Ronciglione lies in the Monti Cimini, close to Lake Vico. The town preserves a medieval core gathered around its fortress and an urban section developed between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when the area came under Farnese control: a medieval village, Renaissance and Baroque streets, and traces of its industrial past are the three main layers of its urban history.
The medieval village
The oldest part is a maze of lanes, arches and adjoining houses climbing toward the fortress. Walking through it, you catch glimpses of the ravine and the town's more recent quarters: it's a short visit but quite different from the image of Ronciglione tied only to its Carnival or the lake.
The city of the Farnese
Between the 16th and 17th centuries the town expanded with new streets and buildings. The Farnese transformation helped shape the character of its Renaissance and Baroque quarters, linking Ronciglione to the family's other centres across Tuscia.
From the centre to Lake Vico
The lake is just a few kilometres away, making it easy to combine the historical visit with a nature walk. Ronciglione is also a good base for Caprarola and the Lake Vico Nature Reserve.
