LUCRETIA AT NEPI Travelers from Rome to Nepi, then as now, followed the Via Cassia, passing Isola Farnese, Baccano, and Monterosi.

The road consisted in part of the ancient highway, but it was in the worst possible condition.
Near Monterosi the traveler turned into the Via Amerina, much of the pavement of which is still preserved, even up to the walls of Nepi.
Like most of the cities of Etruria, Nepi (Nepe or Nepete) was situated on a high plain bordered by deep ravines, through which flowed small streams, called _rii_.

The bare cliffs of tuff constituted a natural means of defense, and where they were low, walls were built.
The southern side of the city of Nepi, where the Falisco River flows and empties into a deep chasm, was in ancient times fortified with high walls built of long, square blocks of tuff laid upon each other without mortar, like the walls of neighboring Falerii.

Some remains of Nepi's walls may still be seen near the Porta Romana, although much of the material has been used in constructing the castle and for the high arches of the Farnese aqueduct.
The castle defended the weakest side of Nepi, where, in the old days, stood the city fortress.

In the eighth century it was the seat of a powerful duke, Toto, who made a name for himself also in the history of Rome.