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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

To my Italian visitors

From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana Nepi and Castel Sant' Elia

Nepi

Nepi is located on a terrace between two deep ravines. It was fortified by the Etruscans and conquered by the Romans in 383 BC. In 1545 Pope Paulus III, Alessandro Farnese made it a family fief in the attempt to create a little independent state in northern Latium.

XVth century walls: entrance; Farnese coat of arms; lateral view with the old fortress
XVth century walls: entrance; Farnese coat of arms; lateral view with the old fortress

The entrance to Nepi is protected by the fine XVIth century walls built by the Farnese. The coat of arms on one corner of the walls makes reference to the Farnese as Dukes of Nepi and Dukes of Castro, another family fief near the Bolsena Lake. These walls are only a few hundred meters long, because the ravines around Nepi are so deep that they did not require walls.

Views of the old fortress
Views of the old fortress

In addition to the Renaissance (outer) walls Nepi has another curtain of walls, in part dating back to the Etruscan time. These walls are dominated by two medieval towers which were strengthened by Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (who became Pope Alexander VI in 1492).

The aqueduct and Palazzo Comunale
The aqueduct and Palazzo Comunale

In 1649 Pope Innocentius X waged war against the Farnese and he brought their fiefs back under the control of the State of the Church. In the early XVIIIth century an aqueduct improved the living conditions of the inhabitants of Nepi. The architect Filippo Barigioni completed the aqueduct in 1727 and he modified the Palazzo Comunale by inserting a monumental fountain in its façade.

Main Fountain
Main Fountain

The fountain is clearly inspired by many other baroque fountains. The tower and the vipers are a reference to the heraldic symbols of Pope Benedictus XIII (1724-30).

Castel Sant' Elia

Views of and from Castel Sant 'Elia
Views of and from Castel Sant 'Elia

The ravine near which Castel Sant'Elia is built is not the Grand Canyon, nonetheless it has some spectacular views. The site was chosen by several hermits who lived in caves cut into the rock.

Ancient Basilica
The Ancient Basilica

The Romans built a Temple to Diana on a little terrace below Castel Sant'Elia. In 520 AD St. Benedict converted this temple into a church which was rebuilt in the XIth century in the Romanesque style.

Details of the side entrances
Details of the side entrances

The left side entrance is decorated with fragments of reliefs which once were in the ancient church, while the right side entrance is decorated with medieval reliefs.


From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana - other pages:
Civitavecchia, Allumiere and Tolfa
Oriolo Romano and Caprarola
Sutri, Bassano and Monterosi
Civita Castellana

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.