Grotto di Castro

Immersed amongst the fascinating scenery of the Alta Tuscia Laziale, in the heart of the province of Viterbo, you can found the Grotto di Castro, a charming city located very few kilometres from the striking waters of the Bolsena Lake; between panoramas and natural landscapes of absolute beauty and great fascination, which never fail to amaze all those who visit Grotto di Castro.

The Laziale village is situated about twenty kilometres from the city of Viterbo, in a territory extraordinarily rich in forests, valleys and cultivated fields, truly fascinating and embellished by long stretches of vineyards and olive trees.

The town of Grotto di Castro is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and fascinating areas of the Tuscia.

In fact walking amongst its streets and alleys you cannot help but admire and appreciate the beauty and charm of its ancient churches, custodian of precious works of art and frescoes of extraordinary beauty; as well as historical monuments and grand palazzi, which at one time served as the residence of significant civil and religious figures.

The village itself is truly unique and rich in medieval and Renaissance art, which are a testament to the extraordinarily ancient culture of this amazing zone.

Not to miss:

Basilica of St. Giovanni Battista: a very beautiful religious construction dating back to the 1600’s, inside is enchanting and wonderful, embellished by religious paintings and frescoes; an altar dedicated to the Madonna and a statue depicting the Madonna del Suffragio (Madonna of the Suffrage).

Church of St. Pietro: built for the Countess Matilde di Canossa,  the building has undergone numerous reconstructions and renovations, leaving very little of the architectonic elements of the original 10th century building.

Palazzo Comunale: a state building dating back to the 1500’s designed by the famous artist Vignola and embellished with precious architectonic elements, including the striking stone steps.

Palazzo del Podestà: a splendid ancient construction dating back to the 15th century and once housed an oil mill. Today the palazzo is instead the location of a very interesting museum.

La Necropoli delle Pianezze (Necropolis of the Pianezze): just outside the town of  Grotto di Castro, this interesting archaeological site houses numerous tombs that date back to the period between the 7th century and 6th century B.C, including the very famous “Tombe Rossa” (Red Tomb).

Antiquarium: a sort of religious display located underground in the Basilica of St. Giovanni Battista, which holds an extraordinary exhibition of religious objects, relics, ancient papyrus and sacred items.

Civic Museum: a fascinating centre divided into an Etruscan section and medieval section, which retells of the history and the events which have occurred in the territory during these two determined historic periods. In the Etruscan section you can find ruins and objects that were found in funeral urns in the nearby necropolises. Whilst the medieval section holds a great number of ancient documents, graphics and reconstructions.

History:

Of what we know, the origins of this town, as indicated by discovered documents, lies somewhere during the age of the Etruscans, who created a centre extremely close to the Tiro Stream.

After the Etruscans and the Roman Empire, the town fell into the hands of the Lombards and the Saraceni.

During the 1500’s the town became part of the possessions of the Farnese family, then the Papal States; until being annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in the 1800’s.