Bolsena

Bolsena is one of the principal centres in Alta Tuscia Laziale and easily the most important town of the Bolsena Lake.

Found a few kilometres from the city of Viterbo, capital of the province of this area of Lazio, it is set amongst splendid and fascinating panoramas of the Volsini Mountains and the cultivated countryside filled with rich vineyards and olive trees, used to produce the much celebrated wine and oil of the territory.

The city of Bolsena overlooks the waters of the striking Bolsena lake, boasting wonderful scenery and landscape, presenting to visitors an enchanting centre absolutely rich in natural and cultural attractions.

Walking down the streets of its historical centre, appreciating the beauty and charm of its oldest structures is truly an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, which provides you with the opportunity to admire ancient churches, historic palazzi and secular monuments, testament to the absolutely interesting and unique history of the area.

The Laziale city is also famous for the cloister of St. Cristina, protector of the town and to whom many festivals and celebrations are dedicated to.

Not to miss:

Cappella del Miracolo (Chapel of the Miracle): the most important religious structure in the town, its construction dates back to the first years of the 17th century. Inside it is custodian to blood stained plates which symbolize the “miracle” of St. Cristina and is a fantastic example of Gothic art, home to a great deal of wonderful frescoes and ancient paintings.

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.

La Collegiata (The Collegiate): a wonderful building that is a clear example of Romanesque art, built during the 1100’s in the centre of the town. Inside you can admire splendid frescoes regarding religion and martyrdom.

Collegiata di Santa Cristina (Collegiate of St. Cristina): a fascinating sacred building built in the Romanesque style with Renaissance elements, it is located in the historic centre of Bolsena and was built on the ruins of an older oratory. Simply constructed as a grotto, it was this very location that, according to legend, witnessed the miracle of Corpus Domini.

Church of the St. Maria del Giglio: a wonderful sanctuary used by the Franciscan brothers, it is a sacred building located outside the city of Bolsena. Built in the Baroque style, the church is a symbol of art in the late Renaissance and is home to many precious works, including an altar in elegantly decorated marble, a wooden pulpit and an 18th century organ.

Palazzo del Drago: a fascinating public building located in the heart of the city of Alta Tuscia and a clear example of the Tuscan style, built during the Renaissance and home to paintings and frescoes of extraordinary charm and beauty.

Rocca Monaldeschi (Monaldeschi Fortress): principal construction of the city, located in the highest part of the city, from which you can admire some splendid views of the lake,  and was built in the second half of the 13th century for the ruling city of Orvieto. Between the 1300’s and the 1400’s it then fell to the Monaldeschi family, who assumed control after Orvieto and made some major renovations and modifications to improve the fortress’ defensive power.

City Walls of the first century A.D: today there remains only the ruins of these walls, which were made with tuff and inscribed with epigraphs.

Anfiteatro (Amphitheater): of Roman origins, it remains today the location of many interesting cultural manifestations and artistic and musical representations.

Palazzo Ranieri: a charming ancient construction in the historic centre of Bolsena, built in the Middle Ages in the Gothic style.

Territorial Museum of the Bolsena Lake: located inside the Fortress, it is an enchanting and interesting display of archaeological ruins, objects and instruments, which retell the story and the evolution of the lake. The centre holds various rooms rich in explicative panels describing the events, the history and the environment of the lake district, focusing on the various historical events of prehistory, protohistory and the Roman and Etruscan era.

History:

We know that the origins of the city of Bolsena are found in a very ancient age, more preciously during the 3rd century B.C, when, under the domination of the Roman Empire, the foundations of the town were set over the ruins of an older centre, known as Velzna.

Under the politics of the Roman Empire the town experienced a period of great economic growth and prosperity and upon the fall of the empire the town fell to the Lombards, then the Papal States, then the Monaldeschi family, before returning once more to the Papal States, who managed to maintain control until the town was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.