San Sisto, Romanesque church in Viterbo, Italy

San Sisto is a Romanesque church in Viterbo with a simple facade rebuilt after 1944 and two bell towers: a lower 13th-century one and a taller one originally a defensive tower in the city walls, fitted with a 19th-century clock. The interior has three naves separated by columns with medieval Corinthian capitals, a raised presbytery over a crypt, and an apse built into the city walls.

San Sisto is documented from 1068 as a dependent chapel of the diocese of Tuscania, on a site where a church already stood in the 9th century. It became a parish and then a collegiate church, holding the right to administer baptism. Rebuilt between the 12th and 13th centuries, it was restored after the Allied bombing of 1944, which erased later additions.

The church serves as the starting point for the Macchina di Santa Rosa procession on September 3rd, where carriers receive a blessing before departing. This tradition ties the location to an important local celebration that brings the community together annually.

The main entrance is located at Piazza San Sisto, with staircases connecting different levels due to the building adapting to the terrain. Visitors should expect uneven transitions and height changes when exploring the various sections of the interior.

Part of the medieval city wall was removed to make room for the church's apse, allowing it to extend beyond the original defensive perimeter. This adjustment reveals how religious buildings influenced the urban growth of Viterbo over time.