Viterbo

The historical centre is small enough to be visited on foot.

For longer distances you can use the local bus network, hosted by Francigena, the government company of transport in Viterbo (ordinary 90-min ticket for €0.70; ordinary 90-min ticket on board for €1.50; daily ticket for €1.55). Tickets can be found at tobacconists, and must be validated when getting on the bus.

• 🌍 Viterbo Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo). The cathedral dates back to the 12th century but the façade is 16th century and the tower 14th. There is a tomb for Pope John XXI. Pope Alexander IV was also buried there but his tomb was unaccountably destroyed during 16th-century renovations. According to legend the cathedral was built on the site of an Etruscan temple to Hercules. 
• 🌍 Palazzo dei Papi. This used to be the bishop’s residence but was enlarged for the popes. It was the papal seat between 1257 and 1281 and hosted six popes. It was the site of the first Papal Conclave when the local people got so fed up with the cardinals taking too long to elect a pope that they locked them all in until they came to a decision. The practice continues to this day in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. 
• 🌍 Church of San Francesco, pm-laz@beniculturali.it. Built in the 13th century in Romanesque-Gothic style, this church was completely destroyed by bombs in 1944. It was reconstructed in 1953. There is the superb mausoleum of Pope Hadrian V, who died in Viterbo in 1276 and the mausoleum of Pope Clement IV, who died in Viterbo in 1268. There are also remains of the tomb of the so-called “Pope-of-one-day”, Cardinal Vicedomino Vicedomini, who would have become Gregory XI, if he had not died the night after his election. 
• Palazzo dei Priori. This originally dates back to 1263. Inside there is a garden court with arcades of 1682 with an elegant Baroque fountain and a beautiful view. There are some interesting frescoes. 
• 🌍 Church of S. Maria Nuova. This is one of the most ancient churches in Viterbo, built in 1080 on the remains of a temple. Externally, on the left, there is a pulpit on a column, from where St. Thomas Aquinas preached. The church has a wide range of Viterbese frescoes and paintings from between the 14th and the 16th centuries. In the apse of the left aisle there is a precious tryptych from 1180 painted on leather with the effigy of Christ. 
• 🌍 Rocca Albornoz, Piazza della Rocca, 21/b. Tu-Su 08:30-19:30. This castle was destroyed by the bombings in 1944. It took over a century to build and was finally completed in 1462. The Rocca Albornoz houses a national archeological museum (Museo Nazionale) with a permanent exhibition on Etruscan and other cultures. €2. 
• Piazza Commune (Piazza Della Plebescità). That's where the Government Palace is. 

• Thermal springs

Already famous in Roman times, and quoted by Dante in his Divine Comedy... having a bath in one of their natural thermal springs is, perhaps, what you would never miss from Viterbo. As they are in surrounding open-air countryside areas, you can use them all year, every time of the day (for free, of course). Water reaches temperatures of 55°C, so the experience gets more amazing in freezing days (and nights).

The most famous ones are called Bulicame (2 km from Viterbo, on the road that leads to Tuscania). On the other hand there are also some springs run as spas centres (Terme dei Papi and Pianeta Benessere).

• Shopping

A liked hobby by people who live in Viterbo, is go to do shopping in a one of lots of stores in historical centre (in it, you can find lots of Italian original food stores and dress stores), or in the most modern commercial centre of the city; the Centro Commerciale Tuscia (near Riello Bus Station). Abitually, the price of gadgets, dresses and other common things, is in the standard of a typical province town of the centre of Italy (for example: you can buy a T-shirt for €5-7, and a souvenir magnet at €1-2).

• La Buca di San Faustino. Wonderful family restaurant with delicious food! And really cheap too. €10 for primo, secondo, plus contorni. (updated Apr 2023)
• Il Monastero, Via Fattungheri, 10. Huge and delicious pizzas around €5. 
• Also good is Pizzeria San Pelligrino, on Via San Pelligrino.
• Tre Re at Piazza Del'Erbe has excellent pastas and other Viterbese fare for €10-20 per person.
• Il Laberinto. Great cheaper restaurant just a few steps away from Il Monastero. 
• Convivium, piazza della Morte, 14, ☏ +39 0761324397. Delicious apertivs, dinner, and wine. 
• Tredici Gradi, Piazza Don Mario Gargiuli, 11 & Piazza del Gesu', 18, ☏ +39 0761-305596, vineria@tredicigradi.com. Restaurant, bar, & wine bar (vineria con cucina e slow bar) The menu varies daily, by season & the mood of the cook. Fantastic food & amazing antipasti featuring regional artisanal meats, cheeses & other delicacies. Simply amazing food & a great experience. The also have a sell lots of goodies typical of the region to take back home including an incredible wine selection. 
• Akira Japanese Restaurant , Via Genova, 22. Japanese restaurant, all-you-can-eat.

• "Caffe Cavour" on Via Cavour, has the best cappuccino in town.
• "Blitz" - great food and drinks
• "Shu Lounge" - pricey drinks, nice outdoor seating, good music, friendly workers

Viterbo is the center of a really fascinating area and there are many places that can be explored by car in an easy day trip. To the southwest is the Etruscan city of Tarquinia, to the north Orvieto and in a general southerly direction places such as the park of monsters at Bomarzo and the Etruscan/Roman remains of Sutri should not be missed.