1.
Metropolitan City of Rome Capital
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The administrative area of the Metropolitan City of Rome is one of the constitutional Metropolitan cities of Italy in the Lazio region, Italy. Its capital is the city of Rome and it replaced the Province of Rome and comprises the city of Rome and other 121 municipalities. It was firstly created by the reform of local authorities and then established by the Law 56/2014 and it has been officially operative since 1 January 2015. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital is headed by the Metropolitan Mayor, since 20 June 2016 Virginia Raggi, as mayor of the capital city. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital covers almost one-third of the territory of Lazio, the western boundary of the province is represented by the Tyrrhenian Sea on which spread to about 130 kilometres from the coast near Rome from Civitavecchia to Torre Astura. In the territory there are lakes, almost all of volcanic origin. Today Rome is circled, at a distance of about 10 km from the Capitol, due to its location in the centre of the Italian peninsula, Rome is the principal railway node for central Italy. Romes main railway station, Termini, is one of the largest railway stations in Europe, the second-largest station in the city, Roma Tiburtina, has been redeveloped as a high-speed rail terminus. Rome is served by three airports, the intercontinental Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is Italys chief airport, is located within the nearby Fiumicino, south-west of Rome. The older Rome Ciampino Airport is a joint civilian and military airport and it is commonly referred to as Ciampino Airport, as it is located beside Ciampino, south-east of Rome. A third airport, the Roma-Urbe Airport, is a small, low-traffic airport located about 6 km north of the city centre, although the city has its own quarter on the Mediterranean Sea, this has only a marina and a small channel-harbour for fisher boats. The main harbour which serves Rome is Port of Civitavecchia, located about 62 km northwest of the city, a 3-line metro system called the Metropolitana operates in the Metropolitan City of Rome. Construction on the first branch started in the 1930s, the line had been planned to quickly connect the main railway station with the newly planned E42 area in the southern suburbs, where the 1942 World Fair was supposed to be held. The event never took place because of war, but the area was partly redesigned and renamed EUR in the 1950s to serve as a modern business district. The line was opened in 1955, and it is now the south part of the B Line. The A line opened in 1980 from Ottaviano to Anagnina stations, in the 1990s, an extension of the B line was opened from Termini to Rebibbia. This underground network is generally reliable as it is relatively short, the A and B lines intersect at Roma Termini station. A new branch of the B line opened on 13 June 2012 after a building cost of €500 million
2.
Rome
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Rome is a special comune and the capital of Italy. Rome also serves as the capital of the Lazio region, with 2,873,598 residents in 1,285 km2, it is also the countrys largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. It is the center of the Metropolitan City of Rome, which has a population of 4.3 million residents, the city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio, along the shores of the Tiber. Romes history spans more than 2,500 years, while Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at only around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe. The citys early population originated from a mix of Latins, Etruscans and it was first called The Eternal City by the Roman poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC, and the expression was also taken up by Ovid, Virgil, and Livy. Rome is also called the Caput Mundi, due to that, Rome became first one of the major centres of the Italian Renaissance, and then the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. Famous artists, painters, sculptors and architects made Rome the centre of their activity, in 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic. Rome has the status of a global city, Rome ranked in 2014 as the 14th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, monuments and museums such as the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are among the worlds most visited tourist destinations with both locations receiving millions of tourists a year. Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics and is the seat of United Nations Food, however, it is a possibility that the name Romulus was actually derived from Rome itself. As early as the 4th century, there have been alternate theories proposed on the origin of the name Roma. There is archaeological evidence of occupation of the Rome area from approximately 14,000 years ago. Evidence of stone tools, pottery and stone weapons attest to about 10,000 years of human presence, several excavations support the view that Rome grew from pastoral settlements on the Palatine Hill built above the area of the future Roman Forum. Between the end of the age and the beginning of the Iron age. However, none of them had yet an urban quality, nowadays, there is a wide consensus that the city was gradually born through the aggregation of several villages around the largest one, placed above the Palatine. All these happenings, which according to the excavations took place more or less around the mid of the 8th century BC. Despite recent excavations at the Palatine hill, the view that Rome has been indeed founded with an act of will as the legend suggests in the middle of the 8th century BC remains a fringe hypothesis. Traditional stories handed down by the ancient Romans themselves explain the earliest history of their city in terms of legend and myth
3.
Lazio
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Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With almost 5.9 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the second most populated region of Italy and its capital is Rome, capital and largest city of Italy. Lazio comprises an area of 17,236 km2 and it has borders with Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche to the north, Abruzzo and Molise to the east, Campania to the south. The region is flat and hilly, with small mountainous areas in the most eastern and southern districts. The coast of Lazio is mainly composed of beaches, punctuated by the headlands of Circeo. The Pontine Islands, which are part of Lazio, lie opposite the southern coast, behind the coastal strip, to the north, lies the Maremma Laziale, a coastal plain interrupted at Civitavecchia by the Tolfa Mountains. The central section of the region is occupied by the Roman Campagna, the southern districts are characterized by the flatlands of Agro Pontino, a once swampy and malarial area, that was reclaimed over the centuries. To the south of the Tiber, other groups form part of the Preapennines, the Alban Hills, also of volcanic origin. The highest peak is Mount Gorzano on the border with Abruzzo, see also, History of Italy The Italian word Lazio descends from the Latin word Latium. The name of the region also survives in the designation of the ancient population of Latins, Latini in the Latin language spoken by them. Although the demography of ancient Rome was multi-ethnic, including, for example, Etruscans and other Italics besides the Latini, in Roman mythology, the tribe of the Latini took their name from king Latinus. Much of Lazio is in flat or rolling. The lands originally inhabited by the Latini were extended into the territories of the Samnites, the Marsi, the Hernici, the Aequi, the Aurunci and the Volsci, all surrounding Italic tribes. This larger territory was still called Latium, but it was divided into Latium adiectum or Latium Novum, the lands or New Latium, and Latium Vetus, or Old Latium. The northern border of Lazio was the Tiber river, which divided it from Etruria, the emperor Augustus officially united almost all of present-day Italy into a single geo-political entity, Italia, dividing it into eleven regions. However, the wars against the Longobards weakened the region. With the Donation of Sutri in 728, the Bishop of Rome acquired the first territory in the region beyond the Duchy of Rome, the strengthening of the religious and ecclesiastical aristocracy led to continuous power struggles between secular lords and the Pope until the middle of the 16th century. Other popes tried to do the same, during the period when the papacy resided in Avignon, France, the feudal lords power increased due to the absence of the Pope from Rome
4.
Province of Rome
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The Province of Rome was one of the five provinces of Lazio, Italy. The province of Rome was the most populous of Italy, and is coterminous with the Rome metropolitan area. The Province of Rome existed from 1870 to 31 December 2014, on 1 January 2015, it was replaced with a new administrative area, the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. The province of Rome was established in 1870 after the Capture of Rome by the newly formed Kingdom of Italy from the Papal States and it was initially divided into five districts, Rome, Civitavecchia, Frosinone, Velletri and Viterbo, corresponding to the old papal delegazioni. In 1923 the district of Rieti, formerly part of the province of Perugia, was annexed to that of Rome, in 1934 the provincial territory lost its southern part, which became the new province of Latina. Latium, the oldest regional division of the province Lazio, the region the province of Rome is a part of Official website
5.
