Best Western
Hotel Viterbo

History

: : Map of Viterbo : : Click for a larger view Download PDF

: : Map of Province : : Click for a larger view Download PDF

Capital of the province of Lazio in the northern hemisphere,, situated at an elevation of 325 meters above sea level.
The origins of Viterbo are remote and date back to settlement of the Etruscans, named Surrena, localized in the hilly area of Saint Lorenza; this would have been the Città Vecchia (Old City) with proof seen through the ruins of an ancient epic Etruscan/Roman bridge seen from the bridge of the Duomo, as well as a few tuffaceous caverns and series of tombs all confirming the presence of this antique settlement of an archaic epoch.

Later, in 310 B.C., it became a Roman colony after Tuscia was conquered by the army of Fabio Rulliano.

Also dating back to the Roman epoch (1 century B.C.) are the Camillario bridge on the antique via Cassia, and remains of thermal installations situated in the “piano de’Bagni” (land of baths) so called for its therapeutic waters already known by the Etruscans and highly appreciated by the Romans so much so making the antique Cassia road the passageway from Rome not only to Viterbo bu to the area of the baths as well.

Today, in the historical center of the city, we can still admire, even after the damaged caused by bombing in WWII, notable preserves of an urbanistic texture and building from a medieval era with narrow winding streets, small squares with stone fountains ion the center, arches and typical stairways outside the dwellings.
In 1095 the city became a free municipal and construction began on an impressive defensive wall, still conserved today, which opens outwards towards the seven doors (Fiorentina, Romana, della Verità, Faul, San Pietro, Carmine and Tiberina).
During this period, the powerful families of the city ( the Tignosi’s, the Gatti’s, and the Di Vico’s) were in control of political and administrative life and they boasted the privilege of being able to host the Popes who were increasingly on the run from Rome; in 1170 Viterbo put itself in the hands of Federico I Barbarossa thereafter expanding its territory and obtaining land and priviledges; later, the heir of Federico I, Enrico, donated the city to the papacy and in 1192, Pope Celestino III brought the town to an Episcopal seat.

The first half of the second century was a period of civil wars between the Guelf and Ghibelline parties of the city, who needed also to defend themselves from the attacks by emperor Federico II; it was Cardinal Raniero Capocci, with the help of the young Rosa (later canonized as Saint Rosa), who provided arms to the military which beat imperial army (1243).
The pontiff court made the official move to Viterbo in 1257 with Pope Alexander IV and another 5 popes were elected here up until 1281, the year that Martin IV brought the papal seat back to Rome; during this period palaces, churches and fountains were built and Viterbo reached its maximum splendour only to be brought down again after being abandoned by the move of the papacy.

It was then that another period of fighting between the powerful families, the Gatti’s and the Di Vico’s, prevailing the Di Vico faction which maintained the rule up until 1354, the year in which Cardinal Egidio Albornoz took possession of the city exiling the Di Vico’s; the construction of the present Rocca is due to him.
Let us not forget the urbanistic and reconstructive improvement willed by Pope Paul III Farnese (1534-1549), a native of the area, who confirmed again the profound ties of the destiny between Viterbo and the State of the Church.

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