TUSCIA 113-127 (Inglese) 10-08-2001 15:41 Pagina 113
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TUSCIA 113-127 (inglese) 10-08-2001 15:41 Pagina 113 Alta Tuscia An ancient land overlooking the lake) and on through Tuscia (pronounced ‘too-sha’) was fertile volcanic land to Piansano, the name used by the ancient Ischia di Castro, (with the remains of Romans for what is now the Italian the ancient capital of the Farnese province of Viterbo, and once part of Duchy), and Farnese itself, near the the ancient region of Etruria, home of Selva del Lamone forest. The road to the Etruscans. This guide focuses on the coast takes in Cellere, romantic northern (‘higher’) Tuscia, an area of Pianiano, Canino (near the ancient great cultural, natural and gastro- ruins of Vulci) and to Montalto di nomic interest in northernmost Lazio, Castro almost on the Tyrrhenian Sea. bounded to the north and east by Tuscany and Umbria. Mostly over- Itineraries looked by the tourists who flock to through Tuscia Florence and Rome, the area has un- The following suggested itineraries doubtedly retained much of its an- focus on various aspects of the area’s cient charm, and has indeed changed historical past, its natural beauty, and little since medieval times when pil- on local food and drink. grims – and in later centuries trav- Further information on itineraries ellers on the ‘Grand Tour’ – headed through Tuscia can be found at down the Via Cassia (the ancient www.tuscia.org. For a complete list Roman road through Tuscia) towards of museums in the area and for the the Eternal City. Montaigne writes of itinerary maps, see pp. 16-21. his stay in these parts in 1580, Cervantes' diaries tell of a visit to the Prehistoric Tuscia area, and John Ruskin, who would This itinerary, which traces the earliest have gazed out onto the beautiful human settlements in the area, takes countryside from the windows of his in several interesting museums: at horse-drawn coach, was here in the November of 1840. Visitors coming from Rome today can ★ take the motorway to Florence and ON THE PILGRIM TRAIL: exit at Orvieto. The SS 71 leads THE VIA FRANCIGENA through beautiful unspoilt country- One of the main routes taken by side to Bolsena, a lovely old lakeside medieval pilgrims was the Via town offering superb views onto the Francigena from Canterbury to volcanic lake and its two islands. Near Rome (so called because much of the border with Tuscany to the north the journey was through France). are the attractive towns of San The final stages of this pilgrimage Lorenzo Nuovo, Acquapendente, passed through Italy, along the Proceno, and the Monte Rufeno old Longobard route linking the Nature Reserve. Po Valley with the Tuscia region, Continuing anti-clockwise round the taking in Proceno, Acquapen- lake we come to Onano, a little town dente, San Lorenzo Nuovo and perched on a crag, Grotte di Castro, Bolsena. Red, brown and orange with its caves and Etruscan tombs, information panels give today’s and the charming, panoramic town visitors something of a feel for the of Gradoli. This is the territory over countryside through which the which the Farnese family held sway pilgrims would have walked (local during the Renaissance. information centres also provide Further south we come to ancient maps and illustrative material). Latera, to Valentano (another town 113 TUSCIA 113-127 (inglese) 10-08-2001 15:41 Pagina 114 ITINERARIES Valentano (with finds from Lake necropolises are well documented in Mezzano), Ischia di Castro (docu- the Vulci museum. Beautiful Etruscan menting the Aeneolithic necropolis tombs can also be seen at Grotte di over which a Roman villa was built) Castro (Necropoli di Pianezze) and at and Bolsena (presenting lake- the Etrusco-Roman excavations of dwellings dating back to the 9th Poggio Moscini; other Etruscan cent. BC and Villanovan finds from finds are displayed in the museum at the Turona Park). Bolsena. The Etruscans The Farnese Legend has it that the Etruscan site of The main towns tracing the history of Vulci was discovered in 1828 when the illustrious family that ruled over an ox pulling a plough fell into a the area in Renaissance times are tomb filled with burial gifts. But pil- Capodimonte (Rocca Farnese), laging of the tombs was already tak- Valentano (Museo della Rocca Far- ing place in the previous century forc- nese), Farnese (Museo Rittatore ing the pontifical government to in- Vonwiller, church of Sant'Anna), La- tervene in 1802 to put a stop to the tera (Palazzo Ducale), Gradoli (Mu- thefts. Vulci, with its majestic seo del Costume Farnesiano), Grotte Abbadia bridge, is surely the most at- di Castro (Palazzo Comunale), and mospheric of the area’s many the archaeological site of Castro, the Etruscan sites (revealed to 19th-cen- centre