Province of Latina
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The Province of Latina is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Latina and it has an area of 2,251 square kilometres and a total population of 561,189. There are 33 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Latina, the main comuni by population are, The province of Latina was founded on 18 December 1934, encompassing mainly the drained areas of the Agro Pontino previously part of the province of Rome. Apart the Pontine lands, it includes the Aurunci, Lepini and Ausoni mountain ranges, the port of Gaeta and Formia, in the southernmost part of the province, belonged traditionally and linguistically to Campania. Although the smallest of the provinces in the Lazio region, the province of Latina includes a variety of geographical and historical areas, the mainland area is, in the south- and north-eastern part, mostly occupied by limestone hills and mountains. Ranges include the Lepini, Aurunci, Ausoni, the highest elevation is that of 1, 533-metre Monte Petrella. The climate is semi-continental with hot summers and cold winters, temperatures fall below 0 °C. Tourism is an interesting resource, attracted especially by the uncontaminated nature. The main centres of this area are Cori, Sezze, the Agro Pontino occupies the plain extending southwards from Aprilia to Terracina, along the Tyrrhenian Sea. The sole mountain peak is that of Circeo promontory, the Agro Pontino is the most economically developed part of the province, housing a flourishing agricultural sector and numerous service firms and industries. It also houses much of the basins of the province, like the coast Lakes of Fogliano, Caprolace. Apart the capital, the cities include Cisterna di Latina, Terracina. Cities rich of ancient and medieval history, Gaeta and Formia were traditionally part of the Kingdom of Naples and they belonged to the Campania region until 1934. Traces of the different cultural milieu can be identified in the costumes and, most of all, in the local dialect, Formia and Gaeta constitutes a single metropolitan area with an important port, a station on the main railway line Rome-Naples. Other important centres include Sperlonga and Minturno, once mainly used as penitentiaries, the Pontine Islands are now a renowned tourist resort in summer. The only inhabited islands are Ponza and Ventotene, roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gaeta#Province of Latina Official website
6.
Guidonia Montecelio
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Guidonia Montecelio, commonly known as Guidonia, is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy. The terrain of Guidonia Montecelio is mainly flat, and the community lies in between the Via Nomentana and the Via Tiburtina and it borders with Fonte Nuova, Marcellina, Palombara Sabina, Rome, San Polo dei Cavalieri, SantAngelo Romano and Tivoli. The hamlets are Albuccione, Bivio di Guidonia, Colle Fiorito, Colleverde, La Botte, Marco Simone, Montecelio, Pichini, Setteville, Setteville Nord, Villalba, Montecelio was founded in 998 as a fortified castrum. In 1915 the Regio Esercito built a military airport in the area for its Corpo Aeronautico Militare. Today the town is part of Rome metropolitan area, with a presence of industry. The number of commuting to Rome is high, with transport in a critical situation. David Di Michele - Football player Guidonia Montecelio is twinned with, Kawasaki, Japan Cape Canaveral, kashira, Russia Media related to Guidonia Montecelio at Wikimedia Commons Local portal News & Info from Guidonia Montecelio Guidonia Montecelio
7.
Aprilia, Lazio
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Aprilia is a town and comune in the province of Latina, now incorporated in the conurbation of Rome, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is the town for population in the region and the tenth for its area. Aprilia is located at 80 metres above sea level, in the Agro Romano, although Aprilia is effectively part of the province of Latina, because of its strategic position at the far north of the Pontinian province, Aprilia is commonly associated to Rome. It has been considered whether Aprilia should be included in the Rome metropolitan area, in ancient times the territory of Aprilia was under the dominion of Ardea and Rome. In modern age Aprilia was founded on April 25,1936, the project of the land reclamation, wanted by Benito Mussolini, where the Duce proposed new areas for Italian citizens to live and work in not so far from the big cities. Aprilia was part of the project called 2PST by The area where the city has been built belonged to the Rome county, is the fourth in order of foundation after Littoria, Sabaudia e Pontinia. The name of the city come from the Latin Venus Aprilia - Fruitful Venus With a surface of 17,774 hectares, and an amount of 71,150 inhabitants at 31.03. In 1929, after repeated attempts, began the work of land reclamation in the area attracted a significant number of people coming from Trentino, Veneto, from Friuli. Only then took over a population that lived in a small part in the new urban center. Aprilia was a part of the reclamation Pontina including Littoria, Sabaudia, Pontinia and Pomezia. At its foundation, the Urban Center was composed of four buildings, City, post office, church, home of the beam to which were added to the Cinema Littorio. Things became critical with the advance of World War II and the beginning of the Battle of Rome, in January 1944 Aprilia called the la fabbrica, the factory by the Allies, was reduced to a pile of rubble and the population took refuge in Campania and Calabria. In the 50s Italians from North Africa Colonies who built estesissimi vineyards to produce wines with denomination of origin and this was the first step toward industrialization itself. At the end of 1951 settled in Aprilias first factory, the Simmenthal, the town changed its face and gave work to many workers. Aprilia currently engaged about one hundred plants, including major corporations. The Aprilia region is home to a large 3,700 hectare Denominazione di origine controllata DOC that is noted for its wines from varieties such as Trebbiano, Merlot, Sangiovese. Under DOC regulations, the wines must contain at least 95% of the grape variety on the wine label in order to qualify for the DOC designation. Nearly 75% of the DOC production is centered around Trebbiano. 5% alcohol by volume
8.
Fiumicino
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Fiumicino is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy, with a population of 77,870. It is famous for the presence of the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, the busiest airport in Italy, the name literally means little river. The town of Fiumicino should not be confused with its namesake, Fiumicino, Fiumicino became a comune in 1992, previously it was part of the municipality of Rome, being almost totally included in the former Municipio XIV. On 24 August 2013, a mud volcano popped up at the centre of the via Coccia di Morto roundabout. Fiumicino borders with the municipalities of Anguillara Sabazia, Cerveteri, Ladispoli and it lies in the northern side of the mouth of Tiber river, next to Ostia. Fiumicino is home to the largest airport in Italy, the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, the city also houses the head offices of Alitalia and Blue Panorama Airlines. All Nippon Airways has its Rome Sales Office in the Room 447 in the, cathay Pacific has an office in the airports Torre Uffici 2. In addition Small Planet Airlines has an office in Fiumicino, in addition, Fiumicino has a large fishing center on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast and a sea resort. The Istituto di Instruzione Superiore Leonardo da Vinci is in Fiumicino, the Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, also known as Rome-Fiumicino, lies in the north-eastern suburb of the town. It is served by the A91 motorway from Rome and by the Roman Suburban Railway line FL1, the municipality counts the railway stations of Fiumicino Aeroporto and Parco Leonardo, both on the line FL1. Airport station is served by a non-stop train from/to Roma Termini named Leonardo Express. The other stations within the municipality, Maccarese-Fregene and Torre in Pietra-Palidoro, are part of the Rome-Pisa line, the branch line from Parco Leonardo to the towns centre, counting the stations of Porto, Fiumicino and Fiumicino Porto Canale, was closed in 2000. it
9.
