The wrong idea we’ve been carrying for too long is thinking that luxury is only a room with a view or a Michelin-starred dinner. In reality, true luxury today is not having to share wonder with a distracted crowd. It’s walking through a Renaissance village and feeling as if it exists just for you. It’s sitting in front of a medieval fresco and being able to contemplate it without the noise of a hundred voices taking photos. It’s descending into an Etruscan underground passage and feeling that thrill of a “pioneer,” as if you were the first to discover the secret kept in stone. Tuscia offers this kind of luxury, not because it has invented some exclusive marketing strategy, but because it still lives outside mass tourism. It is not Rome, it is not Florence, it is not Venice. Here, you don’t stand in line—here, you sit and breathe. Anyone who comes to Tuscia realizes it immediately: you are not in a theme park, you are not on a film set, you are not in the latest social media hotspot. You are in a land that looks at you and seems to ask: “Do you really have time for me?” And the answer, if you choose to give it, is a privilege. Because you will not feel like you are “visiting,” but rather discovering—as if every church, ruin, or alleyway had been entrusted to you in secret. This is true luxury: not ostentation, but intimacy. Not the queue at the ticket office, but the silent entrance into a marvel that becomes yours alone.

✨ Introduzione Above, the bustling squares and crenellated walls tell the story of medieval Viterbo. Below, however, breathes a secret world: tuff corridors carved more than 2,500 years ago, where water, mystery, and memory intertwine. Walking through underground Viterbo means entering another city, invisible and silent, made of tunnels, cisterns, and hypogean chambers. A labyrinth that has seen Etruscans, Templars, bandits, and soldiers pass through. A womb that guards the most intimate and hidden part of Tuscia. 🏛️ Origins and Architecture Etruscan engineers : the first to dig, transforming the underground into a hydraulic network to collect and channel water. Medieval strategy : tunnels expanded to connect churches and noble palaces, useful as escape routes during sieges and uprisings. Twentieth century : air-raid shelters during the war and hideouts for bandits. Red tuff and black scoria : volcanic rock from Mount Vico that shapes the underground geology, creating soft corridors, ovoid forms, and almost ritual suggestions. 🕵️ Legends and Mysteries Templars in the dark : tales of passages used for secret functions or hidden cults. Buttaroli : grave robbers and petty thieves who used the tunnels to break into cellars. Treasures and spirits : popular stories tell of unexplained noises, invisible presences, and hidden treasures. The ovoid tunnel : with its perfect shape, attributed to Etruscan sacred rituals. 👉 What I find fascinating is the continuity of functions: from hydraulic systems to wartime shelters, from escape routes to ritual spaces. Every era left a mark, without ever ceasing to use the underground. 🏰 Today: Visiting Underground Viterbo Accessible route : beneath Piazza della Morte , two levels at 3 and 10 meters deep. Guided tours : 60–75 minutes, with explanations on the Etruscans, the Middle Ages, and World War II. Knights Templar Museum : displays relics and tells the Templar stories connected to the city. Extra experiences : some tours include tastings of local products. 📅 Tours depart frequently (even every 30 minutes), until evening. 🎟️ Average ticket: about €10. 🌿 Why It’s Worth Going Underground It is a journey through time : every meter of tuff tells a different era. It is a sensory experience : constant coolness, dense silence, lights sculpting the walls. It is a story of resilience : from Etruscans building to citizens finding shelter during bombings. It is a living mystery : some tunnels remain unexplored, fueling imagination. 👉 Personally, I find it incredible that the same space has been used for water, rituals, war, and looting. Underground Viterbo feels like a mirror of human fears and needs across time. 📌 Useful Information 📍 Tour starting point : Piazza della Morte (historic center). ⏱️ Duration: 60–75 minutes. 💶 Price: ~€10. 👟 Tips: comfortable shoes, light jacket (it’s always cool underground). ✒️ Conclusion Underground Viterbo is not just a tourist attraction, but a living archive: here the past is not dust, but breathing stone. Descending beneath Viterbo’s streets means entering a story that has never stopped pulsing. Those who return to the surface bring back not only a memory, but a new awareness: the city lives not only above its walls, but also within its very depths.

🕰️ History and Identity Perched on a tuff spur between the Fiora and Olpeta streams, Ischia di Castro is a village that preserves layers of history: from Etruscan roots to the Middle Ages, up to the Renaissance splendor of the Duchy of Castro, heart of the Farnese power. 📍 Attractions and Monuments 🏯 Rocca Farnese (Ducal Palace) The oldest residence of the Farnese family, later transformed into an elegant palace by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Today part of the Historic Residences of Lazio , it dominates the village with imposing grandeur. 🏘️ Historic Center Paved alleys, panoramic views, and the monumental entrance that leads from the Ducal Palace into the medieval heart of the village. 🏺 Civic Archaeological Museum “Pietro e Turiddo Lotti” Artifacts from the Etruscan necropolis, collections ranging from prehistory to the Renaissance, and testimonies from the destroyed city of Castro. ⛏️ Etruscan Necropolis of Castro Monumental tombs, including the famous Tomb of the Chariot (530–520 BC), open to visitors. ⛪ Cathedral of Sant’Ermete 18th-century parish church, with fine works and carved ambon panels. ⛪ Church of San Rocco Romanesque building with 15th-century frescoes. 🌸 Sanctuary of the Madonna del Giglio A beloved place of worship, linked to popular devotion. 🌄 Hermitage of Poggio Conte A rupestrian church carved into the rock between the 12th and 13th centuries, decorated with medieval frescoes, reachable via a scenic path. 🏚️ Ruins of Castro Evocative remains of the Duchy’s capital, razed to the ground in 1649, symbol of memory and local identity. 🌿 Nature and Landscapes Walks through woods and gorges carved by the Fiora and Olpeta streams. Selva del Lamone Nature Reserve , a green lung for hikes. Lake Bolsena , easily accessible for sports and relaxation. 🎉 Events and Traditions Festa AMA Ischia (late July): art, music, and crafts. Gran Premio delle Carrettelle (mid-August): handmade cart races through the village streets. Sant’Ermete & Giostra del Gallinaccio (27–28 August): solemn procession, historical parade, and chivalric joust. Feast of the Madonna del Giglio (8 September): religious celebrations and folklore. 🍷 Gastronomy and Typical Products 🥘 Traditional Dishes Acquacotta : rustic soup with stale bread, herbs, and olive oil. Pappardelle with wild boar , strozzapreti, lombrichelli. Legume soups (chickpeas, chestnuts, beans). Ischian-style rabbit , lamb, game. Lake fish: whitefish, perch, tench. 🌿 Local Products Canino DOP Olive Oil : intensely green, fruity, slightly spicy. Hazelnuts from the Cimini Mountains , used in sweets and biscuits. Artisanal pecorino cheeses . DOC wines from the Etruscan Viterbo Hills . 🍯 Traditional Sweets Walnut maccheroni (Christmas). Torciglione and nociatelle . Rice fritters (St. Joseph’s Day). Sweet ravioli (Carnival). 🍽️ Where to Eat Name Cuisine Type Features Trattoria Da Salvatore Local, homestyle Game, traditional dishes Ristorante Pizzeria La Fiaba Pizza & local cuisine Informal setting, excellent pizzas Agriristoro Fratelli Pira Slow food, agritourism Zero-km products, genuine tradition La Vineria Wine bar, local food Wide wine selection, typical dishes Il Podere di Marfisa Agritourism Rural location, tasting experiences ℹ️ Useful Information 📍 Distances : Rome 130 km (2h) – Viterbo 40 km (45 min) – Siena 100 km (1h30). 🌸 When to Go : spring and autumn for mild weather; summer for events and traditions. 🛍️ Weekly market : Wednesday morning. ☎️ Tourist info : Town Hall Via S. Rocco, 2 – Tel. +39 0761 425455. ✨ Conclusion Ischia di Castro offers Farnese architecture, unique Etruscan sites, popular festivals, and authentic cuisine. It is a destination that combines history, nature, and conviviality, far from the crowded tourist circuits yet capable of offering unforgettable experiences in the Upper Tuscia of Viterbo.

