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Hotel Viterbo

Vitorchiano

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Municipal of Vitorchiano:
Tel: 0761-370393
Fax: 0761-370951
Web Site: www.comune.vitorchiano.vt.it

Characteristic medieval borough built on an impressive cliff and characterized for its quarries in peperino, a grey volcanic rock from the Cimini Mountains, the same material that the habitations and monuments of the historical center are done in, a building and ornamental material exported all over Italy.

History

The historical center, situated on a tuffaceous cliff at the confluence of two streams, is characterized for its medieval plan rich in little squares, churches, bell-towers, and buildings with external stairways and loggias, typical Viterbese architecture.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the town was object of a contention between Viterbo and Rome and in 1201, it fell formally under the Roman Senate.
It was then that Vitorchiano was able to use the acronym S.P.Q.R. (Senatus Populusque Quiritium Romanorum /The Senate and Roman People), and the Roman symbol of the wolf that is found sculpted in the volcanic rock in many habitations in the historical center.
Among the main monuments one can admire the Churches of San Pietro, Santa Maria, Sant'Amanzio, Church of the Madonna of San Nicola, the House of the Bishop and Palazzo Fidelitas. The municipal palace, Clock Tower and sculpture Moai in Piazza Umberto I, were constructed in volcanic rock in 1990 by the Atan family, natives of Easter Island in the South Pacific, in collaboration with the master chiselers of Vitorchiano.

Church of the Madonna of San Nicola

The church, whose construction started in 1503, is connected to a convent and has a sole nave with apsidal walls. It is rich in picturesque decoration by five local artists; Giustino from Montefiascone, Valentino di Sebastiano from Viterbo, Giovanni and Guido from Arezzo, and Giovan Francesco from Amelia, influenced by the Umbria-Tuscany style of the late 1400's.
Among the most interesting scenes found on the right wall; the Madonna on the throne with Baby Jesus, Saint Michael Archangel, the Baptism of Christ, the Virgin Mary with women from 1514 where the Madonna, surrounded by two saints, is protecting the women of Vitorchiano and their children with her large mantle.
On the left wall, the Seige of Vitorchiano, the Sorrow of Christ, Agostino and Baby Jesus, 17th century; Saint Sebastian Martyr and on the inner face, the Miracle of San Nicola of Bari.
The apsidal canopy is frescoed with Giudizio Universale ( Universal Judgement), second half of the 16th century; the episodes are done on three levels separated by clouds; on the highest level Christ appears seated with his hands raised in an act of judgment with Mary and Saint John; the saints, just men, and the angels with torture instruments are portrayed on the middle level; and on the third, an lower, level we find the Tubicini Angels and the damned, being tortures by the demons.

Lake Vico and the Cimini Mountains

The area of the Cimini Mountains is the result of volcanic activity started two million years ago by two different volcanic complexes; Cimino, the oldest, and Vico, the youngest.
They include Mount Cimino;1053 meters, Mount Fogliano; 965 meters, Poggio Nibbio;896 meters, Mount Venere;838 meters, and PallanzanaL 802 meters.
The vegetation mainly consists of woods of beech, oak, and chestnut; the underbrush contains perennials like holly and ruscus and vernal and autumn flowers like the narcissus, snowdrop, anemone and cyclamen. The most impressive naturalistic sites are the beech woods of Mount Venere, the woods of Mount Fogliano where one can take enjoyable excursions in a natural environment.
The landscape, rich in arboreous species that vari depending on the altitude and exposition and is strongly characterized by the presence of Lake Vico, 510 ,meters above sea level. On the lake side, staring at about 550 meters, woods with chestnuts, fruit, turkey oaks and hornbeams, are found. A particular naturalistic interest seeing that in other areas of Italy these woods are typically present at altitudes of over 1000 meters.
The territory is prevalent in the cultivation of nuts in the municipals of Caprarola, Ronciglione, Capranica, Sutri and chestnuts in the municipals of Soriano nel Cimino, Canepina, Vallerano, Carbognano, S.Martino al Cimino, representing the main economic resource of the province.
Lake Vico, an ideal tourist attraction for water sports throughout most of the year, in particular, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing, it is distinguished by its ample beaches and swimming in limpid water which is also rich in fish life; white fish, royal perch, pike, tench, and eel.
Bird species, between seasonal and migratory, are also numerous (173) and in the thicket that surrounds the water, the loon, cormorant, red heron, wild duck, gallinule and the bald coot all nest.