If you are looking for the best Tuscia hidden gems you are in the right place. My dad is from Viterbo (the capital of Tuscia), half of my family lives in Viterbo and the surroundings towns (Soriano nel Cimino or Grotte Santo Stefano), and I have been visiting this lesser known part of Italy multiple times a year since I was born.
Filled with medieval villages, necropolises, and beautiful forests… the Tuscia region of Italy makes for an easy escape from the hustle and bustle of Rome. The region constitutes multiple areas that were historically under Etruscan influence.
The name ‘Tuscia’ is derived from the ancient name of ‘Etruria,’ which arose following the Roman conquest. Today, the area essentially consists of the Viterbese province, though it used to be much larger.
The hidden gems in Tuscia are not nearly as well-known as the major Italian tourist sites. Of course, this makes them all the more wonderful. Curious to discover them? Continue reading as I share all my experience and local knowledge and guide you through the best Tuscia hidden gems!
The Best Hidden Gems In Tuscia
Bomarzo
Bomarzo is a comune (that’s the word for municipality in Italian) in the lower valley of the Tiber, just under 93 kilometers (57.7 miles) from Rome. Bomarzo is most famous for its Parco dei Mostri (Park of the Monsters) aka the Sacro Bosco (Sacred Grove).
When I saw all the photos of these grotesque carvings and statues for the first time, I knew I had to visit. All the more since it is right next door to Soriano nel Cimino, where my cousin lives.
The park is wonderfully disturbing and enchanting all at the same time.
Located just below the Orsini castle, the park was commissioned and built in the 16th century. Scattered throughout the forest are eerie and whimsical statues, some free-standing and some carved into the famous Tufo rock that is naturally abundant in the region.
Pier Francesco Orsini commissioned the park. He’d wanted the gardens as a method of coping with his grief when his wife died. The bizarre statues are scattered randomly throughout the gardens, sol per sfogare il Core (‘just to set the heart free’) – an inscription on one of the park’s obelisks.
The park’s most iconic statue depicts Orcus, with its mouth agape. Above it, the inscription Ogni pensiero vola, translating to ‘all thoughts fly,’ or, ‘all thoughts abandon, ye who enter here.’ If you enter the ‘hell mouth’ and whisper, anyone standing outside will be able to hear your secrets due to the acoustics of the inner mouth.
Bomarzo is a bit hard to reach by public transport from Rome. You’d have to take a train to Viterbo and then a further bus. Renting a car is a good idea, so you can visit other hidden gems in Tuscia. Check out the prices of car rental on Discover Cars – it’s my favorite rental car comparison site.
My post A Guide To Visiting Bomarzo Monster Park shares even more information on how to visit this enchanting garden.
Civita di Bagnoreggio
I debated a bit about whether or not I should include the lovely Civita di Bagnoregio in my selection of Tuscia hidden gems, since it really is now a popular destination for day trippers from Rome, the filming location of many TV commercials, and overall a well known place.
But for the longest time, it was actually really unknown to most travelers!
Civita di Bagnoregio is roughly 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) north of Rome. Known as La città che muore (“The Dying Town”), Civita di Bagnoregio is like an island unto itself. The only access to the old village is via footbridge from a neighboring town.
La Città Che Muore sits on a mesa of fragile volcanic tuff. Due to the effects of erosion, it is in a perpetual state of danger and destruction. The perimeter of the plateau collapses, causing the buildings on the edge of the city to collapse as their underlying support crumbles to the ground below.
The village was founded by the Etruscans over 2,500 years ago. It is also the birthplace of Saint Bonaventure, whose childhood home has since fallen off the edge of the cliff – thanks, erosion!
Cars can only drive in the new bits of Civita di Bagnoregio, where there are a few parking lots. From there, you can walk or take a shuttle bus to the old town. There’s a small admission fee to pay that allows you to access the bridge that connects the new town to the old town.
The fact that there’s a fee to pay to access Civita di Bagnoregio increases its publicity and appearance on the tourist radar, but it also allowed the 12 human permanent residents to forgo communal taxes. Hopefully the associated fees will contribute to the rebuilding and restructuring of this beautiful village, so that people can continue to take in its beauty.
In January 2020, CNN noted that the town had more feline residents than humans – cat lovers take note!
One important tip I have if you are visiting Rome and the Tuscia region in the peak summer months (June to September) is to avoid visiting Civita di Bagnoregio during the weekend, as it can be crowded then. If you want to enjoy this hidden gem of Tuscia, plan to visit in the off season and during the week.
