Latera

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.^[3]

Latera
Comune
Comune di Latera
Coat of arms
Location of Latera
Latera Location of Latera in Italy Show map of Italy Latera Latera (Lazio) Show map of Lazio
Coordinates: 42°37′N 11°49′E
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Viterbo (VT)
Frazioni	Cantoniera di Latera, La Buca
Government
• Mayor	Francesco Di Biagi
Area [1]
• Total	22.43 km2 (8.66 sq mi)
Elevation	508 m (1,667 ft)
Population  (1 January 2019)[2]
• Total	811
• Density	36/km2 (94/sq mi)
Demonym	Lateresi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	01010
Dialing code	0761
Patron saint	St. Clement
Saint day	23 November
Website	Official website

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

Entrance to the Ducal Castle of Latera

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

• The Palace of Ranuccio Farnese
• The Three Fountains
• Museum of Earth, inaugurated in 1999

See also

• Wars of Castro