The papal city — the best-preserved medieval city in Lazio, where 13th-century popes were locked in by angry citizens until they elected someone
Viterbo is a remarkably intact medieval city in northern Lazio, overshadowed by Rome despite being one of Italy's finest examples of medieval urban planning. The San Pellegrino quarter — a labyrinth of volcanic tufa alleys, outdoor staircases (profferli), and fountain-studded piazzas — is largely unchanged since the 13th century. The city was the seat of the papacy from 1257 to 1281, and the Palazzo dei Papi contains the hall where the first 'conclave' was held — citizens famously locked the cardinals in and reduced their food to force an election after the papal seat had been vacant for near…
Viterbo was an Etruscan and Roman settlement before becoming a medieval city of major importance as the closest large city to Rome that was controlled by the Papal States. The popes retreated here after conflict with the Roman nobility; seven popes are buried in the city's churches. The invention of the conclave system in 1274 — locking cardinals in and reducing their food until they elected a pope — happened here after the seat was vacant for 1,006 days. The city's wealth came from its thermal springs (Terme dei Papi) and its position on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route to Rome.