Tivoli, Lazio
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Tivoli is a town and comune in Lazio, central Italy, about 30 kilometres east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills. The city offers a view over the Roman Campagna. Catillus and his three sons Tiburtus, Coras, and Catillus drove out the Siculi from the Aniene plateau, according to a more historical account, Tibur was instead a colony of Alba Longa. Historical traces of settlement in the date back to the 13th century BC. The citys name may share a root with the river Tiber. Virgil in his Aeneid makes Coras and the younger Catillus twin brothers, from Etruscan times Tibur, a Sabine city, was the seat of the Tiburtine Sibyl. In the nearby woods, Faunus had a sacred grove, at first an independent ally of Rome, Tibur allied itself with the Gauls in 361 BC. Vestiges remain of its walls of this period, in opus quadratum. In 338 BC, however, Tibur was defeated and absorbed by the Romans, the city acquired Roman citizenship in 90 BC and became a resort area famed for its beauty and its good water, and was enriched by many Roman villas. The most famous one, of which the ruins remain, is the Villa Adriana, maecenas and Augustus also had villas at Tibur, and the poet Horace had a modest villa, he and Catullus and Statius all mention Tibur in their poems. In 273, Zenobia, the queen of Palmyra, was assigned a residence here by the Emperor Aurelian. The 2nd-century temple of Hercules Victor is being excavated, the present Piazza del Duomo occupies the Roman forum. The name of the city came to be used in form as Tiburi instead of Tibur and so transformed through Tibori to Tiboli. But its inhabitants are still called Tiburtini and not Tivolesi, in 547, in the course of the Gothic War, the city was fortified by the Byzantine general Belisarius, but was later destroyed by Totilas army. After the end of the war it became a Byzantine duchy, after Italy was conquered by Charlemagne, Tivoli was under the authority of a count, representing the emperor. From the 10th century onwards Tivoli, as an independent commune governed by its elected consuls, was the fiercest rival of Rome in the struggle for the control over the impoverished central Lazio, Emperor Otto III conquered it in 1001, and Tivoli fell under the papal control. Reminders of the turbulence of communal life are the tower houses that may be seen in Vicolo dei Ferri, Via di Postera, Via del Seminario. In the 13th century Rome imposed a tribute on the city, in the 14th century Tivoli sided with the Guelphs and strongly supported Urban VI against Antipope Clement VII
10.
Ciampino
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Ciampino is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It was a frazione of Marino until 1974, when it became a comune, the city is named after Giovanni Giustino Ciampini, a religious, scientist and archaeologist who lived here in the 17th century. It grew from 5,000 inhabitants in 1951 to 28,000 in 1971, today, the city has circa 37,000 inhabitants. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ciampino has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, the citys climate is basically Mediterranean type, but there are rare continental peaks, especially in winter. The autumn and spring seasons are particularly rainy and with mild temperatures, snow is a very rare phenomenon, they are mostly timid sleet or downpour of graupel. The summer is hot, humid and potentially drought. Therefore, the rainfall will have on the foothills of the hills, facing the sea, towards the south-west. In the summer, in conditions of heat waves particularly. Media related to Ciampino at Wikimedia Commons
11.
Velletri
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Velletri is an Italian comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Lazio, central Italy. Neighbouring communes are Rocca di Papa, Lariano, Cisterna di Latina, Artena, Aprilia, Nemi, Genzano di Roma and its motto is, Est mihi libertas papalis et imperialis. Velletri was an ancient city of the Volsci tribe and it came into conflict with the Romans during the reign of Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, and in the fifth and fourth centuries, during the early Roman Republic. In the Middle Ages it was one of the few “free cities” in Lazio and it was the site of two historical battles in 1744 and 1849. It was at the centre of fighting between the Germans and the allies in 1944 after the Anglo-American landing at Anzio during the Second World War. Today, Velletri is home to a court and a prison, in addition to several colleges. It is the terminus of the Rome-Velletri railway, inaugurated by Pius IX in 1863, the territory of Velletri stretches between two distinct areas. The northern part is situated on the foothills of the Colli Albani range and was geologically formed about 150,000 years ago. The southern boundary forms around Pontine Marshes, whose reclamation started at the time of Pope Pius VI and was accomplished during the regime of Benito Mussolini, the Seismic classification of Velletris territory is Zone 2 The territory of Velletri collects water run off from many streams. These streams, most of them torrential in character or small in scale, are known as fossi, main fossi include, Fosso Minella at the edge of the municipal area to Genzano di Roma, near the Velletri frazione of SantEurosia. This stream originates from Monte Spina, elevation 731 metres above sea level, in the territory of Nemi and its named after the Minella bridge on State Road 7, Via Appia Nuova and originates at 405 metres above sea level, at the foot of Colle degli Olmi. Minella also runs parallel to the fosso delle Tre Armi, which connects to it. Fossa SantEurosia, originating from Colle degli Olmi, it goes through the village of the same name, Fossa Paganica, which originates from springs on Colle Caldaro, and on Colle Tondo. Fosso di Ponte Veloce, which arises from Colle Tondo, on Maschio dellArtemisio and this watercourse near Villa Borgia, superseded the old town of Velletri, changes name to Fossa Farina near the iron bridge of the Roma-Velletri railway. Fossa Anatolia, originating from Colle Bello, it flows at the foot of old town Velletri, other water sources include the Acqua de Ferrari, at 650 metres, underlying Monte de Ferrari at Rocca di Papa, from which is part of the municipal water supply. The area west of the city is a bit higher at San Lorenzo reaching 372 m above sea level. The remainder of the territory to the south and west is basically flat except for small hills that do not exceed 300 m above sea level. The climate of Velletri is mild, due to the Tyrrhenian Sea not being far, the climate is very rainy, with an annual average of 1,400 to 1,500 mm precipitation, making it the rainiest city of Lazio and the second in Italy
12.
Albano Laziale
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Albano Laziale is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is bounded by communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio and it is sometimes known simply as Albano. Albano is one of the most important municipalities of the Castelli Romani, and it was also a suburbicarian bishopric since the 5th century, a historic principality of the Savelli family, and from 1699 to 1798 the inalienable possession of the Holy See. It now houses, among other things, the Praetor of the court of Velletri. The territory of Albano is partially included in the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani, according to the classification given by the Geological Survey of Italy most of the territory is similar to other areas of the Colli Albani, from lands classified as v 2. The main hydrographic feature is Lake Albano, whose name is actually Lake Albano. In fact, most coastal lakes are relevant to the town of Castel Gandolfo, the lake basin is run by the Metropolitan City of Rome. Fosso of Chancellor, originates from springs from the Chancellor resort, in Ariccia common, about 118 metres above sea level, and continues to flow in a south-south-west to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Fosso di Montagnano, originates from water that is collected in the local mountains. The highest peak of the town of Albano is the Colle dei Cappuccini, from the hill, which houses a pine forest adjacent to the Capuchin Monastery, there is a remarkable overview of Lake Albano, Agro Romano and Monte Cavo. The historic center of Albano has a gradient of 11%, or 47 metres,435. Other altitudes through the center of town are Villa Altieri, at kilometre 25 of the State Road 7 Via Appia, the hill town of Castel Savelli is 280 m above sea level, while the underlying fraction of Pavona is built at 110 m above sea level. The village of Cecchina at the station is located at 212 m above sea level. In terms of climate, the area falls within the domain of the temperate Mediterranean climate with mild winters, with higher than those autumnal spring. In the area of Colli Albani, so even at Albano, presents the phenomenon called TSUE, so there will be more rainfall on the foothills of the hills, facing the sea, south southwest, and to the north. Albano, lying on the trajectory of the current wet Tyrrhenian, is rainy with 900–1000 mm annual precipitation. The winds blow mainly from the south and west, more rarely from the north, summer is hot and dry, with a mild and rainy winter with snow quite rarely and only in the presence of a marked generalised cold
13.
