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VR Back to the past trasparente

Guided tours in the Eternal City
with virtual reality

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Medieval VITERBO

Don’t be surprised if this journey through time takes you out of the capital: Viterbo has important and ancient origins that date back to the Neolithic period, and in the Middle Ages, history gave it prominence by transforming it into the papal residence in 1266.

Available in the following languages:

ITALIAN | ENGLISH

AVAILABLE WITH VIRTUAL REALITY

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST ALONG THE WAY

VISIT ITINERARY

Description of the itinerary and stops:

The origins

The Etruscan civilization founded the first important settlements in Vitèrbo:   the Sorrìna Vèteres, a fortified centre called “Càstrum”, which reached its zenith between VI and IV century BC. was erected on the hill of San Lòrenzo, where the  Palàzzo dei Papi  (the Papal Palace) and the Cathedral now stand. The Romans became interested in this territory and in about 310 BC  Surìna, as the town was named, came under Roman influence. The city grew and gained importance and even its name was Latinized to Sorrìna Nova. Due to the Roman domination, new  fortified  colonies of Roman citizens sprung up, new roads were built and the existing roads were widened. At the beginning of the V century AD, the fall of the Roman Empire gave rise to a period of great crisis  during which many areas were invaded and sacked by the Goths, Byzantines, Lombards and  Franks.  The Lombards seized the opportunity and settled in Vitèrbo, fortifying the summit of the hill on which  the cathedral  stands and so creating a new Càstrum: Càstrum Vitèrbii.  It became a very busy  stop-over for these pilgrims who ate and slept here before starting  on the final leg towards Rome. By the mid thirteenth century, it had grown demographically and the Pope’s decision to make it his residence was the beginning of a florid period for the city.

Piazza del Plebiscito

Until the first half of the XIII century, this square was occupied by the Prato del Cavalluccalo (the Cavalluccalo field) and one of the oldest Churches in VitèrboSant’Angelo in Spàtha, with its annexed cemetery. It was not until the second half of the thirteenth century that this square became the judiciary centre of the city.

The Palazzo del Podestà, the residence of the Captain of the People, who mediated between the Papacy and the Municipality, was built on the northern side of the square and opposite, on the southern side, stood the first Priory Palace. 

Therefore, the square became the nerve centre of the city, seat of the nobles, politicians and representatives of the clergy, some of the most influential people in Italy and Europe at that time, people who decided the fate of the city and its commitments within the Papacy.

Piazza del Gesù

Before Piazza del Comune was built in the second half of the 13th century, Piazza del Gesú was the headquarters of the municipal judiciary, cause the old Palazzo del Podestá and Palazzo dei Priori were  located here, and they met in a building under the Borgognone Tower. The oldest and most significant monument is on the west side of the square: the Church of San Silvèstro dating back to the beginning of the year 1000.  Later it was renamed Chiesa del Gesù (the Church of Jesus ) when the Jesuits established there at the beginning of   the  seventeenth century.

Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo, (the Cathedral Square)  also known as Piazza San Lorènzo, as we mentioned earlier, represents the oldest nucleus of the city, the Castrum Hèrculi, where, it is presumed, an antique temple dedicated to Hercules stood. The Cathedral of San Lorènzo  and the Papal Palace were built at the turn of the 12th century when the city was gaining importance.

This is the moment... Try it!

Start the demo and use the sliders to look around (you’ll find them in the video on the top left corner)! In person, in addition to this amazing reconstruction, you’ll enjoy the sensation of being completely immersed in the virtual reality of Ancient Rome, thanks to VR headsets and the feeling of a three-dimensional environment!

Play Video about Viterbo Piazza del Duomo ieri

Book your visit!

Have you ever tried virtual reality headsets? Do you know what to expect and are you ready to travel through time? Or is this your first time considering a guided tour with this technology and you want to learn more? We want your experience to be exciting, just as it is for us to do this work, and that’s why we invite you to contact us to build together the program that suits you, your family, your friends, or the institution you represent.

Please note that activities with VR headsets can include: guided tours of art and archaeological sites, educational activities and classroom lessons, customized activities for groups of adults or children with a dedicated official guide and personalized itineraries.

You can use the phone number +39 347 0705602 (only WhatsApp), send an email to info@vrbacktothepast.com or fill out the form below to tell us what kind of activity you would like to organize.

Viterbo Piazza del Duomo ieriViterbo Piazza del Duomo oggi Claudio Caravano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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