Bolsena, the old castle-town on the north-east shore of the lake, with the shrine of St Christina, stands for the Val di Lago: the ring of lakeside castles that Orvieto wants as the southern half of its contado and that Innocent III claims for the Patrimony.
(The miracle of Bolsena is of 1263: later.)
Who holds it
- Name
- The lakeside communities, claimed by the pope and by Orvieto (who holds what that winter is not pinned)
- Title
- Lord or governing body
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
The Val di Lago, the castles round Lake Bolsena (Bolsena, Grotte, Gradoli, San Lorenzo, Capodimonte, Marta), is disputed between the pope and Orvieto; the Enciclopedia Italiana calls its acquisition by Orvieto 'especially contested, the Church among others'.
How things stand that morning
Contested between the pope and Orvieto; the quarrel comes to arms and lasts until 1201 (Maleczek, for Orvieto). Across the borders: the pope's Montefiascone south-east, Orvieto north-east, Acquapendente north (contested), the Farnese castles and Toscanella's lands west.
Charter
Not found.
Walls and castle
A castle above the old town (its holder in 1200 not pinned).
Trade and crafts
Lake fishing (eels), the Via Cassia traffic, farming of the lake rim.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The dispute over the Val di Lago is in the Enciclopedia Italiana (Orvieto), undated; its state that winter is not pinned.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.