the Etruscan destination in the Region Lazio – Rome

uncontaminated countryside, between cultivated lands and wild areas.

The enchanted village of Formello is situated near Rome along the historical rural

route well known as Via Francigena, leading pilgrims since Medieval times from

Canterbury to Rome. The name “Francigena” originated during the post Carolingian

period, when most travellers from the “Land of Franks” crossed on foot or on

horseback the Alps to Italy, looking for spiritual sites. Rome was one of the main

European destinations of Christianity and nowadays the surroundings take sign of the

millenary heritage. In 2004 the so called Via Francigena was officially proclaimed

“Leading European Cultural Itinerary” by the Council of Europe.

In particular, the Municipality of Formello is located in the Regional Park of Veio, a

15,000 hectares protected Etruscan area, called Agro Veientano, between Via Flaminia

and Via Cassia, characterized by naturalistic, archaelogical-cultural sites and amazing

landscapes including the necropolis of Monte Michele, the duct and hydraulic complex

of Selvotta and the Vaccareccia tumulus.

Besides Formello the Municipalities belonging to the Etruscan area are

di Roma

and

morphological aspect made of tufaceous plateaus used for agricultural cultivations, of

steep slopes carved by ditches (the ditches of the Crescenza, of the Valchetta, and of

the Torraccia, which flow into the Tiber) and by slopes covered with thick natural

woods.