Top 20 Natural Monuments around Bassano Romano

The Parco Naturale Regionale dell'Antichissima Città di Sutri is a beautiful green oasis that offers a rich historical and natural beauty. The park includes the historic park around Villa Savorelli from the 18th century, located on a high tuff rock. It protects an extraordinary area full of archaeological finds perfectly integrated into a context of extraordinary beauty. The park also includes the Borgo, the Roman Amphitheater, the Church of the Madonna del Tempio, the Necropolis, the Underground Church of the Madonna del Parto, and the Church of Santa Maria del Monte.

The Chiesa della Madonna del Parto in Sutri is a unique church carved entirely out of tuff stone. Dating from the 13th-14th centuries, this church was originally a Mithraeum, a temple dedicated to the Eastern god Mithras, from the 3rd century. The church has a square vestibule with frescoes depicting the Madonna and Saints, San Cristoforo and events related to the life of San Michele del Gargano. The main space is divided by tuff pillars into three naves. The church is now an important part of the urban park of the ancient city of Sutri.

The ancient Canale Monterano always gives its charm to visitors. Most people know this place because the famous film "Il Marchese del Grillo" with Alberto Sordi was filmed there; but in reality its walls tell dramatic stories, linked to the escape from the city invaded by the plague..

The three towers, of different ages and designs, stand in the Vico Matrino area, inside a hazelnut grove, together with piles of rubble from other probably similar buildings. These are two funerary monuments from the Roman era from the 1st century BC. C, and of a bell tower belonging to a Benedictine church, dating back to the 10th century "Sancta Maria in campis", of which the portal remains, reused as the entrance to the ancient Hospital of San Sebastiano in Capranica. The most imposing is made up of a square base, surmounted by a cylindrical body, sixteen meters high overall. Originally it was most likely covered with slabs of peperino stone and the niches seen on the surface may have contained bas-reliefs with images of the deceased from the rich families of the vicus. According to legend, Orlando, the brave paladin of Charlemagne, king of the Franks, wandered around these lands in ancient times in search of adventures and when he was tired he loved to rest with his companions in arms in the shade of the large oaks, which characterized the site at the time. In fact, Charles, king of the Franks, came to Italy several times against the Lombards and at Christmas 19th century in St. Peter's, Pope Leo III crowned him Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. It is documented that the Frankish army, following the ancient Via Cassia, then Francigena, stopped in the territory of Sutri, of which Vicus Matrini was part at the time; the area, at the time covered by an oak forest, could constitute a ideal environment for a knights' camp. Perhaps the legend, derived from the fantastic world of the Chansons de gestes and the Chanson de Roland, contains some foundation. https://www.iluoghidelsilenzio.it/torri-dorlando-capranica-vt/

it was born as a temple and then as a church

Ancient Church. Was previously a temple of the Mithraic cult. You can even see the gutter through which the blood of the bull victims drained

beautiful park outside Sutri, very relaxing and with exhibits to visit. Highly recommended

At this point you meet two towers which were funerary monuments from the Roman era then reused for various purposes in later periods. It is said that Orlando was born near these towers and that Charlemagne, king of the Franks, rested here during his journey to Rome for his coronation as Emperor. https://graveloo.com/it/via-degli-etruschi-in-gravel/