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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 the visitors of my web site

From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana Civita Castellana

Civita Castellana was founded with the name of Falerium by the Falisci a distinct Etruscan tribe, which is thought to have some Greek origin. It was conquered in 396 BC by the Romans, who in 241 BC following several rebellions, pulled it down and moved its inhabitants to another less protected location Falerium Novum. In the Middle Ages however Falerium Novum was abandoned in favour of the old site, which offered greater natural protection. Castellana means of the castle, a reference to the castle built in medieval times and replaced by the fortress (in part designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder) erected by Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) and completed by Pope Julius II (1503-13).

The fortress
The fortress

The fortress was used by the popes also as a prison. Other images can be seen in my page on the Fortresses of the Popes.

The Cathedral
The Cathedral

The Cathedral of Civita Castellana is the masterpiece of Jacopo di Lorenzo and his son Cosma who in 1210 built its façade. A sort of triumphal arch separates two fine porticoes supported by elegant columns which were made for the occasion.

The portal and the right entrance
The portal and the right entrance

The decoration is a mixture of Early Christian and Byzantine elements combined in classical forms.

Main entrance
Main entrance

The entrance in the image here above shows also a shadow of Arab influence in the choice of black ad white marbles (an influence very visible in the Domes of Orvieto and Pisa).

Fountain with the dragons of Gregorius XIII
Fountain with the dragons of Pope Gregorius XIII

Civita Castellana was protected by walls built by Pope Alexander VI. You can see their main gate in my page on Gates of the Popes. The main square of Civita Castellana was embellished by Pope Gregorius XIII (1572-85) with a fountain decorated with his heraldic dragon.

Early XVIIIth century fountain and late XVIIIth century inscription
Early XVIIIth century fountain and 1787 inscription celebrating the opening of a new road

The XVIIIth century saw the move from Baroque to Neoclassic and the images here above show the move from rounded, complex lines to a more austere design. The isolated mountain shown near the inscription is Monte Soratte and it is clearly visible also from Rome.

Fortress of Borghetto
Fortress of Borghetto

Civita Castellana is very near the point where Via Flaminia crosses the Tiber. In the late XVIth century Pope Sistus V (1585-90) diverted the river and built a new bridge (Ponte Felice). This made useless the little castle which protected the old crossing point.


From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana - other pages:
Civitavecchia, Allumiere and Tolfa
Oriolo Romano and Caprarola
Sutri, Bassano and Monterosi
Nepi and Castel Sant' Elia

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.