Rocca Monaldeschi della Cervara

The origins of the structure date back to 1157, when Pope Adrian IV fortified some towns along the Via Cassia in anticipation of the imminent descent of Frederick Barbarossa. However, its current layout is largely due to subsequent interventions carried out by the people of Orvieto.

In 1295, the municipality of Orvieto, recognizing the strategic importance of the site, began the construction of the actual fortress, starting with the main tower and the north wall. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the powerful Monaldeschi family, having become lords of Orvieto and vicars of Bolsena, completed the work with the construction of the other three towers and the defensive walls.

The fortress has a typical trapezoidal plan, with four quadrangular towers standing out at its corners. The most majestic is the Main Tower, about 30 meters high, which rests on a solid rock spur.

One of the most evocative elements for the visitor is the walkway over the machicolations, now perfectly restored, which allows for a pleasant panoramic walk around the walls. Thanks to the removal of the original roofs during the restorations, it is possible to access a large upper terrace from which the view sweeps from the mirror-like water of the lake to the archaeological area of ancient Volsinii.

Over the centuries, the fortress has experienced alternating phases: from a noble residence to a prison in the sixteenth century, until suffering serious damage due to the 1695 earthquake. After a long period of decline, a meticulous restoration in the 20th century returned the monument to the community, making it the home of the city Museum.

Since 1991, the halls of the fortress have housed the Territorial Museum, a multilingual exhibition path that winds over several levels:

They house lapidaries with Roman inscriptions, coats of arms, architectural fragments, and ancient war relics (such as catapult balls).

Dedicated to natural history, from the geological formation of the lake basin to evidence of the Etruscan civilization.

A large section dedicated to the Roman city of Volsinii and findings from the archaeological area.

Basement: An unmissable stop for adults and children alike, where the territorial Aquarium is located, featuring twenty-five exhibition tanks dedicated to the fish fauna and freshwater flora of the lake.

At the foot of the Rocca stands Palazzo Monaldeschi, a massive rectangular building that houses a branch of the museum, with new sections dedicated to archaeology and medieval and Renaissance ceramics.