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 The
town of the Faliscs called Falerii, has been definitively
conquered by the Romans in 241 BC, so its inhabitants founded
Falerii Novi, while their old town, used by the Romans, since
then was called Falerii Veteres. The continuous invasions
and the barbarian sieges forced the inhabitants of Falerii
 Novi
to move back to Falerii Veteres, where they fortified the
ancient castle with strong walls, thus inducing Gregory V
to change its name into Civita Castellana. In 1490, under
the guide of Rodrigo Borgia, the future
Pope Alexander VI, the castle was modified into an imposing
fortress by Antonio Sangallo the Elder and was terminated
under Julius II by Sangallo the Younger in 1512. Because of
its excellent security features it was transformed into a
prison in the early 19th century. The Rocca dei Borgia
or Forte del Sangallo today houses the Museo Nazionale
dell'Agro Falisco with remains starting from the 8th century
BC until the Roman period and items coming from the town of
Falerii Novi.
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 Without
any doubt, the Duomo, built on a pre-existing temple
in the 12th century, is another magnificent monument of this
town. On its front there is a marvellous portico with mosaic
decorations of 1210 by Jacopo di Lorenzo and his son Cosma.
The inside presents a Latin cross plan with an elevated presbitery
and a splendid Cosmatesque pavement. The Romanesque crypt
with columns of various periods is worth the visit. The church
of S. Maria del Carmine, a 12th century construction , remodeled
in the 16th century, deserves a visit as well. It presents
a beautiful brickwork campanile and an interior of three aisles
divided by fluted Roman columns with different capitals.
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Being Civita Castellana famous
for its artistic pottery production, a visit at the Museo
della Ceramica in the Palazzo Petroni – Andosilla is obligatory.
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