Anguillara Sabazia
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Anguillara Sabazia is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy, around 30 kilometres northwest of Rome. It nestles on a cape on the coast of Lake Bracciano, its medieval center. Anguillara is served by a train which connects it with Rome in around 40 minutes. About 3 kilometres east of the lies the small, volcanic Lake Martignano. The two lakes and the area have been declared a Regional Park and are under a strict naturalistic control. A two-part episode of the American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond was shot in the town
14.
Ardea, Lazio
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Ardea is an ancient town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome,35 kilometres south of Rome and about 4 kilometres from todays Mediterranean coast. The economy is based on agriculture, although, starting from the 1970s. Ardea is one of the most ancient towns in western Europe, founded about in the 8th century BC was the capital of the Rutuli, mentioned in the Aeneid. After the Roman conquest, Ardea was most often mentioned in connection with the Via Ardeatina, one of the consular roads, in 509 BC Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the king of Rome sought unsuccessfully to take the town by storm, and then commenced a siege of the town. However the siege was interrupted by the revolution resulted in the overthrow of the king. One of the leaders of the revolution, Lucius Junius Brutus, came to the camp of the Roman army at Ardea, in 443 BC the Volscians laid siege to Ardea. The siege was broken by Roman troops under the leadership of Marcus Geganius Macerinus. During the Second Punic War, it was one of the few cities that refused military support to Rome, in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC it decayed until, in the Imperial Age, it was scarcely populated at all. The 1st century agricultural writer Columella possessed estates there, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Ardea was abandoned. It returned to only after the 9th century AD. Its castle in 1118 housed Pope Gelasius II and was later contended among various feudal barons of the area, in 1419 Pope Martin V assigned it to his kinsmen, the Colonna family, who sold it in 1564 to the Cesarini. In 1816 it became a frazione of Genzano, remains of the ancient city include the old defensive agger, dating to the 7th century BC and later updated to larger walls. Archaeological excavations have brought to four temples, of unknown dedication. Part of the pavement of a basilica have also found in the area of the ancient Forum. Other sights include, The Church of Santa Marina, erected in 1191 by Cencio Savelli, the interior, on a single nave, was originally entirely frescoed. Romanesque Church of San Pietro Apostolo, which was a possession of the monks of San Paolo Fuori le Mura of Rome and it incorporates a former watchtower used to counter Saracen attacks, now turned into a bell tower. It has 15th-century frescoes and a 16th-century wooden crucifix, the Giardini della Landriana, designed by Russell Page. Giacomo Manzù Museum, housing some 400 works of the artist, tor San Lorenzo, a tower in the eponymous seaside frazione
15.
Ariccia
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Ariccia is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, central Italy,16 miles south-east of Rome. It is in the Alban Hills of the Lazio region and could be considered an extension of Romes southeastern suburbs, one of the Castelli Romani towns, Ariccia is located in the regional park known as the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani. Ariccia is the center of a region that was important in Roman and pre-Roman mythology and religion because of its association with the goddess Diana. Legend also recalls that it served as a burial place of the Greek hero Orestes. Ariccia was one of the oldest cities of ancient Latium, in modern times, Ariccia has become famous for its porchetta, pork that is slowly roasted with herbs and wild fennel, and it has been known since historical times for its wine. The comune of Ariccia includes the frazioni of Vallericcia and Fontana di Papa and it is bounded by the communes of Albano Laziale, Castel Gandolfo, Genzano di Roma and Marino Laziale. There is a connection between the name and Aricia, the wife of Hippolytus, the Roman forest god who lived in the sacred forests near Aricia. According to a reference by Caius Julius Solinus, Ariccia was founded by Archilocus Siculus in very ancient times. Ruins found in the city confirm the existence of a settlement in the 8th-9th centuries BC, from the end of the 6th century BC until 338 BC, the city was the central member of the Latin League. The association with the cult of Diana led to its development as an influential and affluent center of healing, in 508 BC, Lars Porsena king of Clusium departed Rome after ending his war against Rome by peace treaty. Porsena split his forces, and sent part of the Clusian army with his son Aruns to wage war on the Latin city of Aricia, the Aricians sent for assistance from the Latin League, and also from the Greek city of Cumae. When support arrived, the Arician army ventured beyond the walls of the city, according to Livy, the Clusians initially routed the Arician forces, but the Cumaean troops allowed the Clusians to pass by, then attacked from the rear, gaining victory against the Clusians. Livy says the Clusian army was destroyed, in 495 BC, Aricia was the site of a battle between the Aurunci and Rome, Rome being the victor. Aricia was definitively conquered by the Romans in the 4th century BC and it received the title of municipium, and expanded towards the valley below, where the Via Appia connected it with Rome. Ariccia became, therefore, the first main posting station on the journey from Rome towards southern Italy. Being rather near to the Imperial capital, and favoured by a fresher climate and it also was recognized for the caliber of its wine and food stuffs. Martial wrote favorably of its leeks and Pliny relished a unique variety of Arician cabbages, the inhabitants subsequently moved to the ancient acropolis and founded a new community. In 990 the Castrum Ariciensis was a dominion of Guido, count of Tusculum, during the reign of Pope Nicholas II the castle was absorbed by the Papal States, from which it in turn passed again to the Earls of Tusculum as a fiefdom
16.
Artena
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Artena is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy. It is situated in the northwest of Monti Lepini, in the valley of the Sacco River. It is approximately 40 kilometres southeast by rail, and 30 kilometres direct from Rome, economy is based on agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism. The name of the village of the Volsci is uncertain. The modern village was called Monte Fortino until 1873 and it owes its present name to an unproven identification of the site with the ancient Volscian Artena, destroyed in 404 BC. Another Artena, which was an Etruscan town belonging to the district of Caere, due to the latters anti-papal stance, Artena was ravaged several times by papal armies. On the mountain 600 metres above the village are the remains of the fortifications of a city built in the 6th or 5th century BC. Within the walls are traces of buildings, and a terrace which supported some edifice of importance. This terraced settlement later was the site of a Roman villa, other sights include the Palazzo Borghese, and the churches of Santa Maria delle Letizie, Santa Croce, Santo Stefano Protomartire and San Francesco. Alcalá del Río, Spain This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Chisholm, Hugh
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Castel Gandolfo
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Castel Gandolfo is a town located 15 miles southeast of Rome in the Lazio region of Italy. Occupying a height on the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo has a population of approximately 8,834 residents and is considered one of Italys most scenic towns. Within the towns boundaries lies the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo which served as a residence and vacation retreat for the pope. Although the palace is located within the borders of Castel Gandolfo, however, it was acknowledged on October 21,2016 that the palace was no longer owned by the Vatican and that it was now open to the public as part of a museum. The resort community includes almost the whole coastline of Lake Albano which is surrounded by many summer residences, villas and it houses the Stadio Olimpico that staged the rowing events during the Rome Olympics. Castel Gandolfo has several places of archaeological interest including the Emissario del Lago Albano, the area is included within the boundaries of the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani. There are also points of artistic interest, such as the Collegiate Church of St. Thomas of Villanova. The boundaries of the town extend obliquely in a north-northeast turn around the area of the Alban Hills. It is included and protected by the Regional Park of Castelli Romani, most of the soil is of volcanic