A "tasty" trip to the city of Popes: A day in Viterbo, Lazio region, Italy

content:
photos:
Vote this travel review

The magnificent hall enclosed within the imposing walls of the Palace sit around a large table nineteen people. The climate is not the best: the harsh contrasts and deep divisions between them do not allow us to reach an agreement. After a few days the situation is aggravated because the detained are given to eat and drink only bread and water. At one point the unbelievable happens: in the middle of a discussion, these noises from above, and realize that the workers are uncovered, the building just above the room where they are locked. It is not about maintenance: the tiles are removed to leave just those inside, exposed to weather.
It might seem like the format of a new reality, however is the story of the conclave that took place between 1268 and 1271 to Viterbo.Visto that for twenty months, the cardinals are going to vote at the great cathedral, had failed to elect the Pope, Viterbo, cultured exasperation, decided under the leadership of the charismatic captain of the people Raniero Gatti, of locking up key (cum clave, hence the term) the cardinals inside the Palace of the Popes, and keep them bread and water, with the roof uncovered, until they had elected the new Pontiff. The method, though drastic, it worked, and eventually was elected a nobleman of Piacenza, Tedaldo Visconti, but was not even a priest, had minor orders and was ordained priest about two weeks before moving into the papal throne under the name Gregory X.
Our visit to the City of Popes could not start from the place where this important historical event took place. The Papal Palace, which in addition to the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, is the most important monument of Viterbo, was the seat of the papal Curia from 1257. We admired the mullioned windows overlooking the square, and the Loggia of the Blessings, which overlooks the Pope
Turning to Viterbo not only meet many historical monuments, but one gets the impression of breathing in the history around every corner: it also affects the grandeur of the walled city of over five kilometers in length, covering the old town. Access to the heart of the city is still possible through the seven ancient ports, such as the Porta Fiorentina. During our day we also visited the Church of San Francesco, a beautiful Gothic building, facing the corner, where he preached from the pulpit century San Bernardino da Siena, a religious fervor that dealt with issues also still present as the 'ethics and honesty in business activities and strongly condemns usury.
Besides the beauty of what you see right away, at Viterbo need to discover the charm of the underworld: in fact, the city is full of underground tunnels dug in the rock that communicate many buildings in the center. But coming from under the ground is another important gift of the city, known as the capital of the Tuscia region: according to legend, Hercules was, challenged by the Etruscans to show his strength to drive a spear into the earth and thus find out the presence of healing thermal water welling up from the hole. The source Viterbo most famous is called just Bulicante, indicating that the water boils, and is even mentioned by Dante: "What comes out of Bulicame stream."
We stay in the heart of the City of Popes for dinner, stopping at Ristorante La Pentolaccia, a few steps from wonderful Piazzetta di San Pellegrino, a witness to the inestimable life of the thirteenth-century city. And family in the rustic restaurant with a dinner in the name of the oldest tradition of Viterbo, who handed down the room with honor for many years. Let's start with the starters and the starters of the game Pentolaccia. We continue our journey through the flavors following the suggestions of Mr. Massimo, the owner, and take the Maltagliata boar sauce, and lombrichelli with porcini mushrooms and black truffle hooked. Almost none of us surrender to the fantastic soups of the territory, so we taste the soup of chickpeas and chestnuts, and lentil soup Onano. In choosing the second we are divided between the wild boar of the bujone Monti Cimini, Viterbo to the duck, and pigeon stuffed. Our friends instead choose the oxtail and roast suckling pig with potatoes. Washed down with some local wines, chosen from among the hundred and twenty labels available and close with delicious home made desserts and grappa selected from more than fifteen different Monovitigni.
Let's go home happy to have made two trips in one: one in the city of the popes of the thirteenth century, and that the best flavors of Viterbo, which have their roots in the rich history of the city.

Frances Bertha

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.comune.Viterbo.it
www.aptviterbo.it
www.pentolaccia.com
The restaurant Pentolaccia
Via Factories, 20-22 Viterbo
0761/342755