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Garden of the Pope’s Fortress: Montefiascone's historied balcony
There is only one spot from which you can take in Lake Bolsena, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the peaks of the Apennines all at once: the garden of the Rocca dei Papi in Montefiascone. Perched at over 600 metres above sea level, this is no ordinary park — it is the most spectacular panoramic viewpoint in the whole of upper Tuscia.
A breathtaking view
From up here, the gaze sweeps freely in all directions, taking in the enchanting expanse of Lake Bolsena. On the horizon, on clear days, the blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea comes into view. Turning one's head, the hills of Tuscany come into focus alongside Monte Amiata, the valleys of Umbria, and the majestic summits of the Apennines.
The cardinal who levelled a hill
This incredible belvedere was created in 1736 by Cardinal Pompeo Aldrovandi who, in what was an almost pharaonic undertaking for the time, had an entire hill levelled to make room for a magnificent garden.
A constantly evolving garden
A century later, Cardinal Nicola Parraciani Clarelli most likely had the surrounding walls erected, as attested by his coat of arms, which is today on display in the Rocca. The decisive transformation came in 1898: making use of an old bastion built by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, a large cistern was constructed that brought running water to the city. It was a landmark moment for Montefiascone, and it was then that the garden took on the appearance and botanical character that we can still admire today.
