The village
The territory in which Latera rises, in the light of the historical finds unearthed, was inhabited as early as 5000 B.C.: it then became an important Etruscan center, became first a Longobard dominion and later in 1080, a fortified stronghold of the Aldobrandeschi. Passing under the rule of Orvieto, the Holy See and the Farnese family, Latera became independent only in 1870, following the Unification of Italy.
Latera is a charming medieval village whose most precious jewel is its historic center, which is entered through a rosy stone gate that in the past also featured a drawbridge. Passing through the gateway, one finds oneself in a place lost in time, with narrow cobblestone alleys, stairways, dark underpasses and stone houses, often embellished with the typical profferli, elements typical of medieval architecture in the villages of the Viterbo area, external stairways that allowed access to the upper floor.
Strolling through the ancient heart of the village, one encounters stores where artisans skillfully work pottery, four historic fountains (including the Ducale fountain, a reminder of the aqueduct commissioned by Ranuccio Farnese) and churches.
Worth visiting are the Church of St. Joseph, dating from the 12th century, inside which is an effigy of the Virgin considered miraculous; the Church of St. Rocco, erected about the end of the 15th century as a vow to drive the plague out of the town.
The Church of San Clemente, however, is the main building of worship in Latera, dating from 1598. This one features a typical Renaissance rose window on the outside, while the interior is a riot of 18th-century columns, elegant capitals and a magnificent altarpiece.
A stone's throw from the Church of San Clemente, from which one can easily reach a panoramic viewpoint over the entire Caldera of Latera, Mount Amiata and the lakes of Mezzano and Bolsena, stands the Palazzo Farnese. Also known as the Rocca, it was designed by Jacopo il Bello da Vignola and built in 1408 at the express wish of Ranuccio Farnese the Elder and still displays a monumental Renaissance-style facade.
Walking through the streets of the village of Latera, one encounters a very suggestive corner namely the South Gate or Arch of Good Counsel, better known as "The Four Arches." This is the ancient gateway to the castle, of Lombard origin. Four streets surmounted by round arches intersect in this corner of the town. It is a unique structure inserted in the oldest part of the village.
Traditions in Latera
Speaking of tradition, local gastronomy is another feather in Latera's cap and its typicality, besides the Alto Viterbese IGP potato, are the Pizzicotti. Linked to the peasant world of yesteryear, they are the same dough used to make bread (flour, water, salt, natural yeast). The name so curious comes from the way the ball of dough is precisely pinched to tear off irregular pieces to throw into boiling water for cooking.
