In the Heart of the Village
The route winds through the original heart of Vetralla, which began as a small defensive castrum between the 7th and 8th centuries on the rocky outcrop overlooking the San Antonio Valley. The city, which became part of the Patrimony of Saint Peter after the Donation of Sutri (728), was a fundamental stop on the Via Francigena along the Via Cassia. In 1145, Pope Eugene III stayed there and officially proclaimed the Second Crusade from the town. The village was a fief of the Orsini family and later the Prefetti di Vico, before returning to Church jurisdiction. In 1783, Pius VI granted it the title of “city.” Fun fact: the municipal coat of arms depicts bunches of grapes and vine branches, linked to the legend of its foundation attributed to Noah.
Route Stages
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1
Gate to the historic center
Entrance to the medieval village
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2
Rocky outcrop
Panoramic viewpoint over the S. Antonio Valley, the heart of the original castrum (7th-8th century)
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3
Route of the Via Francigena
Urban section of the ancient pilgrimage route along the Via Cassia
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4
Places associated with Pope Eugene III
Record of the proclamation of the Second Crusade (1145)
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5
Evidence of medieval fiefdoms
Orsini and Prefetti di Vico
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6
Piazza principale / Palazzo comunale
With a coat of arms depicting grapevines
Periodo Consigliato
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Last update: 1 May 2026