Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Fortress / Tower
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 42°24′56″ N, 12°06′24″ E
History and description
The Walls of Viterbo, in Viterbo, Italy, developed over centuries, but much of these circumscribing, defensive medieval structures still exists, and their entrance gates, often modernized, still limit the access at certain sites.
History
While it is expected that the Ancient Etruscan or Roman town at this site also had defensive walls, this has not been conclusively determined. Some stone blocks near the Palazzo Farnese near the town center are assigned to an ancient construction, perhaps a wall. The main walls seen now were erected during the turbulent 11th and 13th centuries to encompass three hills, provided room for urban expansion. The era of its construction was beset by both internecine Guelphs and Ghibellines warfare, as well as foreign army sieges.
In Cesare Pinzi's 1911 guide to the principal monuments of Viterbo, he states a timeline:
Prior to 11th century: walls or moats, if present, enclosed only the city center around the Duomo
1095: Wall erected from Porta Fiorita to Porta di San Sisto and San Matteo dell'Abbate (now Verità), and the hill of Santa Rosa, to the Porta di Sonza.
1148: Piano Scarano enclosed and walls from Porta Fiorita to Porta Valle near Faulle built
1210: Walls built to enclose hill around San Francesco, and the monastery of Santa Rosa
1215: Walls from the tower under San Lupara to Porta di Bove and from there to tower of Santa Maria della Ginestra.
1246: Wall from the Monastery of Sant'Agostino to the Porta of Santa Maria Maddalena
1268: Wall from tower of Santa Maria della Ginestra under Porta Bove, up to the tower opposite San Clemente.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Walls of Viterbo».
Photos
Getting there
Viterbo Porta RomanaTrain, nearest
500 m as the crow flies
Walls of Viterbo
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
Loading map…
Nearby
See on the mapDo you know this place?
We are missing the opening hours. The data comes from open projects: if you add it there, it appears here at the next update.
More fortresses and towers in Lazio
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Walls of Viterbo?
Walls of Viterbo is in Viterbo, in the province of Viterbo (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 42.41554, 12.10668.
What else is there to see near Walls of Viterbo?
Nearby you’ll find: Museo del sodalizio dei facchini di santa Rosa (200 m away), Palazzo dei Priori (200 m away), Museo civico (400 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 2 photos
- 060 Restes de murs etruscos al Grande Ospedale degli Infermi, Via San Lorenzo 107 (Viterbo) — Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 059 Restes de murs etruscos al Seminari Diocesà, Via San Lorenzo - Piazza San Lorenzo (Viterbo) — Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences