Caprarola: Palazzo Farnese, Churches and Lago di Vico

Palazzo Farnese and the main street

If you would like to discover Caprarola through its architectural history, Palazzo Farnese offers a particularly rich introduction. It is open to visitors daily except Mondays from 08:30 to 19:30. The Sala del Mappamondo contains a depiction of the celestial sphere as well as geographical maps by Vanosino.

Historic buildings in the town centre

Via Filippo Nicolai, formerly Via Diritta, is the approximately 680-metre-long main street through the town centre. It was designed by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola and built between 1557 and 1564 during the construction of Palazzo Farnese. The church of San Rocco stands in the square in front of Palazzo Farnese; it was built in the early 16th century. It preserves stucco work and frescoes from the early 17th century, a coffered ceiling bearing the coats of arms of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese, and a gilded Baroque altarpiece.

Churches and furnishings

The church and monastery complex of Santa Teresa was built in the 1620s at the instigation of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese, based on a design by Girolamo Rainaldi, for the cultural and spiritual education of the Discalced Carmelites of the Teresian Order. Santa Teresa also contains an altarpiece attributed to Guido Reni depicting the Madonna and Child, Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Joseph. The church of San Marco is also known as S.S. Trinità and was built from 1569 onwards according to Vignola's design, with completion before 1599. The former San Giovanni Evangelista hospital preserves well-preserved murals, including the Holy Family and Saint John the Baptist as a child. Santa Maria Assunta contains a valuable fresco of the Madonna and Child as well as a panel painting by the Tuscan school depicting the Assumption of Mary from the 14th or 15th century.

The Church of Our Lady of Good Help has a coffered ceiling made of carved and painted wood. Its construction began in 1615; it is considered a rare example of Franciscan art. In the first chapel on the right-hand side of the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, a wooden image from the late 15th century depicts Saint Salvator.

Gardens, fountains and Farnese stables

The Giardini Alti are a large park arranged across four levels. They can be reached from the lower gardens via tree-lined paths and stairways. In the lower gardens, the winter garden contains the Fontana dei Tartari, while the summer garden contains the Fontana dei Satiri. The Farnese stables were completed in 1585 and provided space for around 120 horses. The Fontanaccia is also known as the Fontana delle Boccacce. In 1597, on the occasion of Pope Clement VIII's visit, it was modified to dispense wine instead of water. The Fontana del Mascherone has stood at its present location since 1563, while its current form dates from 1853.

Lago di Vico and nature experiences

The Lago di Vico Regional Nature Reserve was established in 1982, covers 3,200 hectares and includes lake, wetland and forest ecosystems. It includes the “depressed” beech forest on Monte Venere, with centuries-old beech trees on its eastern slope at approximately 530 metres above sea level. Among the species living on the shores of the lake are mallards, garganeys and great crested grebes; wild orchids grow in the forests. The nature reserve has picnic areas as well as easily accessible roads and paths. It also includes a trail specially designed for blind visitors, with models and information boards in Braille. In summer, you can reach Lago di Vico from Caprarola's historic centre by seasonal shuttle bus.

Sagra della Nocciola

The Sagra della Nocciola is a long-standing festival in Caprarola; the first celebrations took place in the 1950s. It is held in the last week of August. During the Sagra della Nocciola, visitors can taste or receive a Caprarola-style hazelnut-based Tozzetto as well as roasted hazelnuts.

Further destinations: Ischia Di Castro, Bolsena, Montalto Marina, Oriolo Romano, Latera, Collevecchio, Capodimonte, Punta Del Lago

For the overarching travel overview: Viterbo.