The city of Acquapendente (420 meters s.l.m.) situated on the northern slope of the volcanic highland of the Volsinis that brusquely goes down in the valley of the river Straw (tributary of the Tevere), it is in the center of that handle of territory laziale that wedges him between Tuscany and Umbria. After Thousand, following the development of the Street Francigena, Acquapendente became a main point it covers for the Pilgrims coming from the north that went to Rome.
In 1166 it rebelled him to the dominion of Fred The Barbarossa: the rebellion, according to the tradition you/he/she was propitiated by the miraculous flowering of a dry cherry. To memory of that episode, that enacted found again her/it liberty and the privilege to become free Common every year is held the party of the Madonna of the Flower. The delicate strategic position of the Street made Cassia Acquapendente activates and flourishing and it allowed the economic and cultural development of it.
In the '500 were built the most important ladylike buildings in the plaza and in the principal streets. But the jewel of the monuments aquesiani is the ancient Basilica of the Saint Sepulchre, whose foundation makes him go up again to Brass The the Great (X century) one. It preserves to his/her inside the precious separated Crypt (XI - XII century) in three aisles with elegant times to cruise. The twenty-two columns have characteristic decorated capitals with figures zoomorfe and fitomorfe that are alternated with great variety of subjects and forms. To the center of the Crypt the Sacello reproduces the Saint Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where a wet stone of the blood of Christ is guarded. Other important churches are that of S.Francesco, consecrate in 1149 and container numerous works of art and cycles of frescos of the XVII century and the church of S.Agostino of the end of the XVIII century. The aquesianis, that you/they have always lived along one of the greatest street of communication of Italy show vivacious that is found in special way in their traditions: the most important are the Carnival and the Party of the Madonna of the Flower (Party of the Pugnalonis) and the Party of the Country civilization and Artisan. The territory is completed with two fractions, Tower Alfina put to the border with the umbria and Trevinano that it is risen toward Tuscany.