Amelia is especially known for its walls, parts of which may date back to the Etruscan period. The Romans left other traces of their occupation, including cisterns built to collect rain water. A larger than life gilt bronze statue of Germanicus was unearthed just outside the Porta Romana in 1963 and is now the linchpin of a new Archaeological Museum. Today, old Amelia inside the walls, most accessible through the Porta Romana, is a well preserved medieval city. The centre of the city is the Piazza del Duomo where the Cathedral is located. There are many churches and among the non-religious buildings there are palaces built during the 14th and 15th century by the overlords of the City and the Teatro Operino opera house. The town is surrounded by hilly countryside dotted with villages and hamlets. The Lago Vecchio where rowing boats can be rented is nearby and the park of La Cavallerizza offers a walking/running track. The main festival of Amelia is the Palio dei Colombi, which stretches over two weeks in late July and early August. The central event being riders on horseback competing in a game of quintain. The winner fires a bolt from a crossbow, hits the target and releases a caged pigeon.