Civita di Bagnoregio is about 25 km (15.5 miles) from Orvieto, a more famous destination in Tuscia – actually in the region of Umbria. You could consider visiting both on the same day. To get to Civita di Bagnoregio by public transport you’ll have to hop on a train from Roma Termini to Orvieto and the bus from Orvieto to Civita.
There’s also the option of this guided tour to Civita di Bagnoregio which includes transportation from Rome and that also goes to Orvieto. It’s a very highly rated tour that lasts 10 hours, it includes lunch and all entrance fees.
Calcata Vecchia
Last time I visited Calcata Vecchia was in March, and I think I was one of two tourists exploring the old town whereas the few other people there were locals (and cats). This truly is one of the best Tuscia hidden gems!
My recommendation once you get there is to park the car in the main parking lot which is just outside the old town, and walk to the village. As you approach, the views of the buildings perched on the tuff hill are breathtaking.
Once you make it to the historic town, take your time to browse around the many narrow alleys where you can find lovely artists’ workshops and galleries.
The main point of interest is the Piazza Umberto I, where you will find three sculptures by Constantino Morosin, a Venetian sculptor who moved to Calcata in the 1980s. There are more of his works around the village.
This is also where the main church – the 1400s Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù is located. Chances are you may find it open when you visit, but it’s worth taking a look from the outside.
Getting to Calcata Vecchia from Rome by public transport can be quite an ordeal, and it’s honestly just as complicated to visit from Viterbo. I always go there by car, and I think this is the only viable option for anyone who wants to visit.
My post A Short Guide To Calcata Vecchia shares more insights about the history of this lovely town and the main attractions.
Vitorchiano
I grew up with a massive black and white photo of Vitorchiano hanging on the wall in the landing at my parents’ place (in fact, it is still there) and I won’t hide the fact that this is my favorite village in Tuscia. It is simply charming!
Vitorchiano was a fortified town, surrounded by walls, and up until today the historic center is accessed by a gate – the Porta della Madonna della Neve (Gate of our Lady of the Snow). According to legend, the name if due to the fact that snow appeared on the gate in August!
Along the walls there are old watchtowers too.
Another point of interest is the Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo Church, built in the 13th century in Romanesque style and which has a gorgeous bell tower that on the other hand dates from the 15th century.
The most unique monument in Vitorchiano is a Moai statue carved in the local peperino stone by a member of the Atan family, descendant of Ororoina, the only survivor of a civil war on Easter Island.
However, I believe that the best thing to do in Vitorchiano is getting panoramic views of the village (best if at sunset). The photo above was shot from Via della Taverina, which you can easily reach on foot from Piazzale Umberto.
Vitorchiano isn’t exactly well connected to Rome by public transport. If you are in Viterbo, you can get there by bus from the Porta Fiorentina station – the journey lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. Otherwise, the best way to get there is by car.
I have written A Full Guide To Vitorchiano which shares more details about what to see and do in this lovely Tuscia town.
Bolsena
Bolsena is located approximately 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) north of Rome. It is a small town on the edge of the eastern shore of the beautiful Lago di Bolsena (Lake Bolsena).
Lago di Bolsena is one of the nicest lakes near Rome. This is a crater lake of volcanic and tectonic origin.
The last known volcanic activity of the nearby Vulsini volcano hasn’t occurred since 104 BC, since remaining dormant. The lake is supplied entirely from the aquifer, rainfall and runoff, with one outlet at the southern end. Don’t worry, they have sewage treatment plants in place.
The lake has two islands, Isola Bisentina and Isola Martana. Both were created by the underwater eruptions following the collapse that created the depression. In Raphael’s studies in the Vatican Rooms, a famed fresco depicts the creation of the lake.
To get to Bolsena, take the train to Montefiascone departing from Roma Termini. The journey takes about one hour and 40 minutes. You can check the train timetable and buy train tickets on the Omio App.
Oriolo Romano
Though not quite as enchanting as the other places mentioned on this list, I had to include Oriolo Romano simply due to the amount of time I spent here. Oriolo Romano is a slightly grittier town, beautiful nonetheless and definitely one of the hidden gems in Tuscia.
Palazzo Altieri di Oriolo is one of the town’s main attractions. It has frescoes with stories of the Old Testament and landscapes of Altieri’s former fiefs. Also worth checking out is the Fontana delle Picche, a central fountain designed by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola.
Parco della Mola is only a few kilometers away from the main village. La Mola has perfect hiking trails, a natural thermal water bath and a tiny lake complete with its own waterfall.
