GTL 13 Lazio From Orte to Vetralla

THE PARK OF MONSTERS, THE CALANQUES AND THE VITERBO AREA

Another not exactly light stage, 1200 meters of total elevation gain for 65 km of distance: the ups and downs of Tuscia relax and engage at the same time, with pristine and green views, narrow streets secluded from heavy traffic, unexpected rock formations and villages set in the landscape. The GTL 13 route uses sections of Eurovelo 5 and Eurovelo 7, as well as Via Francigena. From Orte we cross the Tiber again to cross into Umbria for a short stretch up to Attigliano, and immediately return to one of the most curious attractions of the area, the Park of the Monsters of Bomarzo: in this village lost between valleys and crevasses, in fact, Prince Pier Francesco Orsini had the architect Pirro Ligorio build a garden of "monsters", in the etymological sense of the term wonder, or oddities and fantastic sculptures to distract him from the pain of losing his wife. The route continues in a fluctuating manner through the hills of Tuscia, rows of vineyards and farmhouses, woods and wheat fields, crossing only tiny villages and hamlets such as Santarello or Pallone. Thus we arrive in Bagnaia, a handful of tuff houses close to the Cimini Mountains, made even more fascinating by the sixteenth-century Villa Lante, one of the most beautiful Mannerist gardens in Italy signed by Vignola. From here to Viterbo the few kilometers are all downhill, and you can relax by visiting the wonderful medieval center of the capital, and then conclude the stage between shady roads to Vetralla along stretches of the Via Francigena