origin, with prevalence of materials such as tuff and pozzolana. Its seismic classification is rated a Zone 2 The main water body is Lake Albano, the Metropolitan City of Rome currently manages the lake. Up to 1802, it was the property of the Abbey of Saint Nilus Grottaferrata, the maximum elevation registered in the territory is 425 metres above sea level, at the Collegio di Propaganda Fide adjoining Villa Barberini. On the crown of the hills around the Lake Albano, the elevation is only 400 metres above sea level, at the summit of Monte Cucco, the lowest elevation of the territory is 101 metres above sea level at the village of Pavona. In terms of climate, the area falls within the domain of the temperate Mediterranean climate with mild winters, autumn temperatures higher than those of spring and ventilated summers. In the area of Colli Albani, and at Castel Gandolfo, the known as stau. Summers are hot and dry, while winter is mild and rainy without, in general, extreme low temperatures, in summer, temperatures can reach 35 °C with peaks of 37 °C in rare cases. Climate classification, Zone D,1966 GR / G, the name Castel Gandolfo is derived from the Latin Castrum Gandulphi, the name of the castle on this site was presumably owned by the family of Gandolfi, originally from Genoa. Another hypothesis, supported by Pope Pius II in his commentary, is that the results from Gandulphi Sabinorum. The modern city occupies the site of legendary ancient Alba Longa and it was later developed by emperor Domitian into his vast palace
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Cerveteri
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Cerveteri is a town and comune of northern Lazio in the region of the Metropolitan City of Rome. It is famous for the site of the ancient Etruscan city which was one of the most important Etruscan cities with a more than 15 times larger than todays town. Caere was one of the city-states of the Etruscan League and at its height, around 600 BC, the ancient city was situated about 7 km from the sea, a location which made it a wealthy trading town derived originally from the iron ore mines in the Tolfa hills. It had three sea ports including Pyrgi, connected to Caere by a road approximately 13 km long and 10 metres wide, little is known of the ancient city although six temples are known from various sources. Two of them have been excavated, one of Hera, the other in the north of the city, parts of the city walls are still visible today and excavations opened up a theatre. One famous and important work of art is the Sarcophagus of the Spouses, the most famous attraction of Cerveteri is the Necropoli della Banditaccia, which has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site together with the necropolis in Tarquinia. It covers an area of 400 hectares, of which 10 hectares can be visited and it is the largest ancient necropolis in the Mediterranean area. The name Banditaccia comes from the leasing of areas of land to the Cerveteri population by the local landowners, the tombs date from the 9th century BC to the later Etruscan period. The earliest tombs are in the shape of a pit, in which the ashes of the dead were housed, the visitable area contains two such roads, the Via dei Monti Ceriti and the Via dei Monti della Tolfa. Modern knowledge of Etruscan daily life is dependent on the numerous decorative details. The most recent tombs date from the 3rd century BC, some of them are marked by external cippi, which are cylindrical for men, and in the shape of a small house for women. A large number of finds excavated at Cerveteri are in the National Etruscan Museum, Rome, with others in the Vatican Museums, others, mainly pottery, are in the Archaeological Museum at Cerveteri itself. The Rocca Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, including a medieval section reachable from the 1950s addition through a triumphal arch, palazzo Ruspoli, rebuilt as baronal palace by the Orsini in 1533. The portico and the loggia on the façade are from the 17th century and it is connected to Santa Maria Maggiore through a passetto, built in 1760. The small church of SantAntonio Abate, with a 1472 fresco by Lorenzo da Viterbo, the medieval burgh of Ceri Castle of Cerenova Around the city of Cerveteri is an Italian DOC wine region that produces red and white blended wines. The red wines are blends of 60% Sangiovese and Montepulciano, 25% Cesanese and up to 30% of Canaiolo, Carignan, the grapes are limited to a harvest yield of 15 tonnes/ha and the final wine must have a minimum alcohol level of 11%. The white wines are composed of a blend of 50% Trebbiano Romagnolo and Giallo, a maximum of 35% Malvasia di Candia. The grapes are limited to a harvest yield of 14 tonnes/ha, for the ancient bishopric that originally had its seat in Cerveteri and is now a titular see, see Caere
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Colonna, Lazio
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Colonna is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 20 kilometres southeast of Rome, on the Alban Hills. With a population of some 4,300, it is the smallest of the Castelli Romani, the territory of Colonna is believed to have included the ancient community of Labici, located in the area of the modern comune of Monte Compatri. Labici was conquered in 418 BC by the Romans under the dictator Quintus Servilius Priscus Structus Fidenas, the Labicani then founded Labicum Quintanas near the Tower of the Pasolina near Colonna. The place is noted as Ad Quintanas, a station on the Via Labicana, Labicum Quintanas became an episcopal see in the 4th century. The inhabited area began to decay and disappeared with the Gothic War, in 1101 Peter, child of Gregory III, Count of Tusculum, received as inheritance the territory and the Castle of Columna, with Monte Porzio Catone, Monte Compatri and other surrounding possessions. Peter was the founder of Colonna family, which took the name from this property, in 1298 Pope Boniface VIII ordered the destruction of Colonna and its castle as punishment against the Colonna family. With the advent of Pope Clement V the Colonna family resumed the fief with all of its territories, in 1662, the Colonna family sold the Castrum Columnae to Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi. In 1710 the Ludovisi family sold it to the Rospigliosi-Pallavicini family, the Rospigliosi-Pallavicini maintained the feudal dominion on Colonna up to 5 June 1848. In 1849 the Comune and the Municipality of Colonna was constituted, the Baronial Palace was built by the Colonna family in the 16th century on the site of the Roman castrum on the highest part on the hill. The main façade has a portal, while the opposite front has a double order of five arcades. The southwest side was modified when the dedicated to Saint Nicholas was erected in the 18th century by the Pallavicini family. In the first Sunday of July, the Donkeys Palio is held, the seven quarters of the town compete riding donkeys in medieval dress. The commune is connected to Rome and southern Italy through the Via Casilina and it has also a station on the Rome–Cassino railway, the one on the Rome-Fiuggi narrow gauge railway is now abandoned, having been replaced by regional bus service held by COTRAL
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Formello
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Formello is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome. It is located southwest of the Monti Sabatini, within the Regional Park of Veii, the communal territory is mostly composed by tuff, and is intensively cultivated. The area has settled since prehistoric times. As an Italian comune, it some of the archaeological sites associated with the former Etruscan city of Veii, north of the village of Isola Farnese. Settlement in the region declined after Veiis destruction in 396 BC, the domus territories included a fundus Formellum, where a settlement developed that was first mentioned in 1027. In the 11th century it was a possession of the Roman Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura, in 1279 it became a fief of the Orsini family, who sold it to the Chigi in 1661. It received a tower in the fifteenth century, and was renovated in 1574 with the addition of the two aisles. The left one houses frescoes by Donato Palmieri and it was built by the Orsini, probably over the pre-existing castrum mentioned in the 11th century. It houses the Archaeological Museum of the Countryside of Veii Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the ruined Villa Chigi-Versaglia, built by cardinal Flavio Chigi in the 17th century. Formello is home to the grounds and base of Italian Serie A side S. S. Lazio
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Frascati
