Holiday apartment in Caprarola: Palazzo Farnese, Lake Vico and Sagra della Nocciola

Caprarola combines Palazzo Farnese with church art, gardens, the Lake Vico nature reserve and a long-standing hazelnut festival. The approximately 680-metre-long Via Filippo Nicolai runs through the town centre; it was formerly known as Via Diritta. Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola designed it, and it was built between 1557 and 1564 during the construction of Palazzo Farnese.

Palazzo Farnese and sacred art

Palazzo Farnese is open to visitors every day except Mondays from 08:30 to 19:30. Its Sala del Mappamondo contains a depiction of the celestial sphere as well as geographical maps by Vanosino.

San Rocco, built in the early 16th century, stands in front of Palazzo Farnese. The church preserves stucco work and frescoes from the early 17th century, a coffered ceiling bearing the coats of arms of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese, and a gilded Baroque altarpiece. The complex comprising the church and monastery of Santa Teresa was built in the 1620s at the request of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese, following a design by Girolamo Rainaldi, for the cultural and spiritual education of the Discalced Carmelites of the Teresian Order.

The altarpiece in Santa Teresa depicts the Madonna and Child, Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Joseph, and is attributed to Guido Reni. San Marco is also known as S.S. Trinità; the church was built from 1569 onwards according to Vignola’s design and completed before 1599. The former San Giovanni Evangelista hospital preserves well-preserved wall paintings depicting the Holy Family and Saint John the Baptist as a child.

Santa Maria Assunta contains a valuable fresco of the Madonna and Child as well as a panel painting from the Tuscan school depicting the Assumption of Mary, dating from the 14th or 15th century. In the Church of Our Lady of Good Help, the production of a carved and painted wooden coffered ceiling began in 1615; it is regarded as a rare example of Franciscan art. In the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, the first chapel on the right preserves a wooden statue of Saint Salvator from the late 15th century.

Gardens, fountains and historic sites

The Giardini Alti are a large park with four levels, accessible from the lower gardens via tree-lined paths and stairways. The Fontana dei Tartari stands in the winter garden, while the Fontana dei Satiri is located in the summer garden. The Farnese stables were completed in 1585 and provided space for approximately 120 horses. The Fontanaccia, also known as the Fontana delle Boccacce, was altered in 1597 on the occasion of Pope Clement VIII’s visit so that it dispensed wine instead of water. The Fontana del Mascherone has stood at its current location since 1563; its present form dates from 1853.

Lake Vico: nature with different forms of access

The Lake Vico regional nature reserve was established in 1982, covers 3,200 hectares and includes lake, marsh and forest ecosystems. On Monte Venere lies the “depressed” beech forest, with centuries-old beech trees on its eastern slope at approximately 530 metres above sea level. Mallards, garganeys and great crested grebes are among the birds living on the shores; wild orchids grow in the forests. Picnic areas as well as easily walkable roads and paths allow visitors to explore the original landscape. The area also includes a route specially designed for blind visitors, with models and information boards in Braille.

Sagra della Nocciola and regional tradition

The Sagra della Nocciola is a long-standing festival in Caprarola. The first celebrations took place in the 1950s; the Sagra is held in the last week of August. Visitors can sample or receive a Caprarola-style hazelnut-based Tozzetto as well as roasted hazelnuts.

Choose a holiday apartment in Caprarola according to your travel interests

In summer, Lake Vico can be reached from Caprarola’s historic centre by seasonal shuttle bus. When choosing your holiday apartment in Caprarola, you can therefore give different weight to cultural sites, gardens, the summer connection to the lake and the hazelnut tradition. For a stay combining several interests, the mix of architecture, sacred art, nature observation, easily walkable paths and a regional festival provides concrete starting points for varied days.

More destinations for planning your trip

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To the main travel overview: Viterbo.