Tuscania: The Marvelous Pearl of Lazio's Maremma - DMO La Francigena e le Vie del Gusto in Tuscia

Tuscania: The Marvelous Pearl of Lazio’s Maremma

The village of Tuscania has ancient origins dating back to the Bronze Age. Famous for its wealth of archaeological sites, the most well-known and important in the area is undoubtedly the Madonna dell’Olivo necropolis, which includes several burials dating from the 8th to the 2nd century BC.

The Marvelous Pearl of Lazio's Maremma

Inside this archaeological area, the most famous architectural feature to visit is the Tomb of the Queen, so named because it once contained a fresco (now lost) depicting a standing female figure.

All the other artifacts found in the archaeological area are preserved in the Tuscanese Archaeological Museum.

Unique to the town are not only the medieval towers and narrow streets of the village but also the many beautiful churches.

The Basilica of San Pietro is one of the most important. Located outside the city walls, it was built between the 8th and 11th centuries. Unfortunately, most of the painted decoration has been lost, and some statues and details were destroyed during the devastating earthquake of 1971.

Another Romanesque church, Santa Maria Maggiore, also suffered damage from the earthquake. It displays a variety of decorative interventions on its façade. This church was consecrated on October 6, 1206.

A stroll through the historic center to discover more details of Tuscania’s history leads us to Parco Torre di Lavello, from where you can admire the ruins of Castello Rivellino. Only the southern wall remains, decorated with Ghibelline battlements and an upper perimeter walkway that can be accessed via a circular turret on a corbel.

Still in the historic center, you can observe various medieval and Renaissance architectures, such as Palazzo Tozzi Spagnoli, built in the 14th century by the Toctia family, or the Renaissance-era Palazzo Donnini, later becoming Palazzo Vescovile.

In the Piazza del Duomo, where the Church of San Giacomo stands, dating back to the 16th century, you’ll also find the Baroque-era Fontana di Poggio.

Events in Tuscania

Among the traditional festivals celebrated throughout the year are: the Lavender Festival in early July, the May Fair in honor of the Madonna Liberatrice of Tuscania, and the Fritter Festival in honor of Saint Anthony Abbot.