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Frascati is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located 20 kilometres south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum, Frascati is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific laboratories. Frascati produces the wine with the same name. It is also a historical and artistic centre, the most important archeological finding in the area, dating back to Ancient Roman times, during the late Republican Age, is a patrician Roman villa probably belonging to Lucullus. In the first century AD its owner was Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus and his properties were later confiscated by the Flavian imperial dynasty. Consul Flavius Clemens lived in the villa with his wife Domitilla during the rule of Domitian, according to the Liber Pontificalis, in the 9th century Frascati was a little village, probably founded two centuries earlier. The name of the city comes from a typical local tradition of collecting firewood —many place-names around the town refer to trees or wood. After the destruction of nearby Tusculum in 1191, the population increased. It was owned by various families, including the Colonna, until, in 1460. In 1515 Colonna gave Frascati its first statute, Statuti e Capituli del Castello di Frascati, in 1518 a hospital was built, named after St. Sebastiano, in memory of the old basilica destroyed in the 9th century. After Prince Colonnas death in 1522, Lucrezia della Rovere sold Frascati to Pier Luigi Farnese, on May 1,1527 a Landsknecht company, after having sacked Rome, arrived out of the bordering villages. However, the changed the direction of their movement next to a niche, a Rural Aedicule consecrated to the Virgin Mary. This event is commemorated by a church now called Capocroce, in 1538, Pope Paul III conferred the title of Civitas to Frascati, with the name Tusculum Novum. In 1598 construction began on a new cathedral dedicated to St. Peter, on September 15,1616 the first public and free school in Europe was established on the initiative of Saint Joseph Calasanz. On June 18,1656 a part of the plaster peeled off a wall inside the Church of St. Mary in Vivario, and it was the image of Saints Sebastian and Roch, protector from the plague. In that same year there was an epidemic of plague in Rome, since that year, the two Saints have been co-patron Saints of the city. There are statues of the two saints in the façade of the Cathedral, between 1713 and 1729, the head from a colossus of Antinous was discovered in the area, and displayed in the Villa Mondragone. In 1757 the Valle theater opened in the centre of the town, in 1809 Frascati was annexed to the French Empire, and selected as the capital of the Roman canton
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Genazzano
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Genazzano is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, located on a tuff spur at 375 metres above sea level that, starting from the Monti Prenestini, ends on the Sacco River valley. The name originates from its role as vacation resort for the ancient Roman gens Genucia, in the fifth century, during the reign of Pope Sixtus III, the town of Genazzano contributed a large portion of its revenue for the Roman basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. In the 11th century AD it was a fief of the Colonna family who, from their Baronal Palace, in the late fifteenth century, it became fief of the Borgia Family. Measuring 40 by 45 centimetres, the image is executed on a layer of porcelain no thicker than an egg shell. Over the centuries, devotions to Our Lady of the Good Counsel grew among saints, more than any other pope, Leo XIII was deeply attached to this devotion. The small Scapular of Our Lady of Good Counsel was presented by the Hermits of St. Augustine to Pope Leo XIII, on 22 April 1903, that same Pope included the invocation Mater boni consilii in the Litany of Loreto. At the southern end of the village, there is a Nymphaeum built at the dawn of the 16th century, on the southern slopes of Monti Prenestini overlooking the Valle del Sacco is the Genazzano Denominazione di origine controllata region that produces both red and white wines. The DOC red blend is composed of 70–90% Sangiovese, 10–30% Cesanese Comune, the DOC white wine is composed of 50–70% Malvasia di Candia, 10–30% each of Bellone and Bombino bianco and up to 40% of other local white grape varieties
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Genzano di Roma
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Genzano di Roma is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani, at a distance of 29 kilometres from Rome, the origin of the name Genzano is still disputed. According to one version, the hill overlooking the Lake of Nemi on which the city is situated was once devoted to the goddess Cynthia, another version relates its origin to the Gentiani family. For others the presence on the hills, at time of the tribus or gens Cynthia originators and custodians of the cult of courage. During the Roman empire the area was inhabited by wealthy Roman citizens who wished to benefit from the cleaner air, the remains of many ancient Roman villas are to be found in the surroundings. The most impressive being the walls of the Villa of the Antonini where the later Roman emperor Antoninus Pius was born, the Herculean Sarcophagus of Genzano, currently in the British Museum was found here. In the 12th century a tower of the Gandolfi family, lord of Castel Gandolfo, in 1183 Pope Lucius III gave it to the Cistercian monks of St. Anastasius of Aquae Salviae in Rome. In 1235 they built a castle around which the town later grew. In 1378 the Popes assigned it to Giordano Orsini, the Cistercians and the Colonna alternatively ruled Genzano until 1563, when the castle was ceded for 150,000 scudos to the Massimi, from which it was bought by Giuliano Cesarini. The painter Maratti was one of the citizens who settled in Livia Sforza-Cesarinis new town, in 1873 it was decided that the name of the town should be changed to Genzano di Roma to avoid confusion within the postal service as there are two towns in Italy called Genzano. In the 19th and early 20th century it was seat of numerous peasant revolts, during World War II it suffered damage under Allied bombings. A whole street is covered with carpets of flowers and a masked parade walk on these. The event was held for the first time in 1778, each year the artists suggestions must conform to a previously agreed upon theme, such as The Colours of Michelangelo, or The Designs of Bernini. In Spring it has become traditional a mini Infiorata made by the children from the local schools. Châtillon, France Merseburg, Germany Mokotów, Poland Official website of Infiorata
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Grottaferrata
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Grottaferrata is a small town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, situated on the lower slopes of the Alban Hills,20 kilometres south east of Rome. Nearby communes include Frascati, Rocca di Papa, Marino and Rome, the history of Grottaferrata identifies largely with that of the Basilian Monastery of Santa Maria, founded here in 1004 by Saint Nilus the Younger. The founding legend narrates that, at the spot where the now stands. Its iron window grates gave the site the name, first of Cryptoferrata then of Grottaferrata, from the site, a Roman bronze of a man and a cow attracted the antiquarian attention of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, who had the group removed to Lucera. Nilus died soon afterwards in the Sant Agata monastery in Tusculum, the monastic building was carried out by his successors, especially the fourth abbot, Saint Bartholomew, who is usually considered the second founder. Building materials scavenged from the villa were incorporated into the new structure, marble columns, sections of carved cornice. The sanctuary was complete enough in 1024 to be consecrated by the Tusculan Pope John XIX, the high repute of the monks attracted many gifts, eleventh- and thirteenth-century mosaics remain, but of the ambitious ensemble of Cosmatesque inlay, only the polychrome stone paving remains. The abbeys possessions in lands were numerous and widespread, and in 1131 King Roger II of Sicily made the abbot Baron of Rossano with an extensive fief. Between the 12th and 15th centuries the monastery suffered from the strife of warring factions, Romans and Tusculans, Guelphs and Ghibellines, popes and antipopes, Colonna. From 1163 till the destruction of Tusculum in 1191, the part of the monastic community sought refuge in a dependency of the abbey. In the middle of the 13th century the Emperor Frederick II made the abbey his headquarters during the siege of Rome, the fifteenth century saw the bloody feuds of the Colonna and the Orsini raging round the walls. According to the humanist Ambrogio Traversari, in 1432 the appearance of the abbey was that of a rather than a monastery. In 1462 began a line of non-resident abbots in commendam, fifteen in number, of whom all, the most distinguished were the Greek Bessarion, Giulio della Rovere, and the last of the line, Cardinal Consalvi, secretary of state to Pius VII. Cardinal Bessarion, himself a Basilian monk, increased the scanty and impoverished community, Cardinal Giulio della Rovere, for more selfish motives, erected the castle and surrounded the whole monastery with the imposing fortifications that still exist. Cardinal Alessandro Farnese replaced the ceiling, gian Lorenzo Bernini was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Barberini to provide the high altar, completed in 1665. Till 1608 the community was ruled by priors dependent on abbots in commendam, the revenues of the community were separated from those of the commendatory abbots, and the first of a series of triennially appointed regular abbots was appointed. The triennial system survived the suppression of the commendam and lasted till the end of the century, with one break from 1834 to 1870. In 1901, new constitutions came into force and Arsenio Pellegrini was installed as the first perpetual regular abbot since 1462
