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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
Page revised in May 2011.

To the Italian visitors of my web site

In and About Viterbo Vitorchiano
(Papal Loggia in Viterbo)

Inscriptions
(above) Lintel of a house showing the symbol of Rome and an inscription saying "God must be obeyed everywhere, the Romans must be obeyed on Earth"; (below) another lintel with the word Faithfulness (to Rome) and the coat of arms of Rome

In many parts of Italy it is not unusual to find references to Rome, but Vitorchiano leads the way for the number of these references; this because the inhabitants of this small town a few miles north of Viterbo regarded themselves as citizens of Rome, to which they were linked by a special pact called Fidelato.

Palazzo Comunale
(left) Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall); (right) an Early Renaissance window (SUMMA FIDELITAS - Highest faithfulness)

This pact was established in the early XIIIth century when Vitorchiano entered an alliance with Rome against Viterbo, at the time a town perhaps larger than Rome; Vitorchiano was plundered twice by the inhabitants of Viterbo and its walls were razed to the ground; the Romans in recognition of the loyalty shown by their allies paid for the reconstruction of the walls. As a sign of friendship and trust, ten citizens of the small town were asked to live in Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome to contribute to its defence. Even today some official ceremonies involving the Mayor of Rome see the participation of citizens of Vitorchiano in their Renaissance costumes.

The ravine protecting Vitorchiano
The two ravines protecting Vitorchiano

Vitorchiano was at first an Etruscan town and later on became a Roman castrum; it was protected by two deep ravines which joined together to the north of the site so that the settlement had a triangular shape.

The ravine protecting Vitorchiano
The view from a terrace at the end of the town

The ravines are so deep that modern Vitorchiano could only expand on its southern side; the old town abruptly ends at a small terrace which offers a nice view over the woods which cover the hills.

Gate giving access to the old medieval quarter
(left) Gate giving access to the old medieval quarter; (right) a street of the old quarter

The oldest part of Vitorchiano is located between Palazzo Comunale (which retains a high defensive tower) and the junction of the two ravines; its houses and streets were restored and cleaned in recent years.

Typical houses
Typical houses with "profferli" external staircases leading to the main entrance

Vitorchiano was at loggerheads with Viterbo, yet its houses are very similar to those one can see in medieval Viterbo.

Main fountain
Main fountain with symbols of the Four Evangelists

The same remark applies to the main fountain of the town which has the spindle shape which characterizes those of Viterbo.

Main gate and walls
Porta Romana and walls of Vitorchiano

New walls were built in the XIVth century to protect an expansion of the town; their length is very short because no walls were built along the ravines; the only gate gives access to a straight street leading to Palazzo Comunale.

S. Maria
(left/centre) S. Maria and its Renaissance baptismal font; (right) S. Amanzio: fresco by Valentino Pica

Vitorchiano was not the see of a bishop, nor was it chosen by cardinals as their summer residence (as they did in nearby Bagnaia), yet its churches are not without some interesting works of art.

Inside the churches
(left) S. Amanzio: reliquary with the body of the saint (a Roman soldier); (right) S. Maria: portable canopy for processions


In and about Viterbo - other pages:
Viterbo
Bagnaia
Bagnoregio
Bomarzo
Orte and Vasanello
S. Maria della Querce
S. Martino al Cimino
Tuscania

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.