The main tourist attractions of Nepi have to do with the Roman era. These include the aqueduct and the catacombs. The Borgia Castle was built in the Middle Ages and there are also many beautiful Renaissance buildings. A separate attraction is formed by the Forre, wildly vegetated canyons with steep, over 100 meter high rock walls.
Top 10 tourist attractions Nepi
1. Museo Civico
The Museo Civico of Nepi has its seat in the Palazzo Comunale. The collection of the museum shows works of art from the medieval and Renaissance period. At the moment only two rooms are open. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00.
2. Cathedral
The Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral stands where, according to tradition, there was already a church in the 5th century. The current incarnation dates back to the 12th century. In 1798 the roof had to be replaced after French troops caused a fire there. The crypt is a remnant of the early basilica, which incidentally was built on a pagan temple.
3. Palazzo Comunale
Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane began building the Palazzo Comunale in 1542. Filippo Barigioni was responsible for the fountain that has stood under the portico since 1727 (not coincidentally the year the aqueduct was completed). Its present appearance is the result of modifications in the 18th century. The only room whose original frescoes can still be seen is the “Blue Room”, which today is used mainly for weddings.
4. The Forre
The Forre are canyons created by the erosion of several small rivers, sometimes with walls several hundred meters high. These beautiful canyons with wild plants are very popular for hikers in the area. In the time of the Etruscans, these enormous furrows, which were sometimes dug out by hand, formed a kind of natural road network.
5. Tre Ponti Necropolis
Tre Ponti Necropolis: The necropolis located at the so-called Tre Ponti was the southern cemetery of the ancient Roman city of Faleri Novi. Around this place, which is more or less along the ancient Via Armerina men’s road outside Nepi, a large number of tombs with decayed grave monuments can be seen.
6. Borgia Castle
The Borgia Castle was built on pre-existing Roman structures. Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia had it enlarged between 1479 and 1483 to give it to his daughter Lucrezia in 1499. By the mid-16th century, the Farnese had the impressive defensive wall erected on the west side. Pieces of Roman roadway and some remains of city gates have been found under the castle.
7. San Vito Church
The small San Vito Church is first mentioned in a writing from 1467, but it probably existed before that, as wall paintings from the 14th century can be seen.
8. Catacomb of Santa Savinilla
The Catacomba di Santa Savinilla dates back to the late imperial period. The entrance is inside the San Tolomeo alle Sant Grotte Church. The monument consists of three corridors with a number of side aisles and is considered one of the most important funerary complexes in Italy.
9. Aqueduct
The Aqueduct of Nepi was completed in the early 18th century, after attempts had already been made for a century and a half to bring water to the historic center of the city. Filippo Barigioni would eventually succeed where Vignola, among others, had failed. He also had a showy fountain built against the Palazzo Comunale.
10. San Rocco Church
The San Rocco Church was probably built in 1467, after a plague epidemic had hit the city. There are a number of wall paintings from the 15th century on display.
More Sights in Nepi
Churches
The newly restored San Biagio Church dates back to the middle of the 10th century. The church was part of a monastic complex belonging to the San Ciriaco in Via Lata Monastery in Rome.
Other sights
Porta Romana
Ponte Nepesino
Porta Nica
Porta Porciana
Il Pizzo
The Vie Cave or Vie Tagliate are roads carved into the tuff, thus running between two high walls. They date back to Etruscan times.