There is a moment, when the notes rise among the stones of the villages and echo beneath the vaults of ancient churches, when Tuscia seems to return to the seventeenth century . It is then that the Alessandro Stradella Baroque Festival comes to life: a weave of music, research, and storytelling that each year transforms Viterbo, Nepi, and their surroundings into a widespread stage. 👤 Alessandro Stradella, the restless genius Born in Nepi in 1639, Stradella was one of the freest and most visionary spirits of the Italian Baroque. A precursor of the concerto grosso and the da capo aria, he fascinated courts and theaters with vibrant music—both refined and popular. His life was short and adventurous, marked by passions and duels, until his violent death in Genoa in 1682. Today, thanks to the festival that bears his name, his artistic legacy once again speaks to the contemporary public. 📍 A festival spread across villages and villas The festival is not just a concert program: it is a journey through places and atmospheres . The music of Stradella and his contemporaries resounds: in the Romanesque churches of Viterbo , in the elegant halls of the Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola , in the Renaissance courtyards of Nepi , among the geometric gardens of Villa Lante in Bagnaia , and in smaller towns such as Tuscania, Ronciglione, Civitella d’Agliano . Each venue becomes a piece of a Baroque mosaic that unites history, architecture, and landscape. 🎼 Program and atmospheres The Stradella Festival alternates sacred oratorios, staged operas, instrumental concerts, and contaminations with dance and theater . Thematic paths abound: “Santa Rosa di Viterbo” by Alessandro Melani, solemn inauguration in 2023. “An Angel of Paradise – The Orrigoni Songbook” (2025), a tribute to the famous castrato Marc’Antonio Orrigoni. Projects on lesser-known repertoires, such as Roman Baroque for cello , popular traditions , or the rediscovery of forgotten scores. Each edition is a unique experience: between lit candles, reverberations of ancient strings, and voices that seem to open portals in time . 🎓 Stradella Project & Y-Project Not just concerts, but research and training . The Stradella Project , created by artistic director Andrea De Carlo, explores the performance practices of the seventeenth century, with particular attention to vocality and phonetics . The Stradella Y-Project involves young international musicians in artistic residencies, staging little-known operas and oratorios. A generational bridge that renews the Baroque tradition. 🎉 Community and hospitality The festival is also an opportunity to experience Tuscia in a new light. After the concerts, the audience spills into squares, taverns, and the narrow streets of the historic centers. It is music that does not remain closed in a hall, but becomes encounter, dialogue, and celebration . 🌟 Why come The Alessandro Stradella Baroque Festival is not just for specialists: it is an invitation to discover total beauty—music, places, people . It is the chance to listen to a Baroque aria while outside the air smells of peperino stone and new wine, to realize how a note written four centuries ago can still move today’s listener. ✨ In Viterbo and its villages, Baroque is not a chapter of history: it is a living language that every September returns to be heard. And those who take part are not only spectators, but part of a story that unites past and future.

There is an hour, between late afternoon and evening, when Grotte di Castro seems to hold its breath. The tuff warms to gold, shadows stretch like affectionate fingers across the steps, and from the lake drifts a light breeze scented with mint and burning wood. The houses huddle together as if whispering ancient secrets, and a distant bell tries to mark time for those who have lost themselves in gazing. You walk slowly: from a peperino portal to a nenfro window, from a courtyard smelling of bread to an alley where the stone stubbornly keeps the memory of those who passed. Here, the seasons make no noise: winter polishes the air, spring lights up the pergolas, summer spreads white sheets on balconies, autumn pours new wine into glasses. And then the lake below—broad as a promise—which at night reflects desires and by day speaks the discreet language of fishermen. In between, the village: steady, gentle, able to offer a caress to the traveler who arrives unhurried. In Grotte di Castro you don’t simply visit: you let it happen to you. 📜 Origins (with hard evidence) ⛏️ Etruscans: the Civita of “Tiro” Ancient Etruscan city on the Civita : strategic position between Vulci and Volsinii . 7th–6th c. BC: peak, widespread necropolises, refined craftsmanship. Natural cavities of the tuff cliff were not just shelters: ritual spaces and advanced excavation techniques . 🦅 Rome, then invasions 4th–3rd c. BC: integrated into the Roman orbit. 8th c. AD: Lombard invasions → destruction of the ancient center; place names like “valle muje” preserve the trauma. 🕯️ Birth of the village Refuge in the grottoes of the tuff cliff → hence the name. 1077: first mention as Castrum Criptarum (Matilda of Canossa’s donation). 🏰 Age of Stone, Iron and… Farnese 🛡️ A strong Middle Ages Contested between Orvieto and the Church; 1186: sack by Henry VII → walls and a fortified urban structure. 👑 Renaissance with a master’s touch 1537 : the Farnese include Grotte di Castro in the Duchy of Castro . Jacopo Barozzi “Il Vignola” leaves his mark with the palace now housing the Museo Civita . 1649 : fall of Castro by order of Pope Innocent X; Grotte returns to Papal States until 1871. 🌋 Geography & Geology that Matter Perched on the northern rim of the Vulsini volcano : Lake Bolsena is its filled caldera. Tuffs, nenfro, pumice: an open-air textbook of Lazio volcanology . Terraces, seasonal streams, wind-shaped hills → agriculture thrives (minerals + microclimate). 🧭 What to See (smart itinerary) 🏛️ Museo Civita (Palazzo del Vignola) Clear layout, excellent finds, full-scale Etruscan tomb reconstruction . Focus on Etruscan daily life : roles, crafts, trade, power. Architecture: peperino portal, scenic staircases, nenfro windows. 🪦 Necropolises (three key stops) Centocamere : network of connected tombs (7th c. BC), three levels; one “suite” stretches 16 m with 5 chambers. Pianezze : long dromos, rectangular atrium, perimeter burial chambers; the Red Tomb (6th c. BC) is a masterclass in hypogeal design. Vigna la Piazza : rare circular tombs in the region. ⛪ Basilica Sanctuary of St. Mary of Suffrage Built 1625–1672 (Rainaldi → Selvi): restrained baroque with ovoid dome . Polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna del Suffragio (17th c.), central to identity: every 10 years, the “ Descent ” mobilizes the entire village. 🧱 Other historical landmarks Palazzo Orzi (19th c., neo-Renaissance). Castello Santa Cristina (country manor, ties with Pius XII). Fontana Grande (1886): modernity arrives with water supply. 🎎 Faith, Rituals, Community Madonna del Suffragio : celebrated every September 8; decennial “ Descent ” (next: 2028). Saint Flavius martyr (relics donated in 1656): co-patron with St. Faustina. 🍽️ Gastronomy (no frills) 🥔 Alto Viterbese IGP Potato Volcanic soils + lake = perfect yellow pulp . Organized supply chain (C.C.OR.A.V., CO.P.A.VIT. for IV range), strict production rules. On the table: velvety gnocchi, crispy bakes, golden frittatas. 