The area around the lake of Bolsena is the perfect place to spend your holidays both in summer and winter.
Montefiascone among the towns of the Lake, is the only one who, from a height of 635 meters above sea level, offers a singular panoramic view across the territory of that portion of the province of Viterbo, which is called Alta Tuscia.
From the Tower of pilgrim at the fortress of the Popes it can be seen in its entirety, the territory of Southern Etruria formerly inhabited by the mysterious Etruscans.
To the north, over the Lake of Bolsena it will be hard not to notice the dark shape of Mount Amiata with its 1738 meters high, and the snow-capped peak during winter and destination for many skiers.
In looking to the west, on clear days, especially on sunny afternoons, you can see the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea on the coast of Maremman Tuscany and Lazio, while further south there is the plain leading to the medieval city of Viterbo with overlying Cimini Mountains.
The diversity of this region (plains, mountains and hills) made the Tuscia a very interesting province from the touristic point of view. Just few miles to move from the mountain climate characterized by the 1053 meters of the complex of the Cimini Mountains, where you can have beautiful walks through forests of oaks and chestnuts, to the sea of the seaside resorts of Tarquinia and Montalto, taking Montefiascone as a strategic point of reference for short trips and escursions.
The 'Via Francigena' (the ancient route traveled by medieval pilgrims on their way to Rome), crosses the territory of the town of Montefiascone from north to south and the Romanesque Church of St. Flavian is an important reference point of the path.
In front of the church square, in a hypothetical crossroads, merged the pilgrims who came from the main path and those who came from nearby towns of Orvieto and Bagnoregio and that had decided to divert to Perugia, Todi and Assisi rather than to cross the province of Siena.
The route goes over different sections of the ancient Roman consular paved road 'Cassia' and through olive groves and woods, with ups and downs and stunning views of the lake.
The shores of the lake can be reached via a road that descends from the slopes of the hill and through the fertile valley. The beaches of the lake are very popular between the swimmers during the summer but also the location for romantic walks in autumn and winter.
The lake is great for water sports like wind-surfing, boating or sailing, or the more relaxing fishing (along the beaches there are special places for Carp Fishing). Another very nice sport along the shores and in the many country roads that go up and down from the centre of the town to the valley, is the off-road cycling practiced with the use of mountain bikes.
The Town and particularly its old centre is perched on the highest hill of the volcanic Volsini Mountains that surround the basin of the lake. The shape of the inhabited area is typical one of the medieval town with a fortified wall and access doors that formerly were closed during the invasion. The fortress is located on the top and along with the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Margherita, make Montefiascone instantly recognizable from any point of Alta Tuscia you look at.