Municipality of Civita Castellana
Lat. 42.28562 Long. 12.41452
P.zza Matteotti, 3
01033 Civita Castellana (VT) Italy
Tel. ++39 07615901
(83,28 square km with 15454 inhabitants: Civitonici)
It is one of the biggest towns in the province of Viterbo. It is located at about 32 km from the capital of province, at 145 metres above sea-level , on a tufaceous tableland , in the eastern side of the Monti Cimini.
The territory is rich in streams, the soil mostly tufaceous is rich in clay, that depending on the presence or lack of iron oxide, takes on very particular hues.
This clay, of very excellent quality , gave birth to a flourishing ceramic industry, whose origin probably dates back to the Etruscan age.
The town was rebuilt around the 8th century and 9th century on the area occupied by the Etruscan village of Falerii Veteres, destroyed by the Romans in 241 B.C. In 998 Gregory V named Civita Castellana civitas, later the territory was contended by two families, the Savelli and the Vico and later it was ruled by the Sforza who built there the fortress.
Later Civita Castellana became famous because of its unhappy associations, degraded from papal residence to prison, as numerous patriots were imprisoned there and condemned to death by the Papal Government because of their political conspiracy in favour of their unity of Italy.
It became a border town between the decadent Papal state, supported by the French troops and GaribaldiÕs soldiers of the future kingdom of Italy and in 1870, with the conquest of Rome and the defeat of Napoleon III, after a shirt struggle it surrendered to General Cadorna .
PLACES TO VISIT
The fortress
It was built at the end of 1400 on a pre-existent edifice, probably a small fortress. The building was ordered by Alessamndro Borgia for his son
Cesare and was designed by Antonio Sangallo, the Elder.
The cathedral
It was built in the 12th century and later modified in 1700.
On its inside it is possible to admire a 15th century Font , a15th century Roman school canvas and a 14th century fresco.
The church of St. Francis
It is a characteristic and beautiful church with the inside dating back to 1700. In the parochial house there are a tablet and a painting very well kept;
the first is attributed to Sano di Pietro and the second to Antoniazzo Romano.
