Canino

Canino is a small town in the province of Viterbo, a short distance away from the wonderful panoramas of the Bolsena Lake.

The town is located on the boarder of the two splendid regions of Tuscany and Lazio, immersed in the fascinating views offered by Bassa Maremma and Alta Tuscia, in an extraordinary location rich in natural and artistic beauty of great preciousness and exceptional interest.

The landscape which surrounds the town of Canino is characteristic for the presence of hills and rivers, rich in vineyards and olive trees. In fact the territory is quite famous for the production of oil and wine of the highest quality and notoriety.

The town of Alto Lazio is definitely notable for its ancient Etruscan origins and for the great fascination and absolute beauty of the village itself, rich in elegant architecture, stunning works of art, palazzi and ancient monuments, testimony to an extremely interesting and curious history.

By walking down the streets of the village of Canino you can have the extraordinary opportunity to admire and appreciate every unique element the fantastic centre has to offer and be stunned by the splendor of its constructions and its breathtaking panorama.

Not to miss:

Church of the Santa Croce: a very old structure in the Romanesque style, recently restructured, it is a building extremely rich in works of art and fascinating paintings, including the splendid fresco depicting the “Deposizione” (Deposition), painted in the 16th century.

Collegiata dei Santi Aspotoli Giovanni and Andrea (Collegiate of the Saint Apostles Giovanni and Andrea): one of the principal sacred buildings of the city, it dates back to the 18th century and was placed over the ruins of an older religious construction most likely built in the 1400’s.

The collegiate provides visitors with a fascinating example of the neoclassic style, which is extraordinarily rich in architectonics and religious works of art and is home to the splendid “ Cappella Bonaparte” (Bonaparte Chapel), famous for the presence of marble sculptures and columns and some wonderful ancient frescoes, including “ La Natività” (The Nativity) and “La Madonna e Santi” (The Madonna and the Saints).

Convent of St. Francesco: built just outside the centre of the city during the 1400’s, it is home to some stunning frescoes, including “La Madonna con Bambino e Santi” (The Madonna with Baby and Saints) and “Saint’Antonio da Padova” (Saint Antonio of Padova).

The cloisters are also decorated with marble sculptures and columns depicting various animals.

Church of the St. Maria della Neve: the newest religious structure in Canino, it was consecrated in 1973 and is a very interesting building which has assumed the name of a pre- existent religious structure found in the countryside of Lazio.

Church of the Madonna del Suffragio: of which the original structure, realized in the first half of the 18th century, there remains only a few architectonic elements, the rest was completely rebuilt in a more recent era.

Church of the Madonna della Mosse: built just outside of the town, it is a 17th century building, originally known as the Church dei Ringraziamenti and is home to some wonderful ancient frescoes.

Still outside the city of Canino are the ruins of the ancient Church of the Madonna del Tufo: dating back to the 1300’s and 1400’s, it is today completely abandoned. In the 19th century however, it held some importance as the burial place of those who died from a tremendous epidemic of typhus fever.

Palazzo Communale: built during 1696 it served as the Palazzo of Justice and home of the Podestà (the highest civil post in medieval Italy) and the state prison.

Palazzo Miccinelli: an enchanting construction dating back to the second half of the 15th century and famous for its wonderful portal, built sometime during the 16th century.

Palazzo Bonaparte: a wonderful building attributed to the architect Valadier, who also renovated it in the first years of the 1800’s for Luciano Bonaparte. The palazzo is custodian of extraordinary examples of art and architectonics, as well as some fascinating frescoes which decorate the inside walls.

The Theatre: built in the second half of the 19th century, today there remains only the splendid facade of the original building, which was recently renovated. The inside is extremely beautiful and fascinating, characteristic for the presence of two stages and a large gallery.

Il Castellardo: a wonderful fortress located outside the town of Canino, it was built sometime prior to the 12th century. Today however, there remains only the ruins of this once magnificent fortress, which is rich in an absolutely enthralling history, characterized by the domination of the Papal States, the city of Montefiascone, the Orsini Counts and Canino itself.

National Archaeological Museum of Canino: a fascinating exhibition of ruins, objects and ancient utensils found in nearby archaeological sites, which help to retell the history and evolution of the territory. The Museum can be found in the Castello dell’Abbadia (Castle of the Abbadia).

History:

Regarding the history of Canino, we know that its origins can be found in the Etruscan period, before becoming an important centre under the domination of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages the centre fell to the Farnese family, who brought about a period of great development and prosperity. In the following centuries the town became a possession of the Dukedom of Castro and then of the city of Canino itself, before passing into the hands of the Papal States, who maintained power until it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.