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BOLSENA LAKE: THE BIGGEST VULCANIC LAKE IN EUROPE
Bolsena is a small town, with Etruscan-Roman origins, on the homonymous lake. The Bolsena lake is the biggest volcanic lake in Europe but it also stands out for is purple color at nightfall, giving as marvelous sunsets. In the Bolsena lake there are two islands, called Martana and Bisentina. Island Bisentina, specifically, was visited by several Popes, reason why it features seven churches, wonderful Italian style gardens besides century-old plants. Now days even if visiting isn’t allowed, you can go around it and admire it from up close thanks to some ferries that leave from the nearby towns. The ancient origins of Bolsena can be witnessed today due to plenty of attractions of historical or archeological nature. On the hills, behind the modern town center you can visit the remains of the Etrustan city, while the castle and the inner village part of town, very well preserved, represent the medieval core which ends with the Basilica of Saints Giorgio and Cristina.
BOLSENA CASTLE
The Rocca Monaldeschi of the Cervara house holds the territorial museum of Lake Bolsena, with important findings that date back to the iron age, found right into the waters of the lake in addition to several medieval and renaissance-era ceramics. Inside the castle there’s also a fresh-water aquarium with fishes from the lake.
1263AD CORPUS DOMINI EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE OF BOLSENA
In the summer of 1263, a bohemian priest, called Peter of Prague, began doubting the real presence of Jesus in the consecrated host and wine. Then the priest went on a pilgrimage to Rome to pray at Peter’s tomb and put behind his doubts: his stay in Rome reassured him and he embarked on the way back. Traveling along via Cassia he stopped to stay overnight in Bolsena, where the faith doubts attacked him again. The next day he celebrated mass in the Grotta of Saint Cristina. This episode was captured by Raphael in 1512 in the famous fresco of the Mass of Bolsena and it is remembered by a Latin epigraph located in the place of the miracle. According to what was passed on by the tradition, in the moment of the consecration the host started bleeding on the corporal. Frightened and confused, the priest, trying to hide it, concluded the celebration, wrapped the host in the linen corporal, and hurried into the sacristy. Throughout the way, some drops of blood fell on the marble floor and on the steps of the altar. Peter of Prague went right away to Pope Urban IV, who was in Orvieto, to report the fact. The pontiff Afterwards sent the bishop of Orvieto to Bolsena to verify the story and recover the relics, Urban IV declared the supernatural nature of what had happened and to remember it on August 11 year 1264 he extended to the whole church the solemnity called Corpus Domini, born 1247 in the diocese of Liege to celebrate
the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This opposed to the thesis of Berengar the Tours, according to which the Eucharistic presence of Christ wasn’t real, but just symbolic. Afterward, Urban IV assigned to Tommaso d’Aquino the task of preparing the texts for the liturgy of the hours, for the mass of the feast and he established that Corpus Christi should be celebrated on the first thursday after the octave Pentecost.
(taken from Wikipedia.)
ORVIETO: AN ETRUSCAN ORIGIN CITY, 23 KM FROM BOLSENA
Its ancient origins can be admired in the Crocifisso del Tufo Necropolis, dating back to the Etruscan period and situated at the base of the cliff of Orvieto.
Of notable importance is the Orvieto Cathedral, built by the order of Pope Urban IV following the Eucharistic miracle that took place in Bolsena in 1263. It presents a magnificent Gothic façade adorned with beautiful bas-reliefs, splendid mosaics, and a large rose window rich in exquisite decorations.
Inside, in the Chapel of the Corporal, a splendid reliquary of medieval goldsmithing houses the liturgical linen soaked with blood during the miraculous Mass of Bolsena.
Within the ancient city, you’ll also find the Palazzo dei Sette with the Torre del Moro and the Pozzo di San Patrizio, constructed in 1527. The well is a remarkable feat of hydraulic engineering created to ensure the water supply of the overlying Albornoz rock in the event of a siege or conflict.
The city also holds other treasures below its surface. Just a short walk from the Cathedral, you’ll discover Orvieto Underground, an underground complex consisting of tunnels and cavities, workshops, and olive oil mills, excavated since the 9th century B.C., which ensured the survival of the inhabitants on the surface for millennia.
rappresentazione dei misteri di santa cristina
Christina of Bolsena, also known as Christine of Bolsena, or in the Eastern Orthodox Church as Christina the Great martyr,[1] is venerated as a virgin martyr of the third century. Archaeological excavations of an underground cemetery constructed over her tomb have shown that she was venerated at Bolsena by the fourth century. The existence of Christina is poorly attested. Some versions of her legend place her in Tyre (Phoenicia), while other evidence points to Bolsena, an ancient town in central Italy near an Etruscan settlement called Volsinium. There were found some catacombs in which were the remains of an early Christian church and the tomb of a female martyr. Inscriptions at the site confirmed the martyr had a name like “Christina”, and that the local community was already venerating her as a saint by the end of the fourth century. Some corroborating evidence is also provided by a sixth-century mosaic in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, which includes a procession of virgins, one of which is a saint named Christina wearing a martyr’s crown.
