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VITERBO
The historical centre is still
closed within the robust belt of the medieval walls and is
situated on the Cassia Road, which leads to Rome. The territory
is water from halfway down the Paglia to the north: by the
Tevere, which marks the confines of the east, by long stretches
of water; and by various rivers and tributary streams of the
Tirreno. All the provincial territory is of great touristic
interest: from the areas, rich in Etruscan testimony (Tarquinia,
Tuscania, Vulchi, Sutri, Blera), Roman (like Ferento), medieval
and renaissance (Viterbo, Caprarola, The Civita [Bagnoregio],
Bomarzo).
Fortified by Desiderio, King of the Longobards and then given
to the Church by Pipino (755), in the 10th Century, it was
already a well populated and prosperous centre which became,
exactly for these characteristic reasons, subject of contention
between the Papacy and the Emperor. From documents dating
back to the end of the 11th Century, the City was already
an independent Council. In 1146 Pope Eugenio III found refuge
in this City together with the Papal Court. In 1164, it was
the seat of the Anti-Pope Pasquale III, supporter of Barbarossa:
it’s not by chance, that in this exact period, in 1167,
it was taken by the Emperor who elevated it to a standing
rank. After a period of victorious battles against Ferento,
it was created as the main centre of the Patrimony of San
Pietro in 1207 by Innocenzo III, but not long after became
excommunicated by the same Pontificate due to the welcome
given to a group of heretical Patarins.
Re-approaching Guelphism, in 1243 the City managed to resist
the siege of Federico II, and from then on became the normal
residence of the Papacy, not to mention the numerous conclaves.
Urbano IV (1261) was elected here, as well as Gregorio X (1277)
and Martino IV (1281). Meanwhile, the feuds between the leading
factions of Gatti (Guelphs) and the Tignosi (Ghibellines),
to which were added the powerful family of the Prefetti of
Vico, who now in contrast, were in agreement with the Papacy,
took possession of the City during the first half of the 14th
Century, and dominated (but only in alternative periods, because
from time to time they were kicked out or subject to revolts
or rule by the military of the Pontificate, until 1435 when
Giacomo of the Prefetti of Vico was beheaded by the future
Cardinal, Giovanni Vitelleschi). Viterbo then passed to the
stable power of the Church, remaining so (except for a short
period of French domination at the beginning of the 16th Century,
during which it became the main centre of the Department of
the Cimino) until the entry of the Italian troops in 1870.
It was then seriously damaged by the bombardments during the
course of the Second World War.
The historical centre of Viterbo still seems
like a medieval city and the monuments are perfectly preserved.
The most noteworthy medieval complexes are the district of
San Pellegrino and the Piazza del Duomo (the square containing
the Cathedral). Amongst the monuments from the Roman period,
we should take note of the Cathedral (17th Century), the Church
of San Sisto, which was grafted on the walls in one application,
the wall itself, the churches of San Giovanni in Zoccoli,
Santa Maria Nuova, del Gesù, together with numerous
other houses and palaces (especially the Palazzo Alessandri);
to which were part of during Gothic times, numerous, elegant
fountains, a true tradition of the City, some cloisters of
great harmony, various churches (San Francesco, Santa Maria
della Salute, etc.), the Papal Palace with adjoining rooms,
the House of Poscia. The Renaissance is represented in paintings
through the frescoes of Lorenzo da Viterbo in Santa Maria
della Vertià and architecture as well as various churches,
amongst which, that of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the
Baptist), from the splendid Sanctuary of St. Mary of the Quercia,
rich in contemporary artwork.
The Civic Museum, sitting snugly in the convent of Santa Maria
della Verità (with its beautiful Gothic cloister) containing
a wealth of pre-historic Etruscan material, and a notable
picture-(art)-gallery , with works from Sebastiano del Piombo,
Vitale da Bologna, Salvator Rosa and local artists.
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