Latera is a small town and comune in the Province of Viterbo, Lazio, central Italy. Stephen Owen considers it to be an "archetypal" Italian hill town. Situated near Bolsena Lake and Mezzano Lake, is important for volcanic underground activity near the town centre. It has a small rock with a medieval palace by Farnese family, surrounded by medieval stone houses.

History

Latera and its castle are known by documents from around the beginning of the 12th century. It began its long-lasting link with the Farnese family in 1408, when Pope Gregory XII conceded vicardom of the city to Ranuccio Farnese (1390-1450), creating with the namesake city of Farnese a Duchy independent from that of the nearby Castro, which later became capital of the Duchy of Castro. The House of Farnese reigned over the Duchy of Latera until 1650, when it was subsumed back into the Papal States. The last ruler was Pietro Francesco Farnese, Duke of Latera, General of the Spanish Army (1592-1662).

Main sights

Sources