🫒 Tuscia DOP EVO Oil Leccino, Frantoio, Canino → clean profile, elegant bitter-spicy finish . 🐟 Lake fish & soups Sbroscia (whitefish, perch, pike, herbs, raw EVO oil): lacustrine comfort food. Acquacotta : water, bread, vegetables, egg optional, drizzle of fine oil. 🍬 The “Gravioli” Sweet ravioli of ricotta and alchermes, oven-baked, dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Graviolo Contest in May: community pride event. 🌿 Nature & Trekking (right nearby) 🌳 Selva del Lamone Nature Reserve Wild forest on ancient lava flows: oaks, hornbeams, hazels; amphibians, raptors, Roman road traces. Salabrone and Pelicotonno waterfalls : natural photo sets. Archaeology: Sorgenti della Nova (Late Bronze Age), Cistercian abbey of S. Maria di Sala . 🚶‍♀️ Suggested trails Civita–Centocamere loop : archaeology + caldera views. Pianezze at sunset : grazing light, cinematic atmosphere. Castello S. Cristina through farms and stone walls. 🗓️ Events Worth the Trip Sapori del Borgo (summer): tasting routes through the historic center. Potato Festival (August): big comeback, tradition + supply chain. Piccolo Festival Civico (late August): workshops, installations, community-driven regeneration. 💼 Economy & Prospects (no fluff) Demographics: long-term decline, negative natural balance, but positive migration balance (quality of life + affordable housing). Key drivers: advanced agriculture (IGP, DOP, IV range), cultural & eco-tourism , small experiential hospitality. Recommended strategy: Museum + necropolis + lake packages (half-day “smart”). Storyliving : labs on potatoes, oil, lake cuisine. Eco-trails with unified signage and QR. 🚗 Practical Info (save time & hassle) How to get there : provincial roads to Lake Bolsena; 45 km from Viterbo, ~145 km from Rome. Parking : areas near the center; best explored on foot . Best seasons : spring, early autumn; in summer, go early morning/evening . Dress code : good-grip shoes (tuff = slippery), flashlight for hypogea. Etiquette : don’t touch carved surfaces, no flash underground, stick to paths. 🧠 Mini-FAQ Kid-friendly? Yes, but necropolises need careful supervision. Guide needed? Strongly advised for Centocamere & Pianezze → 300% more understanding. What to buy? Potatoes (small sacks), DOP oil, dry pastries, dried lake herbs. How long? “Essentials”: 4–5 hrs (Museum + 1 necropolis + town). “Full experience”: 1 day. “With Lamone Reserve”: 2 days.

Graffignano è un suggestivo comune italiano di circa 2.070 abitanti situato nella provincia di Viterbo, nel Lazio, che si erge a 187 metri di altitudine nella zona della Tuscia Teverina . Questo borgo medievale, al confine tra Lazio e Umbria, domina dall’alto la Valle del Tevere , regalando paesaggi di rara bellezza. 📜 History and Origins ⛏️ Ancient Roots Etruscan-Roman origins documented by archaeological finds. Etymology of the name: Carfinianum → property of a Roman dominus (Carfinius). Grappignanum → from the Lombard “grapa” (bunch of grapes) or “grapfo” (hook, medieval weapon). ⚔️ The Middle Ages and the Baglioni Family 13th century: the Baglioni of Castel di Piero ruled over the Rocca of Graffignano. 1282: Pandolfo degli Anguillara conquered the castle from the Orvietans. 15th–16th centuries: family disputes resolved by Pope Adrian VI with confiscation (1522) and restitution by Clement VII (1531). 👑 From the Renaissance to the Modern Era 17th century: the fief passed to Domitilla Cesi Baglioni , devoted to St. Philip Neri. 1741: the fief was elevated to a principality , sold to Prince Scipione Publicola of Santa Croce → period of prosperity. 🌍 Geography and Territory 📌 Strategic Position Extension: plateau between 60 and 400 m a.s.l. Original village built on a tuff spur with medieval incastellamento layout. 🏡 Hamlets and Localities Sipicciano (1,090 inhabitants). Small hamlets: Pisciarello , Litigata , Poggio del Castagno , San Nicola . Landscapes: woods, vineyards, olive groves, farmland. 🏰 The Baglioni-Santacroce Castle Built in the 13th century, rebuilt in the 14th by Simonetto Baglioni . Architecture: Cylindrical tower (20 m). Smaller circular tower (16th–17th century). Overhanging battlements. Bridge over moat. Municipal property since 2000, now visitable for free (Thu–Sun), with guided tours and views of the Tiber Valley. ⛪ Religious Monuments 🙏 Church of San Martino Vescovo 15th century, rebuilt in 1930. Two-level façade with triangular pediment. Single nave interior with biblical frescoes. Copy of Guido Reni’s painting of St. Philip Neri. 🌹 Sanctuary of the Madonna del Castellonchio 1.5 km from the village. Built on the ruins of an ancient castle. Linked to miraculous apparitions of the Madonna. Miraculous spring: “Water of the Madonna” flowing into two ancient holy-water stoups. 🏘️ Sipicciano: The Historic Hamlet First mentioned in 840 as Fundo Sepiciano . Autonomous until 1872, incorporated into Graffignano in 1928. 🏛️ Architectural Heritage Baronial Palace (15th century). Former Church of Santa Maria Assunta with frescoed Baglioni Chapel . Villa Lais (18th century) with Church of San Vincenzo. 🎉 Traditions and Folklore 🐌 Snail Festival (Sagra della Lumaca) From August 12–17 (28th edition in 2025). Snails cooked in traditional recipes. Menu with grilled meats, lombrichelli pasta , and local desserts. ✨ “By the Light of the Snail” (A Lume di Lumaca) August 16: the village glows with over 10,000 flames . 2,500 glass jars lit up decorate the castle and streets. 🍝 Gastronomy and Typical Products 🍜 Lombrichelli Pasta Typical fresh pasta, without eggs. Dressings: Garlic-tomato sauce. Sausage ragù. Guanciale. 🫒 Tuscia PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil Main cultivars: Frantoio, Canino, Leccino. Recognized among the best in Italy. 🌱 Economy and Local Life Primary sector still dominant: Olive growing and wine production . Cereal farming and livestock. Local crafts: The Oddo family , bakers since 1956, now third generation. 🌳 Landscape and Environment 🌊 The Tiber Valley Breathtaking views with river terraces, gorges, and badlands. Rural landscapes with farmhouses and castles. 🦉 Biodiversity Untouched woods rich in flora and fauna. Volcanic soils favor biodiversity. 🚉 Connections and Accessibility Linked to Orte and Viterbo via SP151 . COTRAL bus services. Former Bassano railway station (closed in 2012). Distances: 26 km from Viterbo. 30 km from Lake Bolsena. 100 km from Rome. 🌄 Nearby Attractions Celleno (ghost village). Civita di Bagnoregio (“the dying city”). Castiglione in Teverina . Bassano in Teverina (One of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”). 🌿 Natural Attractions Lake Alviano Oasis (7 km). Monte Casoli Nature Reserve in Bomarzo (6 km). Valley of the Calanchi . 🔮 Future Prospects Heritage protection : municipal castle well managed and promoted. Sustainable tourism : events and traditions keep the local identity alive. ✨ Conclusions Graffignano is a village that bridges past and future . Between castles, folk festivals, Tiber Valley landscapes, and authentic flavors like lombrichelli pasta and Tuscia PDO olive oil , the village proudly tells its millenary story. For those seeking authentic Italy, far from mass tourism, Graffignano is a gateway to the Tuscia Teverina .

by Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia The houses cling to the rock like hands around a flame. Below, the volcanic lake breathes softly. At 475 m on the Volsini Mountains , Gradoli is a balcony of pure air and long memory. 📍 Why Gradoli matters (yesterday and today) On the north-western edge of Lake Bolsena , Gradoli is a small village ( 1,241 residents in 2023) yet dense with stories. At its center, the Farnese Palace (1517), designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese , still sets the measure of the Renaissance. Identity symbols: 🍷 Aleatico di Gradoli DOC (1972): fine bouquet, velvety sip. 🫘 Fagioli del Purgatorio (“Purgatory Beans”): tiny, white, with an ultra-thin skin. 🍽️ Pranzo del Purgatorio (Ash Wednesday): a communal rite lasting over five centuries. 🛡️ From steps to castle: the origins 1113 : mentioned as Castrum Gradolorum among the estates of Matilda of Canossa , later donated to the Papacy. Name from gradus = “steps”: the fortified access was in the Pergola area. Castle remains: entrance arch , walls , round tower (now part of a private house). The moat has become streets and squares. 13th century : contested between Orvieto and the Church ; from 1296 the podestà alternated by agreement. Then came the Farnese golden age . 🏛️ The Farnese imprint Palazzo Farnese is a fortress-residence with angular buttresses to tame the tufa rock. On the piano nobile, the rooms unfold: 🏰 Ducal Hall (grotesques) 🏛️ Loggione 🧠 Hall of Philosophers ⚖️ Hall of Audiences Frescoes attributed to Giovanni da Udine and Perin del Vaga (with hints of Raphael’s school). 👗 Museo del Costume Farnesiano (since 1998) Faithful reconstructions of Renaissance clothing and accessories: 🎭 Loggione Hall – 15th c. noble ceremonial attire (French-influenced). 🧵 Intimate & Accessories – gloves, headwear, stockings, shoes. 🗡️ Arms & Monochromes – frescoed battles, armors, 16th c. fashions. 🔥 Hall of the Two Fireplaces – Spanish style of mid-1500s, with Pope Paul III. ⛪ The sacred in the landscape Collegiata di Santa Maria Maddalena 📜 Mentioned in 1296 ; enlarged in 1440; rebuilt in Baroque style after a late-1600s fire; reconsecrated 1705 . 🎨 Apse frescoes: Francesco Alippi , Luca Rubini ; wooden pulpit by Matteo Siler (German master). 👑 Paul III (1535) declared it “insigne”. San Magno (by the lake) 🧱 15th c., tufa, trussed roof, Renaissance portal, bell gable. 🕊️ Plenary indulgence on August 19 : “Perdono di San Magno” (bull of 1611; renewed 1754). 🍷🥣 Gradoli at the table: Aleatico & Beans (with legend) Aleatico di Gradoli DOC 🌋 Volcanic soils, long winters, mild summers. 👁️ Garnet red with violet hues; aromatic nose; sweet, velvety palate. 🏷️ Types: base, fortified, fortified riserva, passito. 🤝 Pairings: dry pastries, dark chocolate, aged cheeses. 🐾 Legend : at the “Poggio del Diavolo” , a lion defeated a demon; his staff stuck in the ground sprouted the first Aleatico vine. Fagioli del Purgatorio 🌱 Ancient cultivar between Gradoli–Onano–Acquapendente ; sown and harvested by hand. 👄 Delicate flavor, ultra-thin skin: served simply with local EVO oil , salt, pepper. 🍽️ The Pranzo del Purgatorio (Ash Wednesday) 🥁 Fat Thursday : hooded procession, door-to-door alms, auction in the square. 🧮 Solidarity shopping: ~ 250 kg of beans + 600+ kg of fish (pike, hake, cod, tench). 📋 Menu (unchanged for 500 years): 🫘 Purgatory Beans 🍚 Rice soup with tench sauce (secret recipe) 🐟 Pike stew – Fried hake – Boiled cod with garlic & parsley 🍎 An apple ⏱️ Served at 1:00 PM sharp ; 1,600–2,000 diners ; each brings own plates, cutlery, bread, wine. 🌿 Nature: a balcony over Europe’s largest volcanic lake 🗺️ Setting: Volsini Mountains ; steep hills, deep valleys, vineyards & olive groves, 11 km of shoreline. Fosso Rigo embraces the village on 2/3 sides. ❄️🌤️ Climate: Zone E – 2,254 GG ; long winters, mild summers (perfect for vines). 🌊 Lake Bolsena : black volcanic sands, swimmable waters, rich biodiversity. 🐟 Underwater: tench, pike, eels, mullets, dace, crayfish. 🦆 Above: coots, red-crested pochards, grebes, tufted ducks, pochards, grey herons, egrets; resident gulls & swans. 🎍 Reeds: nurseries and natural fortresses. 🌸 Rarity: Baldellia ranunculoides (Montesenano). ♻️ Ecological note: the lake takes 150+ years to renew its waters—sustainability is not optional. 📊 At a glance 🏞️ Altitude: 475 m a.s.l. 👥 Population: 1,241 (2023); 638 families; avg. 1.94 members; peak 1,497 (2001). 🌱 Economy: Aleatico DOC, EVO DOP, Purgatory Beans, fishing, tourism. 🛏️ Lake area: 26 hotels / 1,150 beds; 21 B&Bs (109); 5 holiday homes (327); 13 campsites (5,200). 🛠️ Craft: wood, ceramics, restoration (identity crafts). 🎉 Events to note 👑 Festa alla Corte dei Farnese – mid-July (reenactments, evening tours). 🍷 Aleatico in Festa – first weekend of August (wine tastings & music). ✝️ San Magno – August 19 (plenary indulgence). 🍽️ Pranzo del Purgatorio – Ash Wednesday. (Always check official dates & times.) 🧭 How to get there 🚗 From Rome : ~119 km in ~2 h (scenic state roads). 🚗 From Viterbo : 39.5 km in ~44 min. 🚌 COTRAL buses : Viterbo ↔ Gradoli (~49 min), 3–4 daily; first ~07:20, last ~20:25. Stops: Via Roma , Via Piave . 🚆 Train + bus : Rome → Orvieto (or Valle Aurelia → Viterbo) + local bus (2 h 40 – 4 h 30). 🔮 Gradoli tomorrow Challenges: depopulation, aging, balance between heritage protection and development . Paths: quality, short supply chains, cultural & natural tourism, networking in the Tuscia Tourist District . Key: make Farnese genius and peasant sobriety speak together—the frescoed hall and the fishermen’s boat. 🚶 Suggested half-day walk 🧭 Historic center → Farnese Palace (museum included). ⛪ Collegiata (listen to the wooden pulpit). 🌅 San Magno and the black shore at sunset. 🍽️ Dinner “by the lake”: pike, tench; end with Aleatico passito . 💡 Tip : for the Pranzo del Purgatorio and summer events, book ahead. Evening breeze: bring a sweater. ℹ️ Transparency Images on this page (where present) are evocative and AI-generated : they are not photographs or documentary evidence. Texts are editorial ; when AI is used as support, we declare it and always revise . Enjoy Gradoli. May the lake look kindly upon you, and may the wine taste like sunset. 🍷🌊

