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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

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Around Monte Cimino Ronciglione

Introduction

Cimino is the name given to an extinct volcano to the south of Viterbo. It is also the name of the highest peak of the mountains which form the volcano crater. Monte Cimino was known for its impenetrable woods (Foresta Ciminia) which in part still cover it. Acorns, hazel-nuts and chestnuts, in addition to firewood and charcoal, were (and to some extent still are) the main products supporting the local economy.

Map of the itinerary
Towns covered by the itinerary (red dots)

The eastern slopes of Monte Cimino descend towards the Tiber valley and have been inhabited since the time of the Etruscans; the little towns in this area are covered by this itinerary which starts from the south (Ronciglione) and goes north through Caprarola, Carbognano, Fabrica, Corchiano, Vignanello and Vallerano to reach Soriano sul Cimino. The tour of Monte Cimino can be completed by visiting the pages called In and about Viterbo.

Ronciglione

Ronciglione was ruled for centuries by the Anguillara family, although it formally belonged to the State of the Church. In the second half of the XVth century Ronciglione returned under the direct rule of the pope and Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) rebuilt the castle at the top of the medieval town. In the XVth century it was acquired by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who united Ronciglione to his other possessions north of Viterbo, which formed the Duchy of Castro. The rule of the Farnese lasted for more than a century until Pope Innocentius X (1644-55) put an end to the Duchy of Castro.

Porta Romana
Porta Romana

The Farnese built a grand entrance to Ronciglione. Porta Romana was designed by il Vignola and decorated with the Farnese heraldic lilies. It has been resized to accommodate a larger traffic flow. The elaborate coat of arms shows a ducal crown.

Medieval Gate and Bell Tower of S. Maria della Provvidenza
Medieval Gate and Bell Tower of S. Maria della Provvidenza

The medieval part of Ronciglione is built on a hill protected from three sides by a deep gorge. The image above shows the ancient entrance to the medieval town, which was built with stones and blocks of tufa. The tall bell tower of S. Maria della Provvidenza, next to the medieval gate, served also as a watching post for the early identification of enemies approaching the town.

Bell Tower of S. Andrea and Fortress
Bell Tower of S. Andrea and Fortress

The bell tower of the lost church of S. Andrea is the finest monument of medieval Ronciglione which is dominated by the fortress built by Sixtus IV (for other images of the fortress, click here).

Main Fountain
Main Fountain

Il Vignola designed also the main fountain of Ronciglione. The unicorns are heraldic symbols of the Farnese, together with the more known lilies. The fortunes of the Farnese are usually attributed to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese who became pope in 1534 under the name of Paulus III; but the fortunes of Cardinal Farnese were mainly due to the influence of his sister Giulia, who was the last mistress of Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) and convinced the pope to appoint his brother cardinal at the age of 25. Several Renaissance paintings showing a lady with an unicorn are thought to be portraits of beautiful Giulia Farnese.

il Duomo
il Duomo

The Cathedral (or il Duomo as the main church of a town is usually called in Italy) was designed by Carlo Rainaldi in 1660, although it was completed in the early XVIIIth century. The shape of the dome is similar to that of the domes designed by Rainaldi for the twin churches of Piazza del Popolo.


Around Monte Cimino - other pages:
Caprarola, Carbognano and Fabrica
Corchiano, Vignanello and Vallerano
Soriano al Cimino

Pages on towns of Latium other than Rome In the Duchy of Castro: Farnese, Ischia di Castro, Valentano, Gradoli, Capodimonte, Marta In Maremma: Corneto (Tarquinia), Montalto, Canino A Pilgrim's Way: Via Francigena: Acquapendente, Bolsena, Montefiascone In and about Viterbo: Viterbo, Bagnoregio, S. Martino al Cimino, Tuscania, Bomarzo, S. Maria della Querce, Bagnaia, Orte, Vasanello, Vitorchiano From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana: Civitavecchia, Tolfa, Allumiere, Oriolo Romano, Capranica, Sutri, Bassano, Monterosi, Nepi, Castel d'Elia, Civita Castellana From Bracciano to Viterbo: Manziana, Canale Monterano, Vejano, Barbarano, Blera, Vetralla Around Monte Cimino: Ronciglione, Caprarola, Carbognano, Fabrica, Corchiano, Vignanello, Vallerano, Soriano The Bracciano Lake: Bracciano, Trevignano, Anguillara At the foot of Monte Soratte: S. Oreste, Rignano, Faleria Land of the Romans' wives: Montopoli, Poggio Mirteto, Casperia, Cantalupo, Roccantica Sentinels on the Highway: Fiano Romano, Civitella S. Paolo, Nazzano, Torrita Tiberina, Filacciano, Ponzano Along Via Aurelia: Palidoro, Palo, S. Severa and S. Marinella A Walk to Malborghetto: Prima Porta, Malborghetto Branching off Via Cassia: S. Maria di Galeria, Formello, Isola Farnese To Nomentum and beyond: Mentana, Monterotondo, Palombara A Walk to Ponte di Nona: ancient monuments along Via Prenestina Via Appia Antica A short and delicious digression: Tivoli, Montecompatri, Monte Porzio Catone, Frascati, Grottaferrata, Marino, Castelgandolfo, Albano, Ariccia, Genzano, Velletri, Nemi, Rocca di Papa, Rocca Priora, Civita Lavinia (Lanuvio), Porto, Ostia Where the painters found their models: Anticoli Corrado, Castelmadama, Vicovaro, Arsoli Subiaco The Roman Campagna: Palestrina, Genazzano, Paliano, Anagni The Ernici Mountains: Ferentino, Alatri The Volsci Mountains: Valmontone, Colonna, Segni, Norma, Cori On the Latin Shores: Anzio, Nettuno, Torre Astura On the edge of the marsh: Sermoneta, Sezze, Priverno Circe's Cape: S. Felice, Terracina Veroli Branching off Via Flaminia: Riano, Castelnuovo di Porto, Morlupo, Leprignano (Capena)

Latium was enlarged in the 1920s with territories from the neighbouring regions: the map on the left shows the current borders of Latium; the map on the right has links to pages covering towns of historical Latium: in order to see them you must hover and click on the dots.