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 Introduction
Arrival
History and Culture
The abandoned city was repopulated starting from the early Middle Ages, with the new name of Civita Castellana (roughly meaning “City of the Castle”) mentioned first in 994. In the following centuries the city was a flourishing independent commune, often contended by the Pope and the Holy Roman Empire. Captured by Pope Paschal II at the beginning of the 12th century, was given as fief to the Savelli by Gregory XIV.
Sixtus IV assigned the city to Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, the future Pope Alexander VI, who started the construction of the Rocca (“Castle”), which was completed under Julius II.
Civita Castellana became an important road hub with the connection to the Via Flaminia (1606) and the construction of Ponte Clementino after the French victory against a Neapolitan army in 1709.
Churches and Museums
It is the undoubted star of the town, a splendid building exceptional in that the 18th century remodeling did not destroy the 12th century framework, rather showcasing it instead. The aesthetic unity of the church is partly achieved by the profusion, inside and out, of Cosmatesque work, the intricate patterns of which were created in the Middle Ages from thin slices cut from colored marble and porphyry columns left in the antique ruins: another indication of the importance of the city in Roman times.
Cathedral of Santa Maria di Pozzano
The cathedral of Santa Maria di Pozzano possesses a fine portico, erected in 1210 by Laurentius Romanus, his son Jacobus and his grandson Cosmas, in the Cosmatesque style, with ancient columns and mosaic decorations. The right portal has a rare example of Early Middle Ages Germanic figurative art, portraying a boar hunt. The interior was modernized in the 18th century, but has some fragments of cosmatesque ornamentation. The high altar is made out of a Paleo-Christian sarcophagus of the 3rd or 4th century. The ancient crypt and the old sacristy are also interesting.
Church of Saint Francisco
The church was built in the time of Leone X, in the first half of XVI the century.
Museum of the Ceramics
It opened to the public in 1996 displaying the ceramic works of several periods, mostly pertaining to the years between the 20's and the 60's of the past century. Inside the Museum are plates, manufatti and painted floor tiles, that testify the talents of the more important local ceramic masters.
Historical buildings and monuments
The Rocca (citadel) was erected by Alexander VI from the designs of Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, over pre-existing fortifications, and enlarged by Julius II and Leo X.
Palazzo Morelli
Constructed around to 1740, probably for the family of the canonical Morelli. The planners were viterbesi architects Tommaso and Giuseppe Prada.
Ponte Clementino
Ponte Clementino, the bridge by which the town is approached, belongs to the 18th century. The town also contains the ruins of the Castle of Paterno, where, on 23 January 1002, the Emperor Otto III died at the age of 22.
Events
Concerts in the open air of classic, modern and contemporary music in public square Dome are held.
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Civita Castellana Travel Guide
Single room - From 45€
Single room - From 63€
Twin room - From 75€