Bolsena is one of the principal centres in Alta Tuscia Laziale and easily the most important town of the Bolsena Lake. The Romans built this charming little town on the shore of Lake Bolsena in the 3rd century BC, after the conquest of the Etruscan town of Orvieto (Velzna). After the destruction of Velzna, the new town Volsinii was rebuilt near the lake. Situated on the Roman road Cassia, Volsinii soon became a flourishing town thanks to its strategic position. At the end of the Roman Empire, the town was slowly abandoned. In the Middle Ages Bolsena attracted the attention of the Christian world because of a eucharistic miracle which took place inside the basilica of Santa Cristina in 1263. The Basilica of Santa Cristina with the catacombs and the Cappella del Miracolo is well worth a visit. The relics of Cristina are kept under a small altar in a modern shrine. Also interesting are the archaeological excavations at Poggio Moscini and a medieval castle which houses a nice museum with finds from the Etruscan- Roman period to the Middle Ages.
The Church of St. Francesco, built in the principal piazza of Bolsena, it is a Gothic construction of the 12th century, today deconsecrated and home to some interesting manifestations of cultural and artistic form. in the centre of the town. Inside you can admire splendid frescoes regarding religion and martyrdom. The Collegiata di Santa Cristina is a clear example of Romanesque art, with Renaissance elements. La Collegiata was built during the 1100’s in the historic centre of Bolsena on the ruins of an older oratory.
Santa Cristina is one of the largest and most important religious events of its kind held in the entire Tuscia, this event takes place on the night of July 23rd in Bolsena, where a statue of the holy martyr is carried out of the Cathedral and leads a procession through the streets of the town. Every square crossed by the religious procession is decorated with scenes depicting the martyrdom of St. Cristina, adding to the beautiful and magical atmosphere. The path of the procession begins at the town cathedral, winds through the streets and finishes at the Church dello Santissimo Salvatore, located in the highest part of the town. Here the statue spends one night before returning to the Cathedral the next morning on a new procession.

The castle known as the Rocca Monaldeschi della Cervara was built on a hill behind the town between the 12th and 14th centuries and still dominates the the old medieval quarters of the town. The castle with its square plan and corner towers, has been completely restored and renovated. Since 1991 it has been the home of the Museo Territoriale del Lago di Bolsena (Lake Bolsena Territorial Museum) with three floors of exhibits and displays that cover the history of the area from the time it was an active volcano to the present day. The castle ramparts offer spectacular views of the town and Lago Bolsena.

Map of Bolsena url | pdf

Capodimonte

Capodimonte is a little town on the western side of the Lake of Bolsena. Paulus III tried to conquer also the eastern side of the lake with Montefiascone, because this would have given him control of the Via Cassia the most important route to Rome from the north.
He had to content himself with Capodimonte, where he built another palace.
Capodimonte is close to one of the two islands in the lake (Isola Bisentina) where Paulus III built a little palace and a church. The Bisentina isle (0.17 square km. of surface) is an interesting touristic excursion for those people who go to Capodimonte.

Marta

Marta, just a few miles south of Capodimonte, retains a very nice coat of arms of Paulus III at the entrance of the little town. A little fortress protects the town.

Latera

This small town in Upper Tuscia, between Tuscany and Lake Bolsena, is located in a broad basin that was once known as Val di Lago.Latera, a gorgeous town in the province of Viterbo, lies amid splendid countryside cloaked in chestnut trees.

Latera is seen as a small gem of art and culture, custodian of historic palazzi, which once housed significant political figures, monuments celebrating the events of the past and churches of absolute unique beauty.
The town is a typically medieval town, with an Etruscan and Roman past. Marcus Aurelius is believed to have been named Emperor here. Its most stable period of rule was under the Farnese (until 1668), who built Palazzo Ducale in Piazza della Rocca and a town aqueduct. Also note the two fountains.
The historic center is a maze of streets, steps and archways, above which rises the elegant Latera belltower. Just before the main square stands the church of San Clemente, the principal sacred building of the town. It was built in the 15th century and was the original Baptismal seat, the only one in the province of Viterbo. Designed in a very simple way, it is embellished with a precious fresco depicting the Crucifixion, a 15th century stone tabernacle and a painting depicting La Madonna del Carmine e San Carlo. The slender Borromini-style bell tower dates to 1790. Inside the church there are paintings from various different eras, a lovely wooden crucifix, the baptistery (1591) and an organ made by Angelo Morettini in around 1865.

There are many other churches in and around the town, among them the Chiesa Sant'Eligio (Madonna della Cava), possibly the oldest building in Latera, and the Chiesa di San Sebastiano, a small building dating back to the 1400’s that astounds visitors with splendid examples of architecture, numerous works of art and the two wonderful frescoes, L’Immacolata Concezione and Gli Angeli e San Sebastiano.

