Ischia di Castro lies in western Alta Tuscia, not far from the Fiora valley. The medieval village grew up around its fortress and was deeply tied to the Farnese family, central to this territory's history between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In 1537, Pope Paul III established the Duchy of Castro, entrusting it to his son Pier Luigi Farnese: its capital was nearby Castro, today reduced to ruins in the woods.
The village and the palace
In the old centre, the Farnese presence shows in the town's layout and in the old palace built next to the fortress. The village keeps an intimate character, away from the busier tourist routes.
The Civic Museum
The "Pietro e Turiddo Lotti" Civic Archaeological Museum gathers finds from the area, including material from the Etruscan sites and from Castro. It's the best place to start an archaeological visit, together with the Tomba della Biga necropolis.
Toward Castro
The city of Castro was reorganised in the 16th century with the involvement of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and destroyed in 1649 on the orders of Pope Innocent X. Its ruins now lie in a wooded area within the municipality.
