Top 20 Gorges in Lazio

A truly fun section of the Via Francigena to cycle: but watch out for pedestrians

The Signorino road, of Etruscan origin, is a deep underground passage carved into the tuff that connects the Signorino district (named after a 15th-century family) to Porta Faul. It winds between high tuff walls that reach 12 meters at their highest points. It is also known as Cava S. Antonio (St. Anthony's Cave) after a shrine dedicated to the saint located on one of its walls. Along the road there is a cave called the Devil 's Cave , and some legends tell of strange nocturnal processions of Lucumoni (ancient Etruscan priests). For this reason, especially during the Middle Ages, crosses were carved on the tuff walls to protect travelers from the devil. The shrine dedicated to St. Anthony may have served this purpose.

The Signorino road, of Etruscan origin, is a deep underground passage carved into the tuff that connects the Signorino district (named after a 15th-century family) to Porta Faul. It winds between high tuff walls that reach 12 meters at their highest points. It is also known as Cava S. Antonio (St. Anthony's Cave) after a shrine dedicated to the saint located on one of its walls. Along the road there is a cave called the Devil 's Cave , and some legends tell of strange nocturnal processions of Lucumoni (ancient Etruscan priests). For this reason, especially during the Middle Ages, crosses were carved on the tuff walls to protect travelers from the devil. The shrine dedicated to St. Anthony may have served this purpose.

The Tagliata Etrusca is one of the most fascinating passages connecting the historic center of Viterbo with the surrounding countryside. It is an ancient road carved directly into the tuff, a typical Etruscan work, striking for its imposing vertical walls and the evocative atmosphere that permeates the landscape. Leaving from Porta Faul, the Tagliata leads out of the city along a route that was once a transit route and is now frequented by wayfarers, pilgrims, and the curious. It is a place that combines nature, history, and archaeology, offering visitors a journey back in time to the most ancient roots of Tuscia.

A beautifully constructed path through the tuff rock. Very impressive and interesting.

Walking along via S. Egidio, you will find the beginning of this short but very suggestive path inside a "via cava" (roads dug through the tuff that connected the bottom of the valley with the territories above and, in other areas, were also used to drain excess water from agricultural land). This via cava is full of caves dug directly into the tuff, probably used as stables or cellars to store wine or food.

Corchiano is a small town in the province of Viterbo, apparently similar to many others, a little modest... and yet, it has become famous for some events, such as the infiorata, which is held at the end of May and sees the entire town involved in decorating a good part of the streets of the town with flower petals, colored sawdust, coffee grounds and in general any material that can be colored and applied in designs of great beauty. Then, in December, the living nativity scene takes place in a natural setting of great suggestion, finally, the exploration on foot of the ravines should not be overlooked, a true natural monument and archaeological site of great interest... in short, a place that is worth visiting. The difficulty in walking the paths, all equipped, is generally T (tourist) and suitable for all age levels.

The Grotto of Tiberius is the most spectacular part of the Roman villa of Sperlonga. The enormous natural ravine is preceded by a large rectangular fish pond of sea water that housed an artificial island in the center that served as a summer caenatio, or the place where Tiberius and his court ate in the summer. The grotto was decorated with marble statues of enormous artistic value dedicated to the saga of Ulysses and sculpted by Greek artists from Rhodes. It is thought that these famous craftsmen stayed in the villa to finish the statues previously sketched in the workshop. The bottom of the grotto was decorated with frescoes and masonry works that divided the room into rooms and alcoves. Near the alcove, the remains of frescoes and decorations created with local shells and the spaces where the beds were probably placed are still visible. Above the external opening of the grotto there was the statue of a beautiful Ganymede kidnapped by the eagle Zeus. The fish pond communicates with the circular pool in the center of the cave where the sculptural group of the attack on the monster of Scylla, the most majestic of the four, stood out in a scenic position. Then there was the group of the blinding of Polyphemus, that of the abduction of the Palladium and that of Ulysses dragging the body of Achilles.