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Ladispoli
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Ladispoli is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy. Lies about 35 kilometres west of center of Rome on the Mediterranean Sea, Ladispoli occupies the area existed the ancient Alsium, the port of the Etruscan city of Cerveteri and later a Roman colony cited by Cicero. Alsium was destroyed in the 6th century AD, during the Gothic War, later a castle, named Palo, was built in the area, it was a fief of the Orsini and, from 1693, of the Odescalchi family. Modern Ladispoli was founded in 1888 by Ladislao Odescalchi, whom its name stems from, in the late 1970s and until the early 1990s, parts of Ladispoli served as refugee camps for Soviet emigrants seeking political and/or religious asylum in Western countries. The experience of Jews from the former USSR staying in Ladispoli in the 1980s was first described in English by Maxim D. Shrayer in his literary memoir Waiting for America, the Etruscan necropolis of Monteroni and Vaccina. The Castellaccio, a country residence. The Giardino delle Orchidee Spontanee del Mediterraneo, a botanical garden According to ISTAT figures at 31 December 2010 foreign nationals were 7711 people
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Lanuvio
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Lanuvio is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 30 kilometres southeast of Rome, on the Alban Hills. Lanuvio borders the municipalities, Aprilia, Ariccia, Genzano di Roma. In ancient times Lanuvium was an important town in the nearby of Rome, the emperors Antoninus Pius and Commodus were born here, together with the condottiero Marcantonio Colonna. It decayed after the reign of Theodosius I, and was abandoned due to the shutting down of its polytheistic sanctuaries. It is mentioned again in the 11th century, when it was a seat of a Benedictine monastery, in the early 15th century it was acquired by the Colonna family, to whom it belonged until 1564. On 17 February 1944, during World War II, it was bombed by sea and air by the Allied, and almost entirely destroyed
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Marino, Lazio
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Marino is an Italian city and comune in Lazio, on the Alban Hills, Italy,21 kilometres southeast of Rome, with a population of 37,684 and a territory of 26.10 square kilometres. It is bounded by communes, Castel Gandolfo, Albano Laziale, Rocca di Papa, Grottaferrata. Marino is famous for its wine, and for its Grape Festival. The territory of Marino was inhabited by Latin tribes from the 1st millennium BC, the ancient cities of Bovillae, Mugilla and Ferentum were part of the Latin League. Under the Roman Republic it was a resort for Roman patricians. From 1090 it was a dominium of the Counts of Tusculum, and later a fief of the Frangipane and, beginning in 1266, in 1272, San Bonaventura founded the first confraternity of Italy there. In 1347 it was besieged in vain by Cola di Rienzo, fifty years later, it was the site of the battle between Alberico da Barbiano and the French troops supporting Antipope Clement VII. In 1419 it was bought by the Colonna, who maintained it until 1914, Marino hosted famous historical figures, from Charles VIII of France to Alfonso II dEste and many others. Vittoria Colonna was born in Marino in 1492 and lived there for part of her life, in 1571, Marinos people welcomed Marcantonio Colonna, a protagonist of the Battle of Lepanto, with a triumph, remembered yearly by a festival. It became part of Italy in 1870, on 14 March 1880 the railway Rome-Ciampino-Marino was opened for service. On 1 April 1906 an electric tram replaced the former. In 1954 the electric line was replaced by buses. On 2 February 1944, during World War II, Marino was heavily bombed by USAAF B-25 aircraft from the US XII Air Force and it is in Baroque style, with an imposing façade dating to 1653, and a Latin-cross plan with a nave and two aisles. Among other works of art, it houses the Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew by Guercino and it houses a Mystery of the Holy Trinity, now recognized as from a pupil of Guido Reni. It has a nave with side chapels. It is home to a painting of St. Roch attributed to Domenichino and, in a niche at the high altar, rosario, an example of Rococo art. Palazzo Colonna Fontana dei Mori, depicting prisoners from the aforementioned Battle of Lepanto, mithraeum, with an important fresco portraying the God Mithras slaughtering the bull. Grape Festival, Every 1st Sunday of October, doughnut Festival, Every 2nd Sunday of October
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Mentana
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Mentana is a town and comune, former bishopric and presant Latin Catholic titular see in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy. It is located 29 kilometres north-east of Rome and has a population of about 21,000, mentanas name in ancient times was Nomentum, to which the Via Nomentana led from Rome. According to Livy, the town was part of the Latin League, Nomentum was one of a number of towns captured by Tarquinius. It was a Latin town, but was considered by some to be Sabine, and, like Fidenae and Ficulea, was excluded from the first region by Augustus, who made the Anio river its northern boundary. The city was part of the League defeated by Rome in the Battle of Lake Regillus, subsequently, Nomentum received the civitas sine suffragio, in its municipal constitution the chief magistrate even in imperial times bore the title of dictator. Pliny and Martial often praise the fertility of its neighbourhood, in 741 it was briefly occupied by the Lombards and the inhabitants moved to a new centre on the Via Nomentana which was more easily defendable. On 23 November 799, it was the site of the meeting of Pope Leo III, the Castle of Nomentum was a possession of the Roman family of the Crescenzi in the 10th and 11th century. In 1058 it was destroyed by the Normans and the population was drastically reduced, the castle was acquired by the Capocci family and, later, the Holy See entrusted it to the Benedictine monks of San Paolo fuori le Mura. In the 15th century it was control of the Orsini family. In 1484 it was damaged by an earthquake, in 1594 it became a fief of the Perett family, first under Michele Perett of Venafro, and then in 1655 it came under the control of Marcantonio Borghese and the House of Borghese. The battle ended in a victory by the French-Papal troops, in Mentana, the monument Ara dei Caduti is built over the mass grave of the Italian patriots who died in the battle. In 408 CE Nomento is mentioned as a see. In May 944 it was suppressed, its territory being merged into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vescovìo, the diocese was nominally restored as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric in 1966. The Castle, housing the Archaeological Museum and is a site of art exhibitions, palazzo Crescenzio Funerary Monument of the Appulei, a 2nd-century BC travertine frieze Museum of the Risorgimento Science Museum. The Nature Preserve of Nomentum includes the Trentani Park and the Macchia of Gattacieca, gCatholic, with titular incumbent biography links
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Monte Compatri
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Monte Compatri is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 20 kilometres southeast of Rome on the Alban Hills. It is one of the Castelli Romani, monte Compatri has been identified with the ancient Labicum, a colony of Alba Longa. In the Middle Ages it was a fief of the Counts of Tusculum, then of the Annibaldi, the Altemps, parish church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo, erected by will of Scipione Borghese. The campanile is the former communal tower, diplomat Alessandro Moreschi last castrato singer in the Sistine Chapel Calahorra, Spain Official website Centro Culturale Laghetto
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Monte Porzio Catone
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Monte Porzio Catone is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the central Italian region Latium, located about 20 kilometres southeast of Rome, on the Alban Hills. Monte Porzio Catone borders the municipalities, Frascati, Grottaferrata, Monte Compatri. The Astronomical Rome Observatory is located 2 kilometres from the city centre and it was built starting from 1939, being finished in 1965. It rises above the remains of a Roman villa, the Matidias Villa, currently the observatory is endowed with the Astrolab and other didactic resources for initiatives to schools, university, associative and private groups. The Tusculan Hermitage Monastery was founded in 1607 by Camaldolese Monks of Monte Corona, in 1613 the building was completed. The convents church is devoted to Saint Romuald, the hospitality to male pilgrims by the hermits is guaranteed. Women are forbidden entry to the Hermitage, an inscription on the wooden door reads, in Latin, Ecce Elongavi Fugiens et Mansi In Solitudine. Other sights include the church of St. Gregory the Great, erected in 1666 by Carlo Rainaldi for the Borghese family, saint-Michel-lObservatoire, France Official website Official website of the Rome Astronomical Observatory