of the Farnese duchy that was tury Europe by the Romantic traveller razed to the ground by its arch-rival George Dennis), and finds from the Pope Innocent X in 1649. FOOD AND WINE IN ALTA TUSCIA ETRUSCAN EATING craft-based concerns, all marked for Restaurants and trattorie through- tourists by special road signs. The out Alta Tuscia serve delicious, area is no less famous for its olive oil, wholesome local cuisine, and many especially the oil made around Lake special food festivals are held in cele- Bolsena and in Canino. bration of the area’s uniquely- In an area of woods and rivers game flavoured produce, from Valentano and fish are of course in plentiful chick peas, Onano lentils and Gra- supply (mushrooms also feature doli’s famous beans of purgatory, to prominently in many dishes). And in Proceno garlic, Canino asparagus, the centuries since the marshes Acquapendente special cereal called were drained, Alta Tuscia has also “farro del Pungolo” and Bolsena had grazing land for its livestock tomatoes. Many of the local special- farms, providing beef and lamb. ities – some of them dating back to Porchetta, or roast sucking-pig, is Etruscan times – are unique to the one of the most popular kinds of area. Honey (for which Mt. Rufeno pork, and a wide range of charcu- is famed) features in many sweet terie products is available. Good lo- and even savoury dishes. cal cheeses are also to be found, for Wine is produced here to Italy’s usu- example pecorino, one by-product al high standards. The best-known of local sheep-farming activities. local quality wines are Aleatico Adding further to the variety of (Gradoli) and Est!Est!Est! (Monte- foods are the vegetables and pulses fiascone). The Alta Tuscia Wine that grow in abundance in these Route linking Acquapendente, parts. As for desserts, many of the Proceno, Onano, Bolsena, San local biscuits, cakes and pastries, Lorenzo Nuovo, Gradoli, Grotte di made using local ricotta cheese, Castro, Latera and Valentano, was nuts and so on, are associated with set up to promote ‘gastronomic the yearly festivals (Carnival and tourism’, and connects up the most Easter in particular). traditional trattorie, farm holiday es- For a full list of local dishes see pp. tablishments, fish farms and other 12-15. 114 TUSCIA 113-127 (inglese) 10-08-2001 15:41 Pagina 115 ACQUAPENDENTE The Monaldeschi castles The Monaldeschi were another pow- ★ THE MONTE RUFENO erful family in medieval and NATURE RESERVE Renaissance times, whose castles can This 2,890-hectare park on the bor- be seen at Bolsena, Torre Alfina, der between Umbria and Tuscany Trevinano and Onano. north-east of Acquapendente is an unspoilt area of woods, waterfalls Brigandry and wildlife. Visitors on foot can Tuscia borders on the Lazio section of follow the well-marked nature the Maremma coastal area, known for trails or hire horses and bikes (de- its horse-riding holidays. One popular tails at the Visitors’ Centre, tel. equestrian excursion explores some of 0763 733642). There are also picnic the beautiful out-of-the-way places areas, a campsite, and a flower mu- where brigands once sought refuge. seum. Various educational tours are organised. Five of its 32 ancient Religion farmhouses offer accommodation, Crossed by one of Europe’s main pil- and those who have booked a stay grimage trails (see box p. 113), Tuscia in the reserve may enter by car. The is filled with chapels, shrines and Monte Rufeno park area is open monasteries that tell of the area’s de- from one hour before sunrise to votional past and the miraculous one hour after sunset. For accomo- events traditionally believed to have dation, see pp. 32-33. taken place here. Nature own tourist information office is in Alta Tuscia is an area of exceptional Via Rugarella 10, tel. 0763 711228). and generally unspoilt natural beau- Of uncertain origin – though proba- ty. As well as Lake Bolsena (and the bly an Etruscan and later Roman tiny Lake Mezzano), the main areas town before its destruction – it of environmental interest are the achieved a certain importance in me- Monte Rufeno Reserve and the La- dieval times as a waystage for pil- mone Forest. grims heading for Rome (see box p. 113). Much fought over by the Food and drink Church and the imperial powers, it The area’s gastronomic delights (see eventually became a free town in box p. 114) will not disappoint. 1443 and grew in the centuries that Locally-grown produce is trans- followed. One of the best points of formed into mouth-watering dishes entry into the town from the Via everywhere, and most towns cele- Cassia is near the Cathedral (Basilica brate their food in a whole range of di San Sepolcro), which has an im- local festivals during the year. pressive façade flanked by two bell- towers and an ancient stone portal.