Visso

VISSO
Founded before Rome

The origin of some of the Park’s little towns is linked to the role played by their populations and the peoples who passed through them for reasons of work (such as migratory herding), religion (like the pilgrims) or during the wars. Legend has it that Visso was founded, no less than 907 years before the Roman era, by the Naharci, a Sabine pastoral livestock herding tribe. The settlement developed over time into municipia, guaite e borghi.
Today, Visso is the headquarters of the Sibylline Mountain National Park and is an architectural gem set among wooded hills at the convergence point of five valleys and as many rivers. MORE DETAILES

TO VISIT Passing through the gate of St Mary (1) you enter piazza Martiri Vissani (2), opposite the 14th century church of St Augustine (3) whose vestry houses the Museum of Leopardi Manuscripts. The façade is adorned with a Gothic portal below a rose window. The entrance to the 13th century church of St Mary (4) is guarded by two lions. Opposite the 13th century Governors’ palace (5) is the Varano Palace (6) built in 1516. Near the Priori building (7) you can admire the Pia Casa (8) , or “pious house”, and the medieval balcony (9). The 14th century church of the Conception (10) offers pleasant views of the historic centre. Passing the Ussitana gate (11) , you come to the Boncompagni palace (12). Beyond it is the church of the 16th century Monastery of St James (13) dCrossing the bridge over the river Ussita, you reach the Odescalchi palace (14), the 14th century church of the Holy Cross (15) and the 15th century church of St Francis (16) with a Romanesque/Gothic façade. Passing the gate of Pontelato (17) with its ogival arch, follow the castle walls (18) to reach the gate of Sant’Angelo (19).