Bomarzo
Bomarzo: discover together this small town in Lazio
Hello friends! Today I want to talk to you about a small town in northwestern Lazio: Bomarzo. With its only 1663 inhabitants, it might seem like a peaceful and quiet place, but in reality, it is a town that encapsulates ancient and interesting history.
Physical geography
Territory
Bomarzo is located in the Tevere Valley, between the Lazio and Umbria Regions. The territory is characterized by hills and plains, where rivers and streams flow, shaping the landscape.
But do you know where the name "Bomarzo" comes from? It could actually be an hydronym, a name derived from a watercourse, more precisely from a small marsh that the river formed when it reached the plain. It is said that during that time, the practice of palafitte settlements was widespread around these swampy water places, but with flowing water. Interesting, isn't it?
History
Antiquity
The origin of Bomarzo's first inhabitants is shrouded in mystery. Some argue that they were the Meoni, an Asian people, while others were the mysterious Rinaldoniani. What we know for certain is that the territory was intensely populated during the Etruscan and Roman Empire, which conquered it in around the 5th century B.C. and ascribed its population to the Arniense Tribe.
Even today, in the area, there are many tangible evidences of those times, such as the Etruscan Pyramid, the cut and necropolis, the ruins of a Roman aqueduct, and the Volumni's kilns.
Late antiquity
Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Bomarzo continued to constitute an administrative unit within the Roman world. During late antiquity, the local Diocese of Bomarzo gained more and more importance, becoming the actual city ruler. Following the outbreak of the Gothic War, the town was repeatedly invaded by the Longobards of Alboin between 569 and 590.
High and Late Middle Ages
The last invasion occurred in 739 by King Liutprando, who took it from the Roman Duchy along with Amelia, Orte, and Blera. With the victorious Frankish campaigns in Italy, the territory returned into Roman hands, ruled no longer by the Byzantines but by the Pope.
During the succeeding centuries, the town changed hands several times: sold by a certain Uffreduccio Risio, Veraldo, and other lords to the city of Viterbo in 1298, it was then feuded to the Orsini, who held it until 1646.
Conclusions
The town of Bomarzo is a place rich in history and charm. Archaeological finds testify to the antiquity of its origins, while the striking landscapes offer the perfect backdrop. The invitation is to come and discover this little Lazio treasure, which will also fascinate lovers of art and archaeology. I'm waiting for you!
