Montefiascone

Famous for the production of the very high quality and nationally and internationally recognized and appreciated wine “l’Est!Est!!Est!!!”, Montefiascone is seen as a charming centre in the province of Viterbo.

A short distance from the western coast of the fabulous Bolsena Lake, the town is immersed in the extraordinary natural landscapes of Alta Tuscia, with panoramas characteristic for the presence of numerous vineyards and an extraordinary richness of forests and greenery.

Montefiascone is set between the enchanting peaks of the Volsini Mountains and can boast a variety of incredibly beautiful environments, filled with hills, plains and cultivated fields.

The town itself, offers visitors the opportunity to admire and appreciate the extraordinary beauty of its oldest constructions, its churches and its historic monuments, through what is an extremely pleasant and unforgettable experience.

Visiting the ancient architecture and walking down the streets of Montefiascone is the best way to learn of the amazing history and past of this very old town, coming in contact with a culture and an art that never fails to fascinate all who see it.

Another intriguing detail about Montefiascone lies in the interesting legend attached to the name of its local wine.

The legend suggests that the Abbot Giovanni Defux was traveling towards Rome, accompanied on his journey by the most loyal of his servants, Martino, who was a  great lover of wine and viticulture.

In fact, every time they passed a town or village Martino would recount the most important inns that served the best wines.Martino would then, as a signal to the patron, write on the door of those inns “Est!”.

After a few days the abbot arrived at Montefiascone and sent Martino to the most  important inn to taste the wine. The servant, who was amazed by the good taste of the local product, remained so pleased and ecstatic that this time, instead of just the usual signal, decided to write on the inn door “Est!!Est!!Est!!!” and so, according to the legend, comes the name of the wine of Montefiascone.

Not to miss:

Church of St Flaviano: the oldest building in Montefiascone, it was built just outside the town, on the ancient outline of the street Via Francigena and is decorated on the inside with numerous precious works of art. The building itself is a clear example of Romanesque art but has undergone many reconstructions throughout the centuries and now also carries interesting architectonic elements of gothic art.

Cathedral of St. Margherita: an extraordinary religious structure embellished with an enormous cupola, famous all across Italy. Built in the 15th century, it is home to an absolutely splendid wooden Crucifix and the relics of the saint in which the church was dedicated to.

Church of St. Maria: built in the 1500’s outside of the town, it is custodian of some precious works of art by the famous Renaissance artist Sangallo il Giovane.

Church of St. Andrea: Romanesque building immersed in the countryside of Alta Tuscia Laziale, extremely close to the city of Montefiascone and was built on the ruins of an older religious building during the year 1000.

Rocca dei Papi (Fortress of the Popes): a fortified building located on the highest part of the town and built during the Middle Ages as the residence of the important figures of the era, including the Pontiffs Giulio II, Urban V and Urban X. The fortress was then renovated in subsequent centuries and today hosts numerous shows and cultural manifestations.

Palazzo Comunale: with medieval origins this wonderful building is embellished with an impressive bell tower.

Palazzo Renzi, The Well named after Urban V and the splendid Porta Aldrovandi (Aldrovandi Door), which was constructed in the 16th century as one of the accesses into the fortified city.

Museum of the Architecture of Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane: an interesting exhibition of works of graphics and design by the artist Sangallo. The centre is spread across numerous rooms and is housed in the Rocca dei Papi (Fortress of the Popes), providing you with the opportunity to appreciate the works of this amazing artist, as well as admire reproductions of his principal constructions.

History:

The origins of the city of Montefiascone lie in a very old period, in fact, many believe that the original settlement was constructed by the population of Falisci, as indicated by the original name of the town “Mons Faliscorum”.

In the subsequent centuries the centre became an important dominion of the Etruscans and the Romans, before becoming part of the Diocese of Tuscania in the 9th century.

Montefiascone then fell under Enrico IV, the Farnese family, the Ildebrandini, the Dukedom of Tuscany and the Papal States before being annexed by the Kingdom of Italy during the 1870’s.