CIVITA CASTELLANA an ancient Etruscan city with a fine Romanesque Cathedral, whose porch is a masterpiece of Cosmati work; there is also an imposing Castle with a courtyard by Antonio do Sangallo (16° cent.). One can lunch at Civita and then run 11 km. (7 mi.) through the imposing scenery of the Monte Soratte, beneath the sanctuaries of Madonna delle Grazie and San Silvestro to Torrita Tiberina in the Tiber Valley with a beautiful view over Sabinia, to pass through Montopoli and arrive at FARA SABINA, with fine Renaissance architecture and a splendid view from the parapet of the piazza and a natural viewpoint for the Alban Hills: near here (50 km. - 28 3/4 mi. from Civita) is the famous ABBEY OF FARFA, an important centre of monastic culture in the Middle Ages, founded in the 5° century, often rebuilt and altered in succeeding centuries, full of works of art, bas-reliefs and sculpture.
We continue south to Palombara Sabina (25 km. - 15 3/4 mi. from Farfa), a picturesque town on a hilltop in the shadow of Monte Gennaro (fine Romanesque church of San Giovanni in Argentillo, 2 km. - 1 1/4 mi, from the town). At 42 km. (26 1/4 mi.) from Farfa we reach TIVOLI.