There are lands that need no proclamations, places that reveal themselves slowly, like a friend who rarely speaks of himself but, when he finally decides to open up, offers you the whole world. Tuscia is just like that: discreet, silent, almost shy, yet brimming with treasures that await only a curious glance. Here, exclusivity is not flaunted, but whispered. It is not measured by gated resorts or private beaches, but by the rare chance to live experiences that would be impossible anywhere else. 🌿 To feel privileged in Tuscia means, for example : Entering a rock-hewn church like San Giovenale and finding yourself alone with medieval frescoes that still seem to speak to the faithful of a thousand years ago. Walking along an Etruscan via cava , enclosed by towering tuff walls, certain that you are stepping on the very stones once crossed by merchants and priests three thousand years ago. Dining in a family-run tavern in Soriano nel Cimino , tasting porcini mushrooms freshly gathered from the mountains — a dish found nowhere else, born only of this forest, this season, these people. Climbing to the Belvedere of Montefiascone and raising a glass of Est! Est!! Est!!! before a sunset that paints Lake Bolsena in golden hues — a luxury no money can buy, for it is nature itself that decides who will witness it. Discovering, in a back alley of Civita di Bagnoregio , a door leading to a hidden Etruscan cellar , its barrels steeped in the scent of history and wine. Standing in silence before the Sacred Wood of Bomarzo , not as a hurried tourist but as a chosen guest, letting the stone monsters whisper a language that only true listeners can understand. In Tuscia, enchantment is savored slowly: in the village taverns , where a simple dish holds the dignity of a royal banquet; in the volcanic wines , carrying centuries of history and the fire that once shaped these lands; in the folk tales , where saints and brigands intertwine, and you realize legend is no less true than reality. Every visit here is never just tourism, but a pioneering discovery . You truly feel part of a small circle, of those fortunate — or perhaps privileged — enough to cross the threshold into an exclusive world. And so, if you should find yourself wandering the alleys of Viterbo, gazing at Lake Bolsena at sunset, or following secret paths that lead to a hidden hermitage among the Cimini, know that you are not simply traveling. You are experiencing a rare gift, one that few know and even fewer truly appreciate. Because today, true exclusivity is not ostentation, but authenticity. — Giano di Vico

Gallese rises majestically on a tufa cliff overlooking the valley and the routes of southern Tuscia. Legend says it was Halesus (or Aleso), son of Agamemnon , who laid the first stone, founding the lineage of the Falisci . Beyond the myth, its history is truly ancient: 🪨 Paleolithic → first signs of human presence along the Tiber. 🏺 Faliscan Civilization (8th–5th century BC) → peak of development, with trade in timber and metals. 🌉 Strategic location → controlled a ford over the Tiber and access to Sabine territories. Gallese was one of the most important cities of the Agro Falisco , surrounded by necropolises and Etruscan settlements still scattered across the countryside. ⸻ 🏰 The Middle Ages and Christian Revival Castrum Galliensum In the 3rd century BC, the settlement on the cliff was abandoned in favor of one in the valley, but it flourished again in Byzantine and medieval times. Barbarian incursions forced the inhabitants to retreat once more to the cliff, erecting new walls: thus was born the Castrum Galliensum . The Popes of Gallese The village gained extraordinary religious prestige: it gave birth to two popes – Martinus I (882) and Romanus I (892) – becoming part of the routes of the Via Francigena . The Arrival of Saint Famianus In 1150, the Cistercian monk Quardo of Cologne , later canonized as Saint Famianus , settled in Gallese, living in holiness. Upon his death, his body was buried in a cave outside the walls, later transformed into the Basilica of San Famiano , a pilgrimage site for the miracles attributed to him. ⸻ 👑 The Seignories and the Hardouin Dukes For centuries Gallese was contested by powerful families: Anguillara → transformed the medieval fortress. Borgia, Della Rovere, and Altemps → left architectural and artistic traces. Hardouin → since 1861, named Dukes of Gallese by Pius IX, they still hold the title and residence today. ⸻ 🏰 The Ducal Castle-Palace Symbol of the village, the Ducal Castle dominates with its four corner towers, each different: elliptical, irregular, ivy-leaf shaped, and cylindrical. 🛡️ Medieval origins (13th century) → defensive fortress. 🌸 Renaissance transformation (17th century) → noble residence of the Altemps. 🎨 Famous architects → Vignola (monumental entrance) and Giacomo della Porta (refinements). ⚔️ Hall of Arms → frescoes by Antonio Tempesta, Medici and Altemps coats of arms, collections of armor. ⸻ 🚪 The Porta Arch The medieval village is accessed through a single gateway: the Porta Arch . A massive cylindrical tower (16th century) topped by a travertine arch with the rampant rooster and the Altemps coat of arms . Symbol of Gallese, once it guarded against invasions; today it shields the village from modernity, preserving its timeless atmosphere. ⸻ ⛪ The Churches of Gallese Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (1796) → neoclassical style, it was a cathedral until 1986. Elegant interiors with fine altarpieces. Church of Sant’Agostino (14th century) → frescoes of the Pastura school and the Annunziata Chapel with scenes of the childhood of Jesus. Basilica of San Famiano (13th century) → Romanesque, with gabled façade, rose window, and portico. The crypt holds the saint’s body in a marble sarcophagus donated in 1732 by Feliciana Sylva Altemps. ⸻ 🎉 Traditions and Festivals Feast of Saint Famianus (July 17 – August 10) An identity-defining event recognized as of regional interest. July 17 → pilgrimage to San Famiano a Lungo and archery contest. August → processions with the Zitelle , young girls chosen by lottery according to an ancient dowry tradition. The Bengalata (August 7) A unique spectacle: thousands of fire flares light up the crenellated walls, creating a rain of fire. A tradition born in 1950 for the 8th centenary of the saint’s death. Other celebrations: Corsa alla Stella and historical parade. Ancient Fair of Goods and Livestock (August 9) . Folk games and community feasts. ⸻ 🌄 Gallese Today: A Village Suspended in Time Gallese preserves intact its medieval charm: 🏘️ Alleys and noble palaces with sculpted portals. 