Things to Do in Viterbo

A small 13th-century fountain in a quiet piazza, decorated with distorted faces and a worn coat of arms. The name derives from the nearby confraternity that cared for the dead.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Sit at the cafe opposite for a cheap coffee; the morning sun lights the fountain perfectly for photos.

The main square of Viterbo, enclosed by the Duomo, the Palazzo dei Papi, and the Palazzo Comunale. Find the 12th-century floor mosaic and the lions guarding the cathedral steps.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Come in the late afternoon when the sun hits the papal palace facade, and the square empties of tour groups.

A maze of narrow cobbled alleys, stone towers, and hanging external staircases. This was the heart of medieval Viterbo, and it remains largely untouched.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Walk along Via San Pellegrino and duck into the tiny courtyard of the Church of Santa Maria Nuova. The profferli (corbelled stone houses) are best seen from the side streets.

Guided tours through Etruscan, Roman, and medieval tunnels under the city. You see cisterns, an ancient sewer, and a Second World War air-raid shelter.

🕐 Tours at 10:30, 12:00, 15:30, 17:00 (hours vary by season)

💡 Book online at least a day ahead; the English tour runs only twice a day. It costs about €5, but you get a free map of Viterbo with the ticket.

This 13th-century palace was the papal residence for over 20 years. The Great Hall, the loggia, and the prison cells are open to visitors for a small fee.

🕐 Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00; Sun 10:00-19:00 (last entry 18:15)

💡 The audioguide costs an extra euro but explains the frescoes and the conclave story well. Skip the ticket if you just want the views from the main square.