Discover Blera: Etruscan Traces, Nature and Rocciata

Blera among tuff, waterways and history

The historic settlement of Blera lies on a tuff spur where the Rio Canale and Biedano streams meet.

Circular Trails to the Necropolises

The Percorso Pian del Vescovo circular trail leads from Blera’s historic centre along the Via Clodia towards the rock necropolis of Pian del Vescovo. For orientation in the historic landscape, the Via Clodia marks the transition to the rock necropolis of Pian del Vescovo.

The Percorso Grotte Penta circular trail connects the area around Blera with the necropolises of Ponton Graziolo and del Terrone, as well as the Grotte Penta complex. The trails have different destinations: Pian del Vescovo, and Ponton Graziolo, del Terrone and Grotte Penta.

Etruscan and Ancient Traces

The archaeological area of San Giovenale covers approximately three hectares and preserves the remains of Etruscan houses from the Archaic period, dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC. The historical perspective there extends from San Giovenale’s Archaic period to the Roman bridge of the Via Clodia.

A three-arched bridge of the Via Clodia crosses the Biedano. The bridge is made of square peperino blocks and dates from the 1st century BC. It therefore belongs to a later period than the remains of the Archaic houses at San Giovenale.

Grotte Penta consists of a rectangular chamber with a central Doric column and wall paintings. For those interested in culture, the room’s form, the column and the wall decoration are the main concrete architectural details. The spatial effect arises from the interplay of the chamber, column and wall paintings.

The ancient site of Necropoli Etrusca di Norchia lies in the vicinity of Blera.

Museum, Church and City Gate

The Museo Civico di Blera “Gustavo VI Adolfo di Svezia” houses the thematic section “Il Cavallo e l'Uomo”, which opened in 2002. It documents the historical relationship between people and horses in the Maremma Laziale. The section connects the museum with a specific theme of the Maremma Laziale: the relationship between people and horses.

The Romanesque church of Santa Maria Assunta e San Vivenzio in Blera has a crypt containing the tomb of Saint Vivenzio.

Porta Marina is the only surviving and well-preserved gate of Blera’s historic centre.

Nature in the Biedano Gorge and the Rocciata Dessert

Twenty-three animal species have been recorded in the Gole del Biedano, including 10 amphibian and 13 reptile species. Alongside the two circular trails, the Gole del Biedano form a separate natural-history highlight.

Rocciata is a dessert from Blera prepared with the Tonda Gentile Romana hazelnut variety.

Other places in the region: Fonte Vivola, Roccalvecce, Marina Di Pescia Romana, Tarquinia, Acquapendente, Bomarzo, Latera and Graffignano.

More about the region: Viterbo.