Christina is an early virgin Christian martyr. By the ninth century, an account of her martyrdom was composed, which developed many variants. According to these, she was born either in Tyre (Eastern stories) or in Persia (Western stories) during the third century or fifth century.
She was born into a rich family, and her father was governor of Tyre. By the age of 11, the girl was exceptionally beautiful, and many wanted to marry her. Christina’s father, however, envisioned that his daughter should become a pagan priestess. To this end, he placed her in a special dwelling where he had set up many gold and silver idols, and he commanded his daughter to burn incense before them. Two servants also attended Christina.
According to some accounts, Christina was once visited by an angel, who instructed her in the Christian religion. The angel then called her a bride of Christ and told her about her future suffering. Christina then smashed all the idols in her room and threw the pieces out the window. On visiting his daughter, Christina’s father, Urbanus, asked her where all the idols had disappeared. Christina was silent, but upon summoning the two servants, Urbanus learned the truth from them.
Urbanus had his daughter tortured because of her faith, but God thwarted his efforts. The nature of her torture varies with each source, and can include iron hooks, grilling by fire, placement in a furnace, torture on the wheel, assault by snakes, assailment by arrows, and other assorted methods, all of which she survives. After her father’s death, his successor Dion continued to torture her. Christina is eventually beheaded.
The entry for her in the 2004 Roman Martyrology:
At Bolsena in Tuscany, Saint Christina, Virgin and Martyr. This virgin, believing in Christ, when had broken the gold and silver idols of her father, and had distributed their fragments to the poor, swas torn to pieces by the order of the same father with lashes, and was tortured with other tortures, and thrown into the lake with a great weight of stone, but was saved by an angel. Then, under another judge, her father’s successor, she constantly endured more severe tortures; lastly … behind the burning furnace, where she remained unharmed for five days, after the serpents had been overcome by the power of Christ, she completed the course of her martyrdom … being pierced with arrows.
Christina was once included in the General Roman Calendar; the older Tridentine Calendar gave her a commemoration within the Mass of the Vigil of Saint James the Great. When Pope Pius XII suppressed this vigil as part of his 1955 reforms, celebration of Saint Christina became a “simple” and by 1960, a “commemoration”. The 1969 revision omitted her from that calendar, “because nothing is known of this virgin and martyr apart from her name and her burial at Bolsena”, but not from the Martyrology, the official list of recognized saints.
According to the present rubrics of the Roman Missal, Saint Christina may be celebrated with a “memorial” everywhere on her feast day, unless in some locality a different, obligatory celebration is assigned to that day.
(Source Wikipedia)
Over the centuries the memory and devotion of the city of Bolsena has remained unchanged, every year on 23 and 24 July solemn liturgical and folkloristic celebrations remember the martyrdom.
Of particular interest the so-called “Mysteries of Santa Cristina”: a scenic representation of the deeds of Santa Cristina, dozens and dozens of characters give life to scenes or better paintings. Women, men, girls, boys and children, posing and motionless give life to a huge “picture” 3D.
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO: "THE DYING CITY", 12KM FROM BOLSENA
Civita is a tiny hamlet of Bagnoregio, located just 12 km from Bolsena. Today, it’s one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, famous as “the dying city” due to its extreme fragility.
Civita di Bagnoregio is perched on a delicate tuff hill and is susceptible to erosion from climatic agents. It is surrounded by the vast valley of “Calanchi,” which gives it a highly evocative and surreal appearance. It’s connected to the outside world by a long footbridge, only accessible by foot. This bridge was built for the few remaining residents and for tourists who wish to visit the village.
Of notable interest is also the tomb of Saint Bonaventure. Every year, during the Christmas season, Civita di Bagnoregio, with its extraordinary beauty, becomes the setting for a captivating Living Nativity scene.
MONTEFIASCONE: NATURAL OVERLOOK ON LAKE BOLSENA
A strategic hill rising 640 meters above sea level, it overlooks the entire Alta Tuscia region. Due to its crucial strategic position, it was chosen by numerous Popes and Cardinals as a privileged retreat from Rome.
Perched on the hill, the Rocca dei Papi stands prominently. It was also the location of the “mint,” where “papalini” coins were minted. On the side of the hill, the Cathedral of Santa Margherita dominates. With its expansive dome, it’s visible from almost all towns in the Viterbo area of Alta Tuscia. After St. Peter’s in Rome and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, it boasts the third largest dome in Italy. Inside, aside from valuable frescoes, you can find a remarkable Robbian altarpiece and a marble statue of Santa Margherita.
