The best city hikes and walks around Riserva Naturale Regionale Lago di Vico

Viterbo lived its period of major splendor and power in the 13th century when it was chosen as the seat of the papacy instead of Rome, where powerful warring families made life too dangerous. Eight different popes lived in Viterbo making it is similar to Vatican City and Avignon in France. The longest papal conclave in history happened here from 1 December 1268 to 1 September 1271. Following Pope Clement IV's death, infighting between cardinals and political pressure led to a 34-month deadlock. The cardinals were locked up cum clave (hence the word conclave) inside the palace’s large Conclave Hall. In desperation the town’s population, who were feeding them and their entourages, eventually reduced the cardinals’ food and wine supplies, trying to speed up the election. Time wore on and they finally decided to remove the roof of the palace: in order to help the Holy Spirit come down and illuminate them, it was quipped. That worked.

In the second half of the 13th century, Piazza del Gesù was still the civic and social hub of Viterbo. It was the place where justice was administered, people gathered, and the market was also held. The Church of San Silvestro, known as the Church of the Gesù, features the typical Romanesque architecture of Viterbo, with its bell gable. The church is mentioned in documents dating back to 1080. Its current appearance is due to the restoration work of 1915 which aimed to bring the building back to its Romanesque forms. This small church became notorious for the gruesome murder of Henry of Cornwall, cousin of King Edward I of England. It was a bloody act of revenge carried out in 1271 by the Montfort brothers, which sparked outrage throughout Europe. An event portrayed by Dante in the XII Canto of the Inferno, where Guido di Montfort is placed in the circle of those who are violent towards their neighbors.

Herbs Square / Piazza delle Erbe The square, originally dedicated to Saint Stephen, has changed name and appearance over the centuries. It is home to historic fountains, Palazzo Gatti, and the Casa della Pace.

Porta Fiorentina is one of the ancient gateways to the city of Viterbo, located along the medieval walls surrounding the historic center. It represents one of the main entrances to the city and opens northward, towards the Via Cassia and the city of Florence, from which it takes its name. The construction of the Porta Fiorentina, originally known as Porta Santa Luci, dates back to the 13th century, during a period of intense urban fortification that saw the expansion and strengthening of Viterbo's city walls. The gate was built to control trade and military flows from the north and represented a strategic access point to the city. It was rebuilt in 1768 under Clement XIII and subsequently enlarged in 1886–87 to adapt it to the growing need for urban traffic. It has three arched openings: a central round arch, wider for vehicular traffic, flanked by two smaller round arches, intended for pedestrians or secondary traffic. The arches rest on pillars or columns with capitals – originally in Corinthian style – which introduce a neoclassical ornamental component.

The Rocca Albornoz was built in the 14th century by order of Cardinal Egidio Albornoz, with the aim of reestablishing papal authority over the territories of the Papal States. Conceived as a military fortress, it features a massive tuff structure, with towers and defensive structures dominating the surrounding area. Its strategic location allowed for control of access to the city, particularly along the Porta Fiorentina route. More than a residence, the Rocca was a clear symbol of political and military power. Today, the building is a museum, housing the National Etruscan Museum of Viterbo, which has restored its spaces to a cultural function.

Piazza della Rocca is a charming corner of Viterbo's historic center, dominated by the massive Rocca Albornoz, built in the 14th century as a papal military garrison. On the opposite side is Porta Fiorentina, an ancient gateway to the city, a reminder of Viterbo's strategic importance in the Middle Ages. At the center of the square stands a fountain, once essential for water supply and now a scenic feature. The ensemble of buildings and tuff walls gives the square a highly scenic appearance.

The funerary monument of Pope Adrian V, in the Basilica of San Francesco in Viterbo, houses the remains of the pontiff, who died in 1276 after a very short pontificate. The work, traditionally attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, reflects the Gothic style and Cosmatesque tradition of the era, with an elegant structure and finely decorated columns. The statue of the pope lies in pontifical robes on a richly carved base, lending the tomb a solemn and meditative tone. The monument testifies to the importance of Viterbo as a papal seat and artistic center in the 13th century.

The House of Saint Rose stands in the heart of Viterbo's medieval quarter and bears witness to her family's modest origins. Within these walls, Saint Rose was born in 1233 and spent her childhood and adolescence, immersed in a domestic religiosity that would guide her early vocation. The building, simple and unadorned, reflects the popular architecture of the 13th century and the daily life of the medieval city. Over time, the house has become a place of remembrance and devotion, demonstrating the profound connection the people of Viterbo have with the figure of the saint. In her honor, the Cero di Santa Rosa is carried in procession every year, an event that draws the entire city and renews the centuries-old devotion to the city's patron saint.