2023 Friday Oct. 27

Bolsena to Montefiascone

No Relive video today.

After consulting with our hotel in Bolsena, our plan was to get stitches out in a hospital for first aid in Montefiascone. However, times were limited (noon to 2 pm) and with no appointment, we had no idea how much time to allow. So, instead of trusting time to walk, we elected to take the 40-minute bus ride. For less than 3 Euros, we made it to Montefiascone.

The hospital is part of an ancient building possibly to serve pilgrims. Two women at the doorway in the other side were our “triage”—they told me to go inside.
Valentina made quick work of getting stitches out. No waiting, no cost. Grazie!
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele; the center of the old town.
The fountain in Piazza is from 1898 when an aqueduct brought water to the area from the nearby hills.
Hotel Urbano V
St. Flaviano church was built in 1032 on the site of a previous church. The interior was once covered by frescos, and is also known for its elaborate columnar capitals. In the XIV and XV centuries the Romanesque church was updated with some Gothic elements.
St. Flaviano with flowing blond hair.
A famous tale concerns Defuk, servant of a traveling bishop, who was sent ahead to scout for the best white wines. He would write “Est!” on the doorways where the wine was good enough. He once discovered an establishment where he wrote “Est! Est! Est! and now the town proudly recommends wines of that name. Sadly, Defuk died from drinking too much wine, and is buried in St. Flaviano church.
Defuk’s gravestone proclaiming Est! Est! Est!
The 15th-17th c. Basilica Cathedral of Santa Margherita. The dome is one of the largest in Italy and can be seen for miles. The fourth-century Saint Margherita of Antioch was one of the saints mentioned in the visions of Joan of Arc.
Inside the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Margherita.
Art inside the dome of the Cathedral.
Winding our way up the hill to the Rocca dei Papi park, part of the remains of a Papal summer palace.
The Pilgrim’s Tower was unfortunately closed.
There are wonderful views from the park looking over Lake Bolsena.
Defuk’s history is memorialized one more time in case anyone missed seeing the church of San Flaviano.
The dome of the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Margherita is almost level with views from the Rocca dei Papi park.
A monument to pilgrims overlooks Lake Bolsena viewpoints.

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