A Journey through Italy: one photo every day #43 - SORIANO NEL CIMINO [ENG/ITA]

Hello everyone,
I began a Photo Journey through Italy. I will post one photo every day with a little note of explanation.
I hope you like it!

Soriano nel Cimino is a town in the province of Viterbo, in the Central Italian region of Lazio. It rises from a mountain setting among the abundant chestnut forests. Sitting lazily in the Cimini mountains, Soriano is just a few miles from the provincial capital and medieval town of Viterbo.

Archaeologists believe medieval Soriano was built on the site of Surrina vetus, an Etruscan town which was destroyed by the Romans. Soriano's silhouette is distinct with an enormous square and crenellated Orsini castle emerging from the cluster of houses in the historic center. Pope Nicolas Orsini built the castle around the tower that had already served as a defensive lookout for centuries.

In the XVIth century Soriano expanded outside the medieval walls on the slopes of Mount Cimino opposite the castle. The old town had two gates protected by towers on its western side because on the other sides it was surrounded by a ravine. Porta Vecchia, notwithstanding its name (Old Gate), was opened in the XVIth century to facilitate communication with the new neighbourhood. The old town is made up of twisting narrow streets which from the gates reach the castle. In the only square the inhabitants erected a church to Eutychius, a IIIrd century martyr who is buried in the outskirts of the town.

Soriano still preserves today old architectural and artistic treasures that testify a thousand-year-old history and culture: The Orsini Castel, built in the 13th century; the Papacqua fountain and the wonderful Chigi Albani Palace of 16th century.
Soriano also hosts the old medieval Romanic Church of Misericordia located at the foot of the castle, the ancient Romanic church of San Giorgio, the 18th century churches of SS. Trinità (S. Agostino), S. Eutizio and San Nicola di Bari (Cathedral of Soriano); the 17th century Church of Santa Maria del Poggio and the various archeological ruins of the Forest of Malano and Corviano; the Medieval village of Chia, the Catacombs of the Sanctuary of S.Eutizio, in the homonymous hamlet.

Thing to see: The historical center, The Orsini Castle, the Cathedral of San Nicola di Bari, the Papacqua fountain, the Chigi Albani Palace, the Church of Misericordia, the church of San Giorgio, the church of SS. Trinità (S. Agostino), the church S. Eutizio, the Church of Santa Maria del Poggio, the archeological ruins of the Forest of Malano and Corviano; the Medieval village of Chia, the Catacombs of the Sanctuary of S.Eutizio.