🌳 Breathtaking views over the surrounding tufa gorges. 🛣️ Archaeological remains along the Via Amerina , with Romanesque parish churches and Etruscan-Roman necropolises. ✝️ The Parish Church of Saints James and Philip , restored in the 1970s by Camilian Demetrescu , is a rediscovered Cistercian jewel. ⸻ ✨ Poetic Conclusion Gallese is not just a medieval village: it is a city of legends and saints, of popes and dukes, of walls that shine with fire on August nights. It is a place suspended in time, speaking to the attentive traveler with the voice of memory and the eternal beauty of Tuscia. ✍️ By Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia

✨ Among the steep tuff cliffs of Tuscia, Faleria Antica emerges like a whisper from the past—a village where time has stopped, returning to us the echo of Faliscan roots and medieval tales. 📜 Origins and Stratifications The ancient village rises on a wedge-shaped tuff spur , a natural bastion that favored human settlement since the Iron Age (10th–9th c. B.C.) . Its unique conformation gave life to a rare stratification: ➡️ from the modern quarter of Piazza Garibaldi ➡️ to the Renaissance borough ➡️ to the medieval heart ➡️ down to the Faliscan nucleus of Piedicastello . ⛏️ Decline and Abandonment The fragility of the tuff on which Faleria Antica rests sealed its fate, much like Civita di Bagnoregio . 🧱 In 1290 , a defensive wall with a single access gate was built, symbol of medieval resilience. ⚠️ Yet in the centuries that followed, landslides and collapses made the area increasingly unstable and uninhabitable. The village slowly emptied. 👻 Today: The Ghost Town of Tuscia Today Faleria Antica appears as a ghost town , a place suspended between melancholy and beauty. Some areas are forbidden due to the risk of collapse. Others still show vital signs of a past that resists. 🌄 This contrast between ruin and memory creates a unique atmosphere, capable of moving those who venture there. 🛡️ Walls, Gates and Silences Stones warmed by the sun tell the life of generations. Silent alleys speak of a time interrupted. The remains of the 1290 walls recall humanity’s struggle against the instability of nature. 🌟 Why Visit Faleria Antica It is not just a ruin, but an open page of history : 📖 An invitation to read and preserve memory. 🏺 A place that intertwines Faliscan, Medieval, and Renaissance legacies. 🌳 A travel experience that seeks not the superficial, but the profound. ✨ Poetic Conclusion “Faleria Antica is not a village to see, but to feel: it is the voice of a past that endures, that brushes against you, and reminds you that history is not only what remains, but what still breathes among its stones.” ✍️ By Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia

✨ On a tuff hill, among chestnut woods and legends, Cellere preserves its ancient soul: a village suspended between Etruria and the Middle Ages , where every stone tells stories of power, faith, and rebellion. 📜 From the Origins to the Duchy of Castro The roots of Cellere go far back: the village was already mentioned in 738 A.D. as Cellulis .Over the centuries, it passed under Viterbo and Toscania, then became part of the Duchy of Castro ruled by the Farnese (from the 14th century until 1649). After the Duchy’s destruction, it returned under the Papal States until the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. 👉 The structure of the village still reveals the Etruscan imprint of the so-called “spur settlements”: narrow, elongated, and protected by the valleys around it. 🏛️ Architecture and Symbols ⛪ Church of Sant’Egidio Abate – masterpiece by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, with a central plan. Every September 1st, the patron feast is celebrated with the traditional Sant’Egidio biscuits . 🏯 Rocca Farnese – from fortress to noble residence, once a symbol of Farnese power, connected to the village by the evocative Ponte della Rocca . 🗡️ Museum of Brigandage – an immersive journey dedicated to the legendary brigand Domenico Tiburzi , featuring installations, documents, and rebellious tales. 🌳 Park of the Timone Springs – wild and unspoiled nature, perfect for walking, trekking, or horseback riding. 🌿 Hamlets and Legends Pianiano – a medieval hamlet nestled among chestnut woods, with perfectly preserved walls and legends evoking Etruscan tombs and the cult of the goddess Diana. Monte di Cellere – at 562 m, it dominates the valley and is the source of the Arrone stream . 🎉 Events and Traditions Cellere thrives all year long with collective rituals and authentic flavors: 🌼 Al di là del giardino (May) – flower and plant exhibition.🍲 May 1st Festival – walks, folk games, and traditional dishes.🐴 Cellere between nature and tradition (September) – typical product fairs and equestrian shows.⭐ Living Nativity Scene – every Christmas, the village turns into Bethlehem. 🍷 Flavors of Alta Tuscia Cellere is the land of Canino DOP extra virgin olive oil , rustic soups such as acquacotta , spicy lombrichelli pasta , farmer’s bruschette, and local DOC wines.A harmony of tastes that speaks of the simplicity and strength of the Tuscia . ✨ Why Visit Cellere Cellere is a place where history, nature, and traditions intertwine into a unique story: Etruscan memories, Farnese grandeur, and the myth of brigandage. A village that welcomes with authenticity. A landscape that combines tuff hills, woods, and untouched panoramas. “Walking through Cellere means leafing through the pages of a book that has never ceased to be written: here Tuscia reveals its truest soul, between rebellions, faith, and silences that speak.”

