The Pietreto wood in Vitorchiano takes its name from gigantic peperino stones that are scattered around the area due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Cimino.
Over the centuries some of these boulders have been carved and used as tombs or religious areas, in the Roman period, and as homes during the Middle Ages when people took refuge in the woods to escape the barbarian invasions. They were then used as tombs also in the Lombard period.
Some of the houses were used by shepherds until the 1970s.
Today all these boulders represent a 'sculpture park' within the forest and make nature walks suggestive. One of these boulders, in the Bomarzo area, has been totally sculpted and looks like a Mayan pyramid.
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