Viterbo is the true “beating heart” of Tuscia. The town saw its greatest splendor in the middle ages, but its history is a long and varied one. The antique ceramic tradition reveals all its secrets spanning across the millennia.
Viterbo is a town of 65,000 inhabitants and was first settled by the Etruscans, whose traces were discovered right on the hill where the Cathedral now stands. In Roman times, the city became astrategic intersection along the busy Via Cassia. In the 12th century, work began on the city’s massive defense walls, which are wholly intact even today. The material used was peperino, a characteristic local volcanic stone of a sombre grey colour. The various gates providing an opening in the walls (Porta Romana, Porta Fiorentina, etc.) lead to the medieval town centre, including the splendid quarter of San Pellegrino, Palazzo dei Priori and Palazzo dei Papi. Palazzo dei Papi, or the “Popes’ Palace”, is so called because it was the place chosen by the Roman popes as their abode for several decades. They adding buildings and monuments to Viterbo, turning it into a city of worldwide importance. Yet Viterbo is more than just history: one of its strong points is the local cuisine, which you will enjoy having a lunch in an excellent local restaurant after the guided tour of the town. After lunch, you’ll learn about the antique ceramic tradition of Viterbo visiting an artistic ceramic workshop located in San Pellegrino neighborhood. The workshop is run by two ladies that, motivated by their deep love for Viterbo and the ceramic, rediscovered ancient local techniques and apply them to produce splendid creations. Your ceramic experience starts with the storytelling of the ceramic tradition in Viterbo followed by the decoration of a Zaffera (a 15th century technique) plate using the original system. Your artwork will need a couple of days to be cooked in a special oven and after that time, you’ll be able to take it with you.
PROGRAM
Guided tour of the Medieval town of Viterbo
Lunch in Viterbo featuring authentic local dishes
Ceramic experience (about 1.5 hours)
AVAILABILITY: every day
MEETING POINT: Valle Faul in Viterbo, reachable by car and mini-van (free parking)
MEETING TIME: 10.00 a.m.
GROUP SIZE: that of your party
DURATION: about 6 hours
TRANSPORT
WE OPERATE TRANSFERS TO REACH THE MEETING POINT AND RETURN FROM VITERBO, ROME, CIVITAVECCHIA, FLORENCE AND OTHER CITIES IN CENTRAL ITALY.
RATES
THE COSTS OF THE TOUR AND THE TRANSFERS DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND THE PICK UP POINT.
