Stories and Secrets of Viterbo

Viterbo is a medieval walled town with a rich historical tapestry dating back to the 1100s. On this walking tour, you'll explore Europe's best-preserved medieval quarter while discovering the stories and secrets hidden within its ancient streets. From papal connections and noble dynasties to legendary local beauties and unusual traditions, Viterbo offers a fascinating glimpse into Italy's past, preserved in stone and celebrated through vibrant modern traditions.

The tour starts at Porta Romana, the grand arched entrance for travelers coming from Rome. You'll weave through the city's historic center, passing Renaissance palaces with frescoed interiors and medieval towers built by powerful families as symbols of wealth and prestige. Along the way, you'll learn about the five popes who ruled from Viterbo when Rome became too dangerous, see where the first papal conclave was held, and discover how the city earned its nickname as the town of beautiful fountains and beautiful women.

You'll explore the magnificently preserved medieval quarter of San Pellegrino, where stepping into its magical piazza feels like traveling back in time. You'll discover profferlo staircases, swallow-tail battlements, hidden gardens, and centuries-old wine cellars beneath the ancient buildings. The tour ends at Porta San Pietro, another of the city's historic gateways, where you can admire the magnificent Palazzo Pamphili and learn about the remarkably powerful Donna Olympia, sister-in-law to Pope Innocent X.

During this 90-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

• Visit Piazza San Lorenzo, where you'll see the Papal Palace where five popes lived and the first papal conclave was held
• Discover the history of the spectacular Macchina di Santa Rosa, a 30-meter-high candlelit tower carried through darkened streets by 100 men
• Explore picturesque medieval architecture with distinctive outside staircases, swallow-tail battlements, and defensive towers
• See the ornate Fontana Grande, a beautiful stepped fountain dating from the 1200s
• Admire Renaissance palaces adorned with frescoed rooms and triple-arched loggias
• Learn about Bella Galiana, the legendary local beauty whose tragic story is commemorated in a white sarcophagus
• Wander through streets used as movie sets thanks to their perfectly preserved medieval character
• Visit workshops of local artisans and designers who bring modern creativity to these ancient surroundings
• Stop in the new Museum dei Portici located in the city hall (Palazzo dei Priori) to admire the Sebastiano del Piombo paintings inspired by Michelangelo.
• Discover the Macchina di S. Rosa a 30 meter tower carried through darkened streets each September 3rd by 100 men called Porters of S. Rosa. Their museum is in the San Pellegrino quarter.

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the medieval splendor of Viterbo, where each stone tells a story and every corner reveals a new secret from the past.