Farnese is a small town of fewer than two thousand inhabitants in the western part of the province of Viterbo. It is situated at 45 kilometres from the capital and is named after the in the middle ages very powerful family Farnese.
Farnese City Guide
Tourist information
The address of the city hall is Corso Vittorio Emanuele III, 1, 01010 Farnese (tel. +39 0761458381). The ZIP code is 01010 and the area code is 0761.
By car/public transport
By car: From Viterbo take the Via Cassia in a northerly direction. At Marta (5km) turn left. Continue in direction of Capodimonte and then Valentano and Ischia di Castro. From Rome take the Via Cassia to Viterbo and follow the directions above.
Public transport: From Viterbo take a Co.tral bus. There are not many direct connections, so it may be better to change in Valentano. From Rome, take the bus or train to Viterbo and then the Cotral bus to your destination.
History
The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. The town was a fiefdom of several different families until it came into the hands of the Farnese in the 13th century. Later owners included the Chigi and the Apostolic Chamber. Until 1927 it was part of the province of Roma.
Tourist attractions
The medieval historical centre of the city is so well preserved, that in the 70’s it was used as background for a television film of Pinocchio. Important buildings are the Palazzo Farnese and the Palazzo Chigi. The most beautiful churches are the San Salvatore Church and the San Rocco Church. In the Middle Ages, debris thrown into holes dug in the volcanic tuff stone can now be seen in the city’s Museo Civico.
Events and Festivals
Mostra dell’Artigianato (July).