Tuscia - Etruscan Towns of Lazio
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 23 January 2024
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The Tuscia - Etruscan towns of Lazio relate to an historic geographical area that now equates to the modern-day boundaries of Viterbo Province, to the north-west of Rome.
At one stage, the Tuscia region covered the whole of what we now call Tuscany as well as parts of Umbria and Lazio. The centre of the ancient Etruscan civilisation was previously known as Etruria before the Romans conquered it around the 4th century BC. There are dozens of towns within the Tuscia region that are at once aesthetically beautiful as well as fascinating to explore. |
Although the towns themselves have developed considerably over the past 2,500 years since the Roman conquest of the Etruscans, much of the culture and many of the traditions remain to this day. The original settlements were always built in defensive positions with the threat of enemy incursions a constant threat. The hill towns and borghi such as these, in many ways continue to a retain an air of caution and wariness of the neighbouring towns, an indelible part of the local character which has been passed down through so many generations.
The famous Italian campanilismo (from the word "campanile" which means bell tower), is felt strongly in Tuscia, a combination of pride for one's home town and a certain mistrust of strangers or outsiders. This can be viewed as both a positive and a negative; the upside being the slower development of modernity in terms of the architecture and the retention of traditions in every aspect of culture from the local dialects to the cooking styles, music, beliefs and morals.
The famous Italian campanilismo (from the word "campanile" which means bell tower), is felt strongly in Tuscia, a combination of pride for one's home town and a certain mistrust of strangers or outsiders. This can be viewed as both a positive and a negative; the upside being the slower development of modernity in terms of the architecture and the retention of traditions in every aspect of culture from the local dialects to the cooking styles, music, beliefs and morals.
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Each of the 30 towns listed below has been included on this list both for its aesthetic charms and worthiness of a visit. None of the towns is better or worse than any of the others, but making their way to the top are the dramatic settings of Cività di Bagnoregio and Vitorchiano.
Civita di Bagnoregio
Cività di Bagnoregio, Tuscia
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Vitorchiano
Vitorchiano, Tuscia
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Soriano nel Cimino
Soriano nel Cimino, Lazio
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Bomarzo
Bomarzo, Lazio
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Grotte di Castro
Grotte di Castro, Lazio
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Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana, Lazio
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Bassano in Teverina
Bassano in Teverina, Lazio
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Lubriano
Lubriano, Lazio
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Civitella d'Agliano
Civitella d'Agliano, Lazio
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Gradoli
Gradoli, Lazio
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Ronciglione
Ronciglione, Lazio
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Blera
Blera, Lazio
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Canepina
Canepina, Lazio
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Carbognano
Carbognano, Lazio
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Castiglione in Teverina
Castiglione in Teverina, Lazio
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Barbarano Romano
Barbarano Romano, Lazio
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Fabrica di Roma
Fabrica di Roma, Lazio
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Vetralla
Vetralla, Lazio
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San Martino al Cimino
San Martino al Cimino, Lazio
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Castel Sant'Elia
Castel Sant'Elia, Lazio
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Bassano Romano
Bassano Romano, Lazio
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Vignanello
Vignanello, Lazio
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