Ferentium

Ferentium was a town of ancient Etruria, situated near the modern city of Viterbo in the northern part of the Roman province of Latium, now in modern Lazio.

History

Ferentium had an Etruscan predecessor at modern Acquarossa, as shown by the presence of a necropolis. In the Roman period, the city was a municipium of the Stellatina tribe and part of the seventh regio of the province of Italia. Several famous families came from the city, including that of the Roman emperor Otho and Flavia Domitilla, the wife of the emperor Vespasian. Either she or her identically named daughter were worshipped as diva Domitilla.

Around 400 AD diocese Ferentium was established. After 700 AD the diocese was suppressed. In 1172 Ferentium was conquered, sacked, and depopulated by Viterbo, and the territory incorporated into this neighboring city.

Remains

Extensive remains of the ancient Roman city are still extant, including the Ferento Roman Theater and several domestic and municipal buildings.

Address
Viterbo, Italy

Established
2nd century BCE