Montefiascone
Montefiascone
Montefiascone is a village located in the district of Lake Bolsena in the province of Viterbo. The town is located about 590 meters above sea level above the highest hill of the Volsini mountains. The town as we know it today arose in the early Middle Ages as a domain of the state of the Church in the eighth century. According to some scholars, the name Montefiascone derives from the Latin term
“ mons faliscorum “which means” relating to the people of Falisci “, who are supposed to have abandoned the area due to the Roman invasions. Montefiascone is rich in historical and architectural beauties, the constant presence of the C hurch and of the Popes in this city he left us incredible testimonies. Magnificent religious buildings such as C athedral of Santa Margherita which has a dome inspired by that of San Pietro. Montefiascone is a dream tourist destination, ideal for those looking for an alternative to the sea or the mountains, a city rich in art, nature and history as beautiful as it is simple and quiet, which is why it is extremely suitable for families even with children.
Not to be missed
Montefiascone is full of places to visit, churches, squares and monuments that tell all the historical and social phases that this city has experienced. The main attractions are:
Where to eat
The city of Montefiascone is full of typical places where you can have excellent meals based mainly on lake fish. The town is also the home of the renowned Est-Est-Est wine, a white DOC whose name derives from a pleased exclamation of the bishop Johannes Defuk, a great admirer of the drink.
Where to sleep
There are many places to stay in Montefiascone, for those who prefer to stay in the city can choose between hotels, B & Bs and apartments, while outside the historic center there are also farmhouses and residences.
Events
Montefiascone has a rich calendar of events that are repeated every year, almost all linked to local customs and traditions. The historical events of the town are: the film festival “Est film Festival” which takes place in the main square of Montefiascone in July, the wine fair in August and a rich series of traditional Christmas events entitled “Christmas in Montefiascone”.
Reviews
History
The origins of Montefiascone, like those of many other towns in the area of Lake Bolsena, date back to the Etruscan period. In this phase the area where the city stands today was called Fanum Voltumnae and it was considered a sacred place. The name of this village probably derives from the Etruscan noble family Falisci. What is known for certain is the link that Montefiascone had in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance with the church. The city enters a distant part of the territories under the control of the Holy See as early as the eighth century AD. The village reached its moment of greatest splendor in the fourteenth century, when Pope Urban V made it a strategic military center for the State of the Church. The most difficult historical moment faced by Montefiascone were the two plague epidemics which led to a general decline in the region. The city was already able between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to return to its original splendor, so much so that Montefiascone became a place of training for great intellectuals and writers.
How to reach Montefiascone
The city of Montefiascone is located in northern Lazio at km 98 of the SS2 (via Cassia), on top of a hill overlooking Lake Bolsena, about 15 km from Viterbo, 30 km from Orvieto and 40 km from Orte. It is located 100 km from Rome with which it is connected by bus cotral line or by urban public transport Italia Viaggi S.R.L.
By car
A1 / E45 northbound
– Exit Orte
– Left onto SS 204 (via Tiberina)
– After 1 km turn right on SS 675 towards Viterbo
– Exit Montefiascone
A1 / E45 southbound
– Exit Orvieto
– Right onto SS 205 (Strada Statale Amerina)
– At the roundabout 3rd exit for SS 71
– Continue on SS 71 for 27 km
By train
SS 2 (via Cassia) – km 98 Montefiascone station is located in Zepponami and is connected to the city center by bus line 2 which runs from piazzale Roma approximately every 50 minutes between 7:05 and 18:30.
From Orte
– Journey of about 40 minutes
From Viterbo Porta Fiorentina
– Journey of approximately 11 minutes
You can reach Montefiascone (Poggetto) thanks to a courier service.
From Viterbo (Riello locality)
– Journey of approximately 25 minutes