Montefiascone is also renowned for producing the famous wine EST! EST!! EST!!!.
VITERBO, SAN PELLEGRINO ONE OF THE LARGEST AND BEST PRESERVED MEDIEVAL DISTRICTS IN EUROPE
Viterbo, the provincial capital, surrounded by crenellated medieval walls, boasts an extensive historic center with aristocratic palaces, monuments enriched with significant artworks, numerous churches, and cloisters from various eras. It also features picturesque historic neighborhoods, such as the San Pellegrino Quarter, a prime example of 13th-century architecture.
Historically, Viterbo is renowned as the “City of the Popes.” From the 13th century, it served as a papal seat and saw the election of various Popes. Of magnificent beauty is the Palazzo dei Papi, where the first and longest conclave in the history of the Catholic Church’s papacy took place.
The city is also famous for the transport of the Macchina di Santa Rosa, a traditional and spectacular event held every year for over 750 years on the evening of September 3rd in honor of the patron saint. The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a 30-meter-tall structure weighing 50 quintals, illuminated by hundreds of lights and carried on the shoulders of a hundred men known as “Facchini di Santa Rosa” through the city’s streets. Since 2013, the Macchina di Santa Rosa has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Viterbo, in addition to being known as the City of the Popes, is renowned for its thermal waters with exceptional therapeutic properties. In the vicinity of the city, you’ll also find Bagnaia with the splendid Villa Lante, an architectural gem of the 16th century with enchanting Italian gardens. Caprarola hosts the famous Palazzo Farnese, a splendid pentagonal fortress overlooking a characteristic village. Initially built by the Farnese for defensive purposes, it was later transformed into a summer residence by Cardinal Alessandro il Giovane, who entrusted the project to Vignola.
TUSCANIA: ART CITY OF THE VITERBO PROVINCE
Tuscania is an art city in the province of Viterbo, nestled in a beautiful countryside that is now largely a natural reserve. The two architectural gems of Tuscania are found outside the urban center: the “Basilica of San Pietro,” which stands imposingly on the hill of the ancient Etruscan acropolis, is an extraordinary example of the early Romanesque style with overlaid influences from various sources.
Another architectural masterpiece is the “Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore,” also with ancient origins and inspired by the early style but more richly decorated. Of particular importance are the 14th-century frescoes inside, such as the “Universal Judgment” that adorns the arch of the apse.
Beautiful is the “Fontana delle sette Cannelle,” the city’s oldest fountain dating back to the Etruscan period, with the “Palazzo Tartaglia” standing behind it. Noteworthy is “Piazza Basile,” where the church of San Francesco is located, featuring the splendid frescoes of the “Sparapane Chapel” on its back.
tARQUINIA: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SETTLEMENTS OF ETRUSCAN CIVILIZATION
Of great archaeological significance is the Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, stretching across 750 hectares and comprising over 6,000 underground tombs.
Particularly noteworthy is the Montarozzi Necropolis, where in the tombs with rock-carved chambers and tumuli, extraordinary paintings are preserved, providing insight into ancient art and the daily life of this remarkable civilization.
Inside the picturesque “Palazzo Vitelleschi” in the historic center of the city, you can visit the National Etruscan Museum. The museum houses numerous artifacts, including a series of sarcophagi made of nenfro and limestone. In the Hall of Arms, an altarpiece from the 4th century BC is preserved – the famous “Winged Horses,” which were part of the decoration of the Temple of the Queen’s Altar.
VULCI: ANCIENT ETRUSCAN CITY
Vulci is an ancient Etruscan city that is now part of the territory of Montalto di Castro in the province of Viterbo.
Vulci was one of the largest city-states in Etruria with a strong maritime and commercial development with Greece and the East, as evidenced by the necropolises surrounding the city where thousands of tombs of various shapes and types are found. Among the most famous tombs are the “Cuccumelletta,” the “Rotonda,” the “Francois Tomb,” and the “Tomb of the Bulls.”
Among the most remarkable monuments is the “Castello” of Vulci (also known as Castello dell’Abbadia), which was built near a bridge called the “Rainbow Bridge,” constructed by the Romans on pre-existing Etruscan foundations. The castle, however, was built in the 12th century by Cistercian monks on the site of an old abbey previously destroyed by Saracen raids.
Noteworthy as well is the “Archaeological Museum” of Vulci, housed within the “Castello dell’Abbadia,” where you can admire Etruscan and Greek ceramics, bronzes, sarcophagi, and more. Additionally, there is the “Mitreo” of Vulci, also in the province of Viterbo, attached to a domus dating back to the late 2nd century AD. The “Mitreo,” destroyed at the end of the 4th century AD, consisted of two rooms: an antechamber and a place of worship. Objects of particular interest have been found in the worship area, while the statue on display is a replica, with the original being preserved in the Museum of Castello dell’Abbadia.
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