Easy hikes and walks in Sic Monti Di Castro

It can be reached after a walk (also accessible by bike) along a path that runs alongside the Fiora River; the last stretch is accessible only on foot. Impressive.

The site is closed for maintenance. Paths are disturbed, unmaintained, and often unmarked. Walking the route often leads you to the back of closed buildings.

Section of the Fiora river near the monastery of Poggio Conte

Vulci is an ancient Etruscan city 8 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Vulci was one of the Etruscan Twelve Cities. In history the city is mentioned only once on the occasion of a 280 BC. Mentioned of the triumph celebrated by the Romans over Vulci in the 4th century BC, when it was conquered by an army led by Tiberius Coruncanius. In 273, the Romans also made Cosa, which was part of Vulci as a port (today the ruins of Ansedonia), a colony. (Source: Wikipedia) The first parts of this ancient city were discovered in the 1950s. In 1970 another house was being built (party house?). The excavations are still ongoing. A visit to the archaeological park costs €10. There are signs for a long loop and a short loop. The long one supposedly lasts 3 hours, the short one 2 hours. We walked the long way (5km). It is advisable to follow the recommended walking direction, as most of the excavations can be seen at the beginning. You can then still decide whether to go the full round or not. It also makes sense not to go when it's too hot, as there is almost no shade.

The Castello dell'Abbadia di Vulci was built in the 3rd century BC. to protect a bridge over the Fiora river built by the Romans on the pre-existing foundations of another bridge of the Etruscan people. Walking is an experience that crosses centuries of history.

A truly special place, the photos don't do it justice. Uncrowded and clean, we hope it always stays that way.

This “via cava”, a multitude of narrow streets that lead like canyons through the tuff rock, is also dug into the rather soft tuff of the area. The Etruscans were the originators of this bizarre road system more than 2,500 years ago. Why the “vie cave” were created and for what purpose they were used remains a mystery to scientists to this day: Were the ravines merely connecting and supply routes between Etruscan settlements? Did you serve to drain the rainwater? Or were they mystical places of worship? The proximity of the Etruscan people to mysticism and astrology - and the numerous necropolises that one encounters when walking through the paths speak for the latter point of view. This one is already quite dilapidated at one end and you have to look for a path between fallen rocks.

The settlement was a small, poor and largely abandoned village at the time of the founding of the Duchy of Castro (1537) before becoming the capital. The Farnese decided to transform it to make it worthy of the rank of capital of the duchy and a symbol of their power and prestige. The reconstruction embraced the city in all its aspects, from defensive walls to public buildings, from noble palaces to houses and streets, turning the settlement into a perfect example of Renaissance art and architecture. Powerful families, Pope Paul III. Farnese as well as many nobles who competed in building noble palaces and made Castro a fashionable city. The heart was represented by Piazza Maggiore, in the center of which there was a fountain and along its perimeter the Palazzo della Zecca, the Hostaria, to welcome the Duke's illustrious guests, the residence of these and the palaces of the most important citizens. Castro also had brick streets and squares with sewers, which was very rare at the time. Sangallo's drawings remain in Florence as proof of this. In Castro there were 13 churches, the most important of which was certainly the Romanesque cathedral dedicated to San Savino, protector of the city, celebrated on May 3 in the main square with a carousel and a palace between the districts. There was also a hospital and hospice to help widows and orphans. To solve the problem of water shortages, a fountain called Santa Lucia was built, located near the church of the same name, with spiral staircases similar to those of San Patrizio in Orvieto. In 1649 the papal troops of Innocenzo X Pamphilj, whose family was an ally of the Barberinis and an enemy of the Farnese, besieged the city, sacked it, razed it to the ground and deported its inhabitants. Today the ruins are covered with forest. Over time, excavations have been carried out that have brought to light the remains of the main square with its pavement, the remains of the Cathedral, those of the Palazzo della Zecca, the Convent of San Francesco, the fortifications and Porta Lamberta. One can also see the remains of underground rooms, cellars, wells, cisterns and cellars