Viterbo

Viterbo was the first city I explored while staying in Attigliano, and I didn’t know much about it at first. The city is located in northern Lazio, about 30 minutes from Attigliano, and is best known for its Catholic significance. In the 13th century, Viterbo served as a papal seat and became the site of the very first papal conclave—an event that gave the world the term conclave (from cum clave, “with a key”), after the cardinals who were locked in the assembly room until they made their decision.

I ended up learning a lot of this religious history on my trip. I visited the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which sits next to the Palazzo dei Papi, and wandered the cobblestone alleys of the Quartiere San Pellegrino, one of the best-preserved medieval quarters in Italy. The neighborhood is full of small but very lively artisan shops and souvenir stalls. At the same time, Viterbo was much more industrial than I expected, and visiting it was a good reminder that not every city is going to completely “wow” you. No time spent learning is a waste!