✨ Faleria preserves more than two millennia of history, with roots deep in the Faliscan civilization .📍 Located between the ancient Roman consular roads Flaminia and Cassia , it was a crossroads for travelers, armies, and merchants. 🐎 The Ancient Stabula Born as Stabula ( stabulum , horse-changing station). Some scholars link the name to stabilis , in reference to its tuff foundations. Faliscan settlements date back to the 10th–9th centuries B.C. , on the site of Piedicastello . Reached its peak between the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. , with necropolises and agricultural settlements. 🏰 The Medieval Village 📜 First mentioned in 998 as Stabla , within ecclesiastical possessions. 🛡️ From the 14th century, ruled by the powerful Anguillara family (coat of arms with entwined snakes). 👑 In 1660 , it passed to the Borghese family , who transformed the castle into a Renaissance residence. 🇮🇹 Only in 1873 did it take its current name, Faleria , to honor its Faliscan origins. 🏯 The Anguillara Castle: Symbol of the Village The Medieval Fortress Built in the 13th century on a tuff base. 🔺 Trapezoidal plan with a keep and four round towers. 🏰 Defensive walls with battlements (traces still visible). The Renaissance Transformation 🌟 Between the 14th and 15th centuries, expanded with travertine loggias and “kneeling” windows. 🚪 Monumental entrance with the emblem of the intertwined snakes. 💧 Once in the courtyard stood a travertine well bearing the coats of arms of the Anguillara and Strozzi families (later stolen). The Private Chapel ⛪ 15th-century chapel with frescoes, connected to the castle by a suspended bridge. Served as a palatine chapel for the family. ⛪ Historic Churches ✝️ San Giuliano (13th century, renovated in the 16th): patron saint of Faleria. Romanesque façade, interior with three naves. 1610 altar restored by the Compagnia del SS. Sacramento. Fresco of the patron saint, depicting both the medieval village and Renaissance Rome (Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Aurelian Walls). 🙏 Madonna della Pietrafitta (1599): built over an ancient sarcophagus. Rare quadrilobed shape with an octagonal drum. Frescoes of the Black Madonna and Madonna with Child. Originally housed three altars: High Altar, Holy Cross, St. Francis. 📖 Sant’Agostino (14th century): single nave interior. Once held a painting of St. Augustine and St. Monica. Crypt used as the Anguillara family burial site. 🏚️ Ancient Faleria: The Ghost Town The Abandoned Village Stands on a wedge-shaped tuff spur. Stratification: modern quarter → Renaissance village → medieval core → Faliscan nucleus of Piedicastello. The Abandonment ⛏️ Cause: instability of the tuff, similar to Civita di Bagnoregio. 🧱 In 1290 , surrounded by a defensive wall with a single access gate. ⚠️ Landslides and collapses made it uninhabitable. Today A haunting ghost town , suspended between abandonment and memory. Some areas off-limits, others still alive → a moving contrast of ruin and resilience. 🎉 Traditions and Celebrations ✝️ Feast of San Giuliano (May 15–17): procession with 250 torchbearers, the village in darkness, fireworks, and blessing at the Madonna della Pietrafitta shrine. 🌼 Zucchini Blossom Festival (July 4–6): local specialties such as fried zucchini flowers, pasta with zucchini and shrimp, grilled meats, and traditional desserts. 🥁 La Frustica of Faleria (June 24–25): the town’s folkloric band, official group of the Italian Rugby National Team, performing in Italy and abroad (including at the Columbus Day Parade). 🌳 Territory and Surroundings 🌄 Treja Gorges – tuff canyons rich in biodiversity. 🏛️ Falerii Novi (241 B.C.): Roman city abandoned in the Middle Ages. 2 km of walls with towers and gates. Remains of the 12th-century Abbey of Santa Maria. 🏡 Faleria Today: Tradition and Modernity Faleria lives suspended between two souls : the ancient one, carved in tuff and memory; the modern one, vibrant, keeping traditions alive. The village is a striking example of historical continuity: From the Falisci to Rome, From the power of the Anguillara to the Borghese, From ghost town to living community still celebrating San Giuliano . 🌟 Faleria is a place where past and present intertwine , in a suggestive balance that tells the resilience of a community able to reinvent itself without losing its roots. ✍️ By Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia

⏳ The Ancient Origins Corchiano preserves millennia of history , with evidence of human presence dating back to the Paleolithic era . 🪨 Faliscan caves along the Rio Fratta (1916-1917) → cave shelters. 🪵 Neolithic (5000-6000 B.C.) → first agricultural settlements. 👥 Falisci (8th century B.C.) → necropolises spread throughout the territory. 🤝 Coexistence with the Etruscans , given the proximity of their lands. 🎭 The Myth of Fescennium Corchiano is identified with the ancient Fescennium , a Faliscan city famous for the “Fescennine Verses” : 📖 Humorous and pungent compositions, recited during festivals. 🕺 Masks, dances, licentious satire → forerunners of Roman theater. ✍️ Cited by Livy and other Latin writers as the roots of Roman drama . 🛡️ The Roman Conquest and the Via Amerina ⚔️ 241 B.C. → Rome conquered the Faliscan territory and destroyed Fescennium. 🏛️ Foundation of Falerii Novi in the plains. 🛣️ Construction of the Via Amerina → strategic road connecting Rome to Umbria. 🌉 Still visible today: tagliate (rock-cut roads) and bridges at Tre Ponti and Cavo degli Zucchi . 🏰 The Middle Ages and the Rebirth 🐎 After the barbarian invasions → people returned to the cliffs around 1000 A.D. 📍 New name: Hortiano , possibly linked to the goddess Horta . 🏹 Led by captain Ranieri di Farolfo . ⚜️ The Farnese Era 1534 → included in the Duchy of Castro by Pope Paul III Farnese . 🏯 A new fortress was built (later destroyed, definitively demolished in 1979). 🌸 The Farnese coat of arms spread throughout the town → fountains, noble palaces, and portals. ⛪ Monuments and Artistic Heritage The Historic Churches ✝️ San Biagio (16th c.): frescoes by Pancrazio Jacovetti , with attributions to Antonio da Viterbo the Elder . 🙏 Madonna del Soccorso (15th c.): imposing façade, Paradise Chapel frescoed by the Zuccari brothers. 🌹 Santa Maria del Rosario : different period portals, traces of ancient frescoes. 🌸 Madonna delle Grazie : baroque altar, fresco of the Madonna with Saints Biagio and Valentino. The Natural Monuments 🌄 The Gorges of Corchiano → Natural Monument (2008), canyon carved by the Rio Fratta. 🌳 Pian Sant’Angelo → Natural Monument (2000). 🪨 Tagliata di San Egidio → deep road carved into tuff (10 m high), with Etruscan inscriptions . ⚱️ Necropolises and Archaeological Finds Main Necropolises 🏺 Caprigliano (8th c. B.C.). 🪦 Vallone, Sant’Antonio, Madonna del Soccorso (4th-3rd c. B.C.). 