The Palazzo Farnese dates back to the 15th century. The building is divided into an older section, built in the 16th century and a more modern section, rebuilt in a more recent age. On its portal you can admire a religious coat of arms, whilst inside, there are arches and columns; as well as walls richly decorated with precious frescoes dating back to the 16th century.

The town's farming traditions are documented in the fascinating Museo della Terra.

Comune

Celleno is located in the eastern part of the Tuscia area of Viterbo and is set in the countryside dotted with cherry trees. The little church of San Rocco holds several eighteenth-century canvases (Our Lady of the Rosary and a Crucifixion), a fifteenth century wooden crucifix, a cross in gilt silver dating to 1436 and a gilt copper chalice from the fifteenth century. Not far from the town is the eighteenth century convent of San Giovanni Battista that is now used for group accommodation facilities. In the locality of Valle dell'Infernaccio, on the way to Viterbo, nature has "sculpted" one of the area's most charming landscapes. The Infernaccio torrent rushes down a deep gully between basalt walls, tuff and woodlands, creating a breathtaking waterfall.

East of Celleno are Grotte Santo Stefano and Castello di Montecalvello. Montecalvello is a small village which lies about 5 km away from Grotte Santo Stefano, and is characterized by the presence of a castle of average size but of great beauty. Castello di Montecalvello belonged to Monaldeschi and was transformed into a palace from the end of'400. In 1970 the castle passed into the hands of the famous painter of contemporary art Conte Balthus Klossowski de Rola. Although Castello di Montecalvello is privately owned , the castle can be visited freely outside. You can go under a short tunnel that leads up to the sacred of the small church that has remained almost intact.

Gradoli is a nice medieval village overlooking the lake of Bolsena. Gradoli's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages. In the 13th century it was under the rule of the powerful common of Orvieto, while at the half the 16th century it was annexed to the Dukdom of Castro until it fell in the handrs of the Church a century later.

The historical centre is dominated by the impressive Palazzo Farnese, built in 1515 by Antonio Sangallo the Younger: visitors are allowee in the rooms of the palace to view the vivid grattesche decorations, friezes and paintings; in this palace is housed the Museum and Documentary Centre of Farnese Family.

Near Palazzo Farnese is the Church Collegiata of Santa Maria Maddalena, dating back to 17th century, in baroque style: don't miss the incredible 15th christening font by Isaia da Pisa. Near the Lake, within 7 km of Gradoli, there is the 15th century Church of San Magno where takes place the Rite of Forgiveness every year (19 August).
The territory of Gradoli is producing Gradoli's D.O.C. quality Aleatico, the unique liquor wine produced in Latium.

Comune Gradoli

Gradoli Map

Gradoli

Church of San Magno

Civita di Bagnoregio is noted for its striking position atop a plateau of friable volcanic tufa overlooking the Tiber river valley, in constant danger of destruction as its edges fall off, leaving the buildings built on the plateau to crumble. As of 2004, there are plans to reinforce the plateau with steel rods to prevent further geological damage.
Civita (city) as the oldest part of Bagnoregio is called, is now completely isolated from the plateau to which it was once united by a ridge.
The only access to Civita is through a light modern pedestrian bridge leading to the only remaining gate (Porta di S. Maria). The gate is protected by a tower and it is decorated with reliefs.
The city is also much admired for its architecture, some spanning several thousand years. Civita di Bagnoregio owes much of its unaltered condition to its relative isolation: the town was able to withstand most intrusions of modernity as well as the destruction wrought by two world wars.

Walking in the surroundings of Bolsena Lake.

The Monte Rufeno Natural Reserve covers a surface of 2892 hectares in the Town of Acquapendente, at the border with Umbria and Tuscany. Mixed oak woods dominate the area, where it is also possible to find Mediterranean maquis and reforestations with conifers. It has secular woods housing wildlife including, among the others, boars, eagle owls, turtles and beech martens.

www.parchilazio.it provides good information ans some marked itinertaries.
Itineraries in Monte Rufeno
Map of Nature Reserves and protected areas in Lazio

www.parks.it provides good information ans some marked itinertaries.

Just a few kilometers from Bolsena is Mezzano lake, in which are preserved the ruins of a semi-submerged town, which lies within and is protected by the Selva del Lamone Regional
Nature Reserve.
The Nature Reserve Selva del Lamone, is part of the system of areas protected by Lazio, and extends over 2002 ha. The nature reserve is situated at the extreme N.O. of the Region of Lazio, between Pitigliano and Gradolì, and forms a natural hinge between southern Tuscany and the Tuscia.
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Map
Itineraries in Selva del Lamone (it)

Il Sentiero dei Briganti (it)