VITERBO, a city of central Italy, capital of a delegation of the same name in the Papal States, is situated at the foot of Monte Cimino, on the high road between Florence and Rome, 40 miles N.N.W. of the latter city. It is enclosed by walls and towers, and is generally well built, having many handsome edifices, and a number of elegant fountains. It is supposed to occupy the site of the ancient Fanum Voltumnae, where the general assembly of the Etruscans was held on solemn occasions. In the thirteenth century it was the residence of several popes, some of whom are buried in its churches; and numerous conclaves of the sacred college have been held here. It is at present the seat of a bishop, and the residence of the delegate or governor of the province. The cathedral, a Gothic edifice, is built on the site of a temple of Hercules, and is adorned with some good paintings, and contains monuments of several of the popes. The episcopal palace is an old building of the thirteenth century, now much decayed, but still retaining many points of interest, among which is the great hall where the conclaves were held. Among the other ecclesiastical edifices worthy of notice are the church of Sta Rosa, where the body of that saint is preserved; the church of St. Francesco, containing a painting by Sebastian del Piombo, from designs by Michael Angelo; the Trinita, &c. The town-hall contains some good paintings and collections of Etruscan and other remains connected with the locality. There are few manufactures in the city, the inhabitants being chiefly dependent on agriculture. There are numerous mineral springs in the vicinity, and alum, sulphur, vitriol, and other volcanic products are obtained. Many of the higher classes in Rome have country houses about Viterbo. Pop. 14,000. The delegation, or province of Viterbo, has an area of 1120 square miles, and
Vitoria a population (1853) of 128,324. The surface is mountainous in the north, in other parts undulating or plain. A considerable portion of it is cultivated, producing corn, wine, olive-oil, &c. Cattle are extensively reared in the province.