, elephant demons and giant statues
with enormous mouths, mythological figures, sphinxe and darkly
inscriptions taking inspiration from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso..
Civita Castellana, a very ancient hilltown
is famous for the pre-Roman remains of the city of Falerii Novi,
and for the beautiful Cathedral of S. Maria Maggiore.
Tarquinia
is the most famous city of the Etruscan cause its renowned Etruscan
necropolis, unrivalled for its tomb paintings and for the winged
horses the greatest Etruscan refined gold jewel conserved in the
National Museum. Rich also of Medieval, Renaissance, and Neoclassical
art, the town, closed inside imposing walls and towers on a hill,
appears now predominantly medieval..
Bagnaia
where is located Villa Lante, the bishops' Gambara splendid Renaissance
villa. The comely Italian Garden with its numberless water plays
and the villa were designed and decorated by the most illustrious
artists of the 16th century.
Caprarola
- Palazzo Farnese, a magnificent summer residence projected by Vignola
for the Cardinal Alessandro Farnese is one of the best exemple of
Renaissance architecture, with magnificent Italian gardens - the
Summer and the Winter gardens - and an immense park.
Fountains, with water games - to be mentioned those in the grotto,
nymphaeums and numerous statues enrich the garden.
Tuscania
- An Etrurian town with the 11th century churches of S.Pietro and
Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Bolsena Lake,
the largest volcanic crater in Europe, is a great holiday resort
for swimming and fishing. Around the lake small medieval villages
are worth to be seen: the romantc fishermen village of Capodimonte;
Montefiascone, Gradoli and Marta famous for their wine production,
namely Est! Est! Aleatico and Cannaiola; Bolsena town itself that
worth a stop to admire the well preserved 14th century Monaldeschi
castle and the alleys in the medieval city. A boat trip leads to
the Isles Bisentina and Martana, where are interesting Etruscan
tombs, frescoed chapels, and the summer villa of Farnese pope.
Bomarzo
is famous for a very bizarre Park realized in the 16th Century,
by Vicino Orsini.
He populated the "sacred wood" with peperino live rock
carved into fantastic monsters (Park of Monsters) such as a giant
stone tortoises, elephant demons and giant statues with enormous
mouths, mythological figures, sphinxe and darkly inscriptions taken
inspiration from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso.
Once one of the most fascinating sites in central Italy, this Parco
dei Mostri can still be an extraordinary sightseeing for a family
with children.
Civita di Bagnoregio
- The Dead Town erected on a clayey cone and a tufo basement which
inexorably flake off, letting houses after house slip into the valley
below. The Dead Town is uninhabited since1695 when a violent earthquake
started this series of landslips. Worth to be seen.
RIETI -
A plaque in the town square prove that Rieti, the "Italy's
navel" so called by the Romans, is located in the geographical
centre of Italy. The Dome and The Bishop's Palace worth a visit
but in the surroundings the Franciscan monastery in the small town
of Greccio is a must. Here St. Francis created the first Christmas
Crib and a real life nativity scene is re-enacted every year. In
the Monastery are collected ancient and modern nativity scenes donated
by artists and persons from all over the world.
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