Sutri is a stunningly beautiful ancient town, built on a volcanic bluff overlooking ravines surrounded by rich forest. The town itself is gorgeous, but is really famous for its archeological park; the remarkable Roman amphitheatre excavated into the tuff rock of the hillside opposite the town, the Etruscan necropolis with dozens of tombs, the ancient Mithraic temple built into the crypt of the Madonna del Parto church, and the lovely Villa Savorelli in the park overlooking the ampitheatre and its gardens.

Founded and settled in the Bronze age, ancient Etruscan Sutri was a major gateway on the road into Etruria, and was the site of many battles between the Romans and Etruscans. It fell to the Romans in 383 BC, but retained its strategic importance well into the middle ages. It was donated to the papal territories in 728 by the Lombards, and was well known and visited by popes, kings, and emperors, where synods were held, battles fought, and treaties signed.