🌲 Selva Fratta, Puntone del Ponte, La Lista . Unique Finds (kept in the Town Hall) 🗿 The Fescennino : Roman sarcophagus fragment depicting the myth of Aeneas. 📜 Inscription of Caius Egnatius : only Roman epigraph related to hydraulic works. 🪔 Cult terracotta artifacts. 🔥 The Great Phallus : a tuff sculpture over 12 meters high. 🎉 Traditions and Festivals 🌟 The Living Nativity Scene (since 1970, 55th edition in 2024-25): a theatrical performance in the gorges, with music by Nicola Piovani and narration by Gigi Proietti . 🎭 Fescennino d’Oro (August): revival of the ancient verses with satirical performances. ✝️ San Biagio (Feb 2-3): patron saint celebrated with theater, music, and folk games. 🙏 Madonna delle Grazie (Sept 15): main patronal feast with procession and awards. 🌿 Corchiano Today: Nature and Culture 🏘️ Well-preserved medieval village, perched on a tuff plateau . 🌄 Unique landscapes over the Tiber Valley. 🌰 Rural economy → hazelnuts, vines, olives . 💧 Fertile land with springs, mild winters, and sunny summers. Local Products 🌰 Fine hazelnuts 🍷 Local wine 🫒 Tuscia’s extra virgin olive oil Nature Tourism 🚶 Hiking and trekking in the gorges. 📸 Nature photography. 🏺 Archaeotourism among necropolises and Etruscan roads. 🌿 Outdoor activities in unspoiled nature. 📌 In Summary Corchiano is a village that intertwines millennia of history , living traditions , and unspoiled nature . From the myth of Fescennium to the Living Nativity Scene , from Etruscan roads to monumental gorges , this small Tuscia town is a true treasure chest of culture, spirituality, and landscape . ✍️ By Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia

Carbognano, a small village in the Cimini Mountains , is not only history, castles, and breathtaking views: it is also the authentic taste of Tuscia . Here, tradition meets innovation in a culinary offering that surprises anyone who stops by. 🍇 Ristorante La Locandina di Bacco ⭐ Average rating: 4.5/5 (380+ reviews) Founded in 1944 , it is the true temple of Canepina and Viterbese cuisine. An elegant atmosphere with frescoes , traditional dishes, and a fine selection of local wines. 👉 Perfect for a romantic dinner or to recharge after visiting the medieval village. 🏡 La Casetta Home Restaurant An intimate and genuine experience, run by Claudia and Riccardo . 🥖 Homemade pasta and bread 🥗 Zero-kilometer products 🍰 Traditional desserts Cited by Luciano Pignataro and various food and wine blogs, it has become a must for those seeking family hospitality and authenticity . 🍕 Bar Pizzeria La Falisca 📍 Featured on MyCity as one of the most beloved pizzerias in Carbognano. 🍕🔥 Wood-fired pizza 🍲 Typical Tuscia dishes 🎉 Informal and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for any occasion 🍞 Pan per Focaccia A small workshop that has won everyone over thanks to: 🥖 Crunchy savory focaccias ⏳ Long-fermented doughs 🌿 Quality ingredients 👉 Ideal for those who love simple but carefully made flavors . 🍕✨ Pizzeria Gnam Gnam The most creative in the village, famous for its original toppings and innovative combinations. It blends fantasy with the roots of Lazio’s cuisine, offering a perfect mix of tradition and modernity . 🌟 Other Places Not to Miss 🥐 Panificio-Pizzeria Pane e Olio – ⭐ 4.3/5 on Restaurant Guru, great for pizza or focaccia late into the night. 🍖 Casa del Gusto di Cenci Riccardo – loved for creative first courses and local meat dishes. 📌 In Summary Carbognano is not just a medieval postcard village: it is also a gourmet destination ready to surprise. Whether it’s a refined dinner , a pizza with friends , or a quick snack in the alleys and squares, its restaurants always guarantee: 🍴 Warm hospitality 🥗 Genuine ingredients 🍷 An authentic bond with Tuscia’s traditions ✍️ By Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia

🏰 Carbognano – The Small Village of the Cimini Mountains 🌳 Location and Landscape Nestled on the hills of Viterbo , at the foot of the Cimini Mountains and not far from Lake Vico , Carbognano is a village that blends landscape and memory. Surrounded by centuries-old chestnut groves, hazelnut trees, beeches, and oaks , it is the perfect destination for slow tourism and trails immersed in nature. 🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️ 🕰️ Name Origins and Legends The name “Carbognano” is shrouded in mystery and has inspired several fascinating theories: ⛩️ A temple to Janus called Ara Jani → Arignano → Carbognano 🏛️ A Roman villa owned by the patrician Carbilio 📜 A Roman family named Carbones , mentioned by Tacitus 🔥 The charcoal pits that once filled the surrounding woods 👉 In medieval documents, it also appears as Corvignanum or Carmignano , as attested by a papal bull of Eugene IV (1443). 📜 History and Ruling Powers 🏺 Etruscan and Roman traces , proof of the village’s strategic position. 📖 From the year 1000 , under the Abbey of Farfa. ⚔️ 14th century → ruled by the Prefects of Vico, then the Papal States. 👑 1494 : Pope Alexander VI donated it to Orsino Orsini and his wife, the famous Giulia Farnese , who lived here until 1522. ⚜️ Later passed to the Colonna Barberini di Sciarra family , who held it until 1870. 🏛️ Monuments and Landmarks 🏯 Orsini-Colonna Castle The heart of the village, dominating the historic center with its towers and Farnese coats of arms. Inside, frescoes and symbols linked to Giulia Farnese , including the famous unicorn. ⛪ Main Churches ✝️ Collegiate Church of San Pietro (1773–1796): elegant classical façade, connected to the castle. 🎨 San Filippo Neri (1636, baroque): frescoes depicting the saint’s life. 🌸 Santa Maria della Valle : preserves a Renaissance fresco by Pastura . 🙏 Sant’Anna (18th century): built by the people, located beneath the castle. 🏰 Other Historic Sites 🏛️ Baronial Palace : Renaissance building with medieval traces. 💧 Historic Fountain : near the town hall, bearing the coat of arms of Carbognano surmounted by a princely crown. 🎭 Events and Traditions 🎉 Feast of San Filippo Neri – May 26th Patronal festival with processions, religious events, and community celebrations. 🚴 Environment and Itineraries Carbognano is an ideal starting point for nature excursions: 🌲 Walks among chestnut and hazelnut groves 🚵‍♂️ Trekking and gravel bike routes 🌋 Volcanic hills of the Cimini Mountains, rich in stunning views 📌 Quick Overview 🏷️ Aspect ✨ Key Details 📍 Location & Nature Medieval village between the Cimini Mountains and Lake Vico 🕰️ Name Origins Temple of Janus, Carbilio/Carbones family, charcoal pits 📖 History Etruscans, Romans, Abbey of Farfa, Farnese, Orsini, Colonna Barberini 🏛️ Monuments Orsini-Colonna Castle, San Pietro, San Filippo Neri, Santa Maria della Valle, Sant’Anna, Baronial Palace 🎉 Events Feast of San Filippo Neri (May 26th) 🌳 Outdoor Trekking, cycling, excursions through woods and hills ✍️ By Giano di Vico – Viterbolandia