The town is located in the southern part of the Tuscia area of Viterbo near the border with the province of Rome. Its history dates to the middle of the sixteenth century, when the area was purchased by Giorgio di Santacroce, who began an avant-garde project for agricultural and forest reclamation with the construction of the first settlement. The focal point of this ingenious plan aimed towards creating a "happy city" for summer holidays was the Palazzo Baronale, now completely restructured to house the teaching facilities of the Environmental, Architectural and Artistic Office of the Region of Latium. The palace and the villa (which later went from the Santacroce family to the Orsini and Altieri families) evoke the late-fifteenth-century lines of similar buildings such as Villa Medici in Rome, Villa Mondragone in Frascati and Palazzo Orsini in Bomarzo. There is debate on whether the original designer of the project was Muzio Paparelli or the students of Vignola. Further work and extensions were dictated by defensive and celebratory requirements, such as the lengthening of a hall to hold a picture gallery, where today we can admire all the portraits of the popes from St. Peter to modern times. The frescoes in the original building, certainly more valuable, are part of the late Mannerist movement of the Roman school prior to the revolution started by Caravaggio. The most pleasant view is offered to us by the atrium, with the vault portraying Phaeton driving the horses of the sun. Also notable are the portraits in the Salone degli Stemmi, with two coats of arms of the Altieri family and a unique gallery for musicians. In the Salotto delle Belle, nine of the eleven portraits remain of the Mancini sisters, painted by Voet. The wall frescoes include a rare image of the palace prior to its modification by the Orsini and Altieri families. The late eighteenth-century paintings in the dining hall depict the surrounding estates (Canale Monterano, Montevirginio, Vejano), the palace itself and the street of Via Altieri in Oriolo Romano lit up festively. The chapel, which holds the remains of St. Maximus martyr, is also impressive because of the elegant tondo depicting the Madonna with Child. The Galleria dei Papi is a rare curiosity. This gallery, built by Clement X Altieri, has the portraits of all the popes (according to existing iconography) accompanied by the coat of arms and a prophetic saying of Malachy.

In the historic centre, we can admire the parish church of San Giorgio, built at the same time as the original structure of the palace, with a Raphael-style canvas depicting St. George slaying the dragon. Also worth visiting are the seventeenth-century church of Sant'Anna and the convent of Sant'Agostino, with the remains of St. Gaudentius. It was built by Clement X in 1675.

Near the town, we find an ancient beech forest and Mola park, with its sulphurous waters.