Monterano, Archaeological site and ghost town in Canale Monterano, Lazio, Italy.
Monterano sits on a tuff stone hill surrounded by deep gorges carved by the Mignone River and Bicione stream, featuring Roman aqueduct ruins, medieval castle walls, and Renaissance church remains within a protected natural reserve spanning approximately 2,470 acres (1,000 hectares).
Originally an Etruscan settlement with tombs still visible today, Monterano grew under Roman rule with expanded roads and aqueducts before becoming a medieval episcopal seat, reaching its peak prosperity in the seventeenth century under Pope Clement X of the Altieri family until French troops destroyed it in seventeen ninety-eight.
The town's most significant artistic contributions came from Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed the Church and Convent of San Bonaventura and the Lion Fountain during the seventeenth century, while the ruins later served as filming locations for major motion pictures including the nineteen fifty-nine version of Ben Hur.
Located less than 1 hour (60 minutes) by car from Civitavecchia and approximately 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) west of Lake Bracciano, the site is accessible via walking trails from a parking area with no modern facilities like restaurants or lighting available on site.
The reserve contains the Diosilla waterfall with sulphur-rich waters that shift in color from yellow to blue and white, alongside volcanic hot springs, boiling water pools, and tuff caves once used as sulphur mines throughout the forested landscape.
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