DOI chapter:
Chap. VIII: Etruria - the Cremera - Veii - Falerium - Mount Soracte - Fescennium - Mevania - Asisium - Lake of Trasimenus - Entrance into the Tuscan Territory - Coxtona - Ancient Etrurians - Arretium - Val d'Arno
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0313
Ch. VIII.
THROUGH ITALY.
303
the ancient Fescennium : it stands on an insu-
lated rock, surrounded on all sides with a preci-
pice nearly perpendicular, forming a deep dell, at
the bottom of which through a stony channel,
rolls a clear and constant stream. The Avails both
of the town and the citadel rise on the edge of
the precipice, are formed in general of large
blocks of stone, and probably are the remains of
the ancient rampart. The strength and position of
Civita Castellana have induced, as I have before
observed, many antiquaries to conjecture that it
occupies the site of the ancient Veii, and the in-
habitants have very readily adopted an opinion so
honorable to their city. But the more general
persuasion that Veii was much nearer Rome, is
founded upon arguments so very solid and satis-
factory, that to doubt on the subject seems difficult.
About two miles and a half to the west of
Civita Castellana on a hill, stands a little town
now called Sta. Maria dei Fallari, supposed by
some to be the ancient Falerii, the capital of the
Falisci; a name that always revives the recollec-
tion of an anecdote highly honorable to the feel-
ings of Camillus, and to the generous character of
the Romans.*
?Lib. v. 27.
1
THROUGH ITALY.
303
the ancient Fescennium : it stands on an insu-
lated rock, surrounded on all sides with a preci-
pice nearly perpendicular, forming a deep dell, at
the bottom of which through a stony channel,
rolls a clear and constant stream. The Avails both
of the town and the citadel rise on the edge of
the precipice, are formed in general of large
blocks of stone, and probably are the remains of
the ancient rampart. The strength and position of
Civita Castellana have induced, as I have before
observed, many antiquaries to conjecture that it
occupies the site of the ancient Veii, and the in-
habitants have very readily adopted an opinion so
honorable to their city. But the more general
persuasion that Veii was much nearer Rome, is
founded upon arguments so very solid and satis-
factory, that to doubt on the subject seems difficult.
About two miles and a half to the west of
Civita Castellana on a hill, stands a little town
now called Sta. Maria dei Fallari, supposed by
some to be the ancient Falerii, the capital of the
Falisci; a name that always revives the recollec-
tion of an anecdote highly honorable to the feel-
ings of Camillus, and to the generous character of
the Romans.*
?Lib. v. 27.
1