Tuscia, now part of the province of Viterbo and one of the most culturally fascinating districts of northern Lazio, is an ancient Etruscan domain of which precious little is known. For years, travelers have sought to discover the secrets hidden in the remains left behind by the ancient civilization which used to inhabit these lands.
Bolsena, an important town for the Etruscans, was also, centuries later, the setting for the miracle of Saint Cristina. In 292, the saint was tied to a stone and thrown into the eponymous lake, only to be brought back to shore by the stone itself. It was in the church dedicated to the saint that the Miracle of Bolsena took place and led to the institution of the Christian celebration of Corpus Christi. The Viterbo area has plenty of other monuments from later ages such as the Church of Montefiascone e di Bolsena, and Bisentina Island, where Sangallo il Giovane built the Farnese palace. The famous Farnese palace at Caprarola deserves special mention. It was from here that the Farnese family set out on military conquest and eventually reached the height of power in the form of a pontificate (Paul III). As it ranges from sea shore and lowland plain to a hilly terrain dotted with lakes, and finally the Cimini Mountains, this one area encapsulates many of the topographical features traditionally associated with the Italian countryside. The buildings are constructed using the local tufaceous rock and contrast quite sharply with the profusion of marble and stucco that is so typical of Roman architecture.
