Viterbo, Calcata and Sutri (Driver Only/Self Touring)

When we first come upon Calcata, one of the best-preserved medieval hill towns in Italy, you will be amazed at this quaint village perched high atop a mound of volcanic rock. You will see the small castle, reminding you of a chess piece and you’ll notice the beautiful, dense forest that surrounds the village. This fortified village appears exactly the way that travelers expect a hill town to look.

It is perhaps the most beautiful and relatively undiscovered Etruscan archeological site in Italy; a lovely little town just an hour from the Eternal City. The modern commune of Sutri has a few more than 5,000 inhabitants. Its ancient remains are a major draw for tourism including a Roman amphitheater excavated in tufa rock, an Etruscan necropolis with dozens of rock-cut tombs, a Mithraeum incorporated in the crypt of its church of the Madonna del Parto, and a Romanesque Duomo.

Viterbo is a charming ancient city situated between the two magnificent lakes, Bolsena and Vico. After our travels, you are likely ready to sample some of the delicious dishes for which Italy is famous. We will have lunch in Viterbo, and then tour various sites in the area. The historical events which have characterized the province of Viterbo have left many fascinating things for travelers to see and experience including churches, palaces, castles, ruins, etc. The historical center of the town – surrounded by its medieval towered town walls of the 11th –13th century, contains a remarkable architectural legacy.