Blera

Infobox CityIT
img_coa =blera-Stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Blera
region = Lazio
province = Viterbo (VT)
elevation_m = 270
area_total_km2 = 92.78
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 3208
population_density_km2 =34.58
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|16|24|N|12|01|57|E|
frazioni = Civitella Cesi
telephone = 0761
postalcode = 01010
gentilic = Blerani
saint = San Vivenzio
day = december 11
mayor = Pietro Mazzarella (since April 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.blera.vt.it www.comune.blera.vt.it]

Blera is a small town and comune of the northern Lazio Italy near Rome, known during the Middle Ages as Bieda, an evolved form of its ancient name, which was restored in the 20th century. It is the birthplace of Pope Sabinian and Pope Paschal II.

It is situated on a long, narrow tongue of rock at the junction of two deep glens.

History

In ancient times, Blera was an Etruscan town on the Via Clodia. It was of little importance, and is only mentioned by geographers and in inscriptions.

Main sights

Some remains of the town walls still exist, and also two ancient bridges, both belonging to the Via Clodia, and many tombs hewn in the rock with small chambers imitating the architectural forms of houses, and beams and rafters represented in relief. (See G. Dennis, "Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria", [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/_Periods/Roman/Archaic/Etruscan/_Texts/DENETR*/17.html i.207] .) There was another Blera in Puglia, on the road from Venusia to Tarentum.

External links

* [http://www.comune.blera.vt.it/ Official site of the "comune" of Blera]
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/_Periods/Roman/Archaic/Etruscan/_Texts/DENETR*/17.html George Dennis on Blera] (Chapter 17 of "Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria")

References

*1911