Farnese is situated on the very border to Tuscany, a 150 km from Rome, and is a nice village characterised by two distinctive souls, medieval and renaissance, and it is an ideal base for beautiful trips around in the area. The village's semblances were shaped by the numerous interventions of the Farnese family, who was originally from that area, and played a crucial role in the vicissitudes of northern Lazio.

The link between the village and the family also transpires from the name, Farnese, which originally derives from that of a tree, ‘the Farnia’. However, it is still unclear whether it has been the Farnese family to give name to the inhabited place or vice versa.

In the village it is worth to visit the civic museum hosted by the municipal palace of the XVIII century that gathers many of the archaeological findings of the territory and an interesting collection of ancient pottery. You can also admire the Farnese palace with the important portal built by Vignola that in major part conserves its Renaissance aspect. The palace links through a large viaduct with what were once the gardens of the palace, La Selva.

On the premises of the church of San Salvatore close to Palazzo Farnese you can admire two valuable paintings. The first pictures San Michele Arcangelo and was made by Orazio Gentileschi while the second is a Piety by Annibale Carracci.

In the area

Selva del Lamone. Few miles north of the village is situated the wild Selva del Lamone, a thick wood of bitter oaks, which is now a natural reserve. Within the XIX century, the wood was the hideout of the brigand Domenico Tiburii. Today the Selva del Lamone has a high environmental value due to its great variety of animal species. Here the nature lovers can enjoy long walks along the paths of the reserve and contemplate the wonderful landscape that open up near the valley in which the river Opra flows.

Ischia di Castro. Ischia di Castro is an ancient village placed on a tuff island in the verdant and wild countryside of Lazio's maremma on the very borders of Tuscany. The name of the town recalls its important past linked to the history of the duchy of Castro of the Farnese family as the town centre that was planned by Antonio da Sangallo the Young under the will of the Farnese. The town with its genuine and unaltered charm is situated around its valuable Rocca (i.e. fortress). In Ischia di Castro the Civic Museum that contains some notable Etruscan ruins coming from the numerous necropolises in the vicinity is of particular interest and some renascence objects discovered in the Castro Ruins (see below) few kilometres away from the town.
Last but not least, it is also worth to visit the Eremo of Poggio Conte (the Hermitage) and the Eremo of Chiusa del Vescovo, extraordinary witnesses of medieval mysticism. Both of them are highly characteristic places since the two churches are carved into the rock and fully moulded in the natural landscape.

Castro. Castro was created in the XVI century under the will of the Farnese family as the capital of their duchy but was soon destroyed on the order of Innocenzo X already in the mid of the XVII century. Today the Castro's ruins emerge solitary in the verdant countryside standing as a romantic memory of a magnificent past. On the surrounding hills is situated the Etruscan necropolis of the Old Castro, famous for its tomb of the Biga, named after an Etruscan Biga for parade, which was discovered in its inside.

How to get there

For those that come by car from Rome, from the “Grande Raccordo Anulare” (i.e. the highway surrounding the Italian capital) take the northern exit on the SS2 Cassia and follow the road till Viterbo. From there proceed in direction of Montefiascone. In proximity of Montefiascone turn left on the road for Valentano and afterwards proceed for Ischia di Castro. Farnese is distant only seven kilometers from Ischia and you will find straightforward indication for it.
For those that come from the A1 (the highway connecting Rome to Florence) and travel either north or south you have to exit at ‘Orvieto’ and then follow indications for Bolsena. After crossing Bolsena, follow indications first for Valentano and then for Ischia di Castro. Farnese is distant only seven kilometers from Ischia and you will find straightforward indication for it.