To get to Oriolo Romano, take the train departing from Roma Aurelia. Get off at Oriolo. The journey takes about one hour and 30 minutes. You can check the train timetable and buy train tickets on the Omio App.
Canale Monterano
Monterano Antica is one of the many ghost towns in Tuscia. Along with Civita di Bagnoregio, this place is more ‘on the radar’ than other towns listed in this post. Still, you can expect a fraction of the tourists in comparison to the sites in Rome and Tuscany.
Located on a tufaceous hill just over 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) north of Rome, Monterano is renowned for the ruins of its deserted village. Quite a few films have featured Monterano as a backdrop for its relinquished beauty.
In the last years of the 1700’s, French troops entered Rome, temporarily ending the pope’s secular power and establishing the Roman Republic. They maintained power by military occupation of the territory until 1799.
The sacking and burning of Monterano resulted from popular uprisings of rural communities hostile to the new order established by the French revolutionary militias.
The remaining townspeople were forced to abandon the already partially ruined site and take refuge in the nearby centers (in particular in the adjacent Canale site), where over time the inhabited area of Canale Monterano developed.
Traversing the valley sits a beautifully preserved aqueduct. Its imposing double arch structure will make your jaw drop.
The church of San Bonaventura is another interesting sight. The church and its adjoining convent were built in the late 1670’s by order of the Altieri family. Its impressive architecture was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini! The overgrowth on the structure, coupled with the faded colors of the crumbling marble, made for a sobering visit.
The easiest way to get to Canale Monterano is by car. If you don’t have a car, you can take the train to Oriolo Romano (it’s about one hour and 45 minutes from Rome) – it’s just 4 km (2.5 miles) away.
Tarquinia
Ancient Etruscan tombs and the many necropolis that decorate the region give Tarquinia its claim to fame. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 Tarquinia was once an epicenter of ancient Etruscan and Roman life.
Located 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Rome, Tarquinia is also easily accessible from Civitavecchia, a port city – typically where the cruise ships will dock if you are going to the Eternal City. It’s also close to reach from Viterbo.
Despite being easy to reach, Tarquinia remains relatively unknown to international tourists – while it is a popular place to visit for Italians that are traveling in the region.
An archaeological dream, Tarquinia Necropolis boasts beautiful wall paintings and tumulus tombs with chambers carved into the rocks. These scenes are virtually unrivaled elsewhere in the Etruscan world and give tremendous insight into the lives of Etruscans, which was rarely documented.
The frescoes show dances, weddings, eroticism, mythical creatures, and large banquets, as well as the occasional demon escorting the dead to their journey into the unknown. You know, the usual.
Scenes of the afterlife were common as well as the processions of magistrates and other symbols of the rank of the eminent members of the families buried there.
Some of the most famous tombs include the Tomb of the Bulls, Tomb of the Augurs and the Tomb of the Leopards.
Should you decide to visit Tarquinia, don’t miss the archeology museum in town – you can get a combined ticket for that and the Necropolis and it will definitely add to your experience. And then, a stroll around the historic center is a must!
While Tarquinia may be more well known than other hidden gems in Tuscia included, you’ll still have to deal with far fewer people than at some of Rome’s more popular day trips.
You can easily get to Tarquinia from Rome by car or train. There are frequent trains from Roma Termini. The journey takes about 1.5 hours but you have to change in Civitavecchia. If you are staying in Viterbo, you can take the bus from Porta Fiorentina.
My post A Guide To Visiting Tarquinia And The Etruscan Necropolis provides more information about the history of Tarquinia and its attractions.
Barbarano Romano
Barbarano Romano is a village of only 1,000 residents about 73 kilometers (45.3 miles) north of Rome.
The village is set upon a volcanic rise of tufaceous rock, and still partially surrounded by the city walls. At the entrance of the main church of S. Maria Assunta there is an original marble plaque from 1280.
It is surreal to be surrounded by such ancient original buildings and to imagine what life might’ve been like in those times. Barbarano will surely work your imagination.
While there is admittedly not much to do (literally not even a restaurant), the village is incredibly beautiful and also at the center of a protected regional area, the Marturanum Regional Park, famous for its plethora of Etruscan necropoli.
Still, if you find yourself looking for a reprieve from the stresses of daily life, Nina’s Guest House is the perfect landing spot to explore Barbarano and the other hidden gems in Tuscia.
Whether you are based in Viterbo or Rome, the best way to get to Barbarano Romano is by car. Having a car will give you the chance to also explore the beautiful surroundings.
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