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Monterotondo
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Monterotondo is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, central Italy. According to some historians, Monterotondo is the heir of ancient Sabine town of Eretum, the name derives from the medieval corruption of the original Mons Eretum. In the Middle Ages, due to its location across the Via Salaria, initially under the Capocci family, it was sold in the 12th century to the Orsini, who held it until the 18th century. In 1432 it was seized by the condottiero Niccolò Fortebraccio, in 1634 the Barberini acquired the town, restoring or enlarging several edifices, and building the Cathedral. On 28 April 1864 the Rome and Monterotondo Rail Road was opened for service, in 1943, after the Italian armistice with the Allies,800 German paratroopers tried unsuccessfully to reconquer it. The Baroque Duomo Church of Madonna delle Grazie Palazzo Orsini, including frescoes by Girolamo Siciolante, archaeological museum, with remains from Eretum, Crustumerium and Nomentum
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Pomezia
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Pomezia is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy. In 2009 it had a population of about 60,000, the town was built entirely new near the location of ancient Lavinium on land resulting from the final reclamation of the Pontine Marshes under Benito Mussolini, being inaugurated on 29 October 1939. Its new population was extracted from the peasants of Romagna, Veneto. After being occupied by the forces of the Third Reich, Pomezia was heavily bombed during the Battle of Anzio in World War II. After the end of the war, Pomezia developed as an industrial center, especially in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. It is also home to the plant of Italian food company Colavita. Pratica di Mare is the frazione of Pomezia where the ruins of the ancient port of Lavinium are located, the ancient community was on some hilly ground at the mouth of a stream. The name of Pomezia comes from the Latin city of Suessa Pometia, the most popular sport in Pomezia is football. The oldest and the biggest football club in the comune is Pomezia Calcio, Pomezia is twinned with, Singen, Germany Çanakkale, Turkey Itápolis, Brazil Official website
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Palestrina
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Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 21,000, in Lazio, about 35 kilometres east of Rome. It is connected to the latter by the Via Prenestina and it is the birthplace of composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Palestrina is sited on a spur of the Monti Prenestini, a range in the central Apennines. Palestrina borders the municipalities, Artena, Castel San Pietro Romano, Cave, Gallicano nel Lazio, Labico, Rocca di Cave, Rocca Priora, Rome, San Cesareo, Valmontone. Early burials show that the site was occupied in the 8th or 7th century BC. The ancient necropolis lay on a plateau at the foot of the hill below the ancient town, from these come the famous bronze boxes and hand mirrors with inscriptions partly in Etruscan. Also famous is the bronze Ficoroni Cista, engraved pictures of the arrival of the Argonauts in Bithynia. An example of archaic Latin is the inscription on the Ficoroni Cista, the caskets are unique in Italy, but a large number of mirrors of precisely similar style have been discovered in Etruria. Hence, although it would be reasonable to conjecture that objects with Etruscan characteristics came from Etruria, other imported objects in the burials show that Praeneste traded not only with Etruria but also with the Greek east. The origin of Praeneste was attributed by the ancients to Ulysses, the name derives probably from the word Praenesteus, referring to its overlooking location. Praeneste was probably under the hegemony of Alba Longa while that city was the head of the Latin League and it withdrew from the league in 499 BC, according to Livy, and formed an alliance with Rome. After Rome was weakened by the Gauls of Brennus, Praeneste switched allegiances, from 373 to 370, it was in continual war against Rome or her allies, and was defeated by Cincinnatus. Eventually in 354 and in 338 the Romans were victorious and Praeneste was punished by the loss of portions of its territory, as such, it furnished contingents to the Roman army, and Roman exiles were permitted to live at Praeneste, which grew prosperous. The roses of Praeneste were a byword for profusion and beauty, præneste was situated on the Via Labicana. Its citizens were offered Roman citizenship in 90 BC in the Social War, in Sullas second civil war, Gaius Marius the Younger was blockaded in the town by the forces of Sulla. When the city was captured, Marius slew himself, the inhabitants were massacred in cold blood. From an inscription it appears that Sulla delegated the foundation of the new colony to Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus, within a decade the lands of the colonia had been assembled by a few large landowners. From the late Republic to the late Empire, markets, baths, shrines and even a second forum were built in the lower city, the poet Horace ranked cool Praeneste with Tibur and Baiae as favored resorts
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Rocca Priora
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Rocca Priora is a small town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani on the Alban Hills about 25 kilometres southeast of Rome, Rocca Priora occupied the area of the old Latins town of Corbium, here several battles, described by famous historians, were fought by Italic peoples. After the destruction of Tusculum in 1191, the population increased, in the 14th century the Savelli family rose to prominence in the area, after Pope Sixtus V endorsed Rocca Priora as a feudal possession for them. They held the town and its castle until the 17th century, according to some sources, the town was destroyed by Renzo da Ceris troops during the conflict between Pope Clement VII and the Colonna, and by the imperial troops in the wake of the Sack of Rome. After a period as a direct Papal rule, it was sold in part to the Rospigliosi family, who held it until 1870, sohland an der Spree, Germany Gregorius Maltzeff, painter Marco Amelia, football player
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Rocca di Papa
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Rocca di Papa is a small town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani about 25 kilometres southeast of Rome on the Alban Hills and it is close to the other communes of Velletri, Rocca Priora, Monte Compatri, Grottaferrata, Albano and Marino. It is the center of the Regional Park known as the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani, documents from 12th century name Rocca di Papa as Castrum Rocce de Papa, because Pope Eugene III lived there. In 1541 Pier Luigi Farnese, with French troops, destroyed the castle, in 1855 the people proclaimed the Rocca di Papa Republic against prince Colonna and the Papal States government. In 1889 the Royal Geodynamic Observatory was built on the top of Rocca di Papa, between 1922 and 1935 the scientist Guglielmo Marconi carried out several experiments from this building in radio-transmission, wireless transmission and broadcasting. In 1944, during World War II, Rocca di Papa was bombed, the Center of the city was destroyed. Thirty four people died in air strike and 35 died in a second air strike on 25 May. The city was liberated from the Nazi German occupation on 4 June 1944 by the 85th Infantry Division, Papal Fortress, known since medieval times but restored in the current form during the reign of Pope Paul III. Santuario Madonna del Tufo Chiesa del Crocefisso Church of the Assunta and it is dedicated to the Assumption, and was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1806 in larger size. Fontana della Barcaccia Quartiere dei Bavaresi, built by Bavarian militiamen left here by Emperor Louis IV in 1328, convent of Palazzolo, located on top of a rock dominating the east shore of Lake Albano. The old Roman buildings was turned into monasteries and a dedicated to St Mary of Palatiolo. In the orchard of the convent is a monument of the 2nd century BC with a staircase pyramid. Currently, the Abbey and the church belong to the English College, the economy of Rocca di Papa is mostly based on tourism and agriculture, the latter dominated by wine and vine production. The Geophysical Museum shows scientific data about the inside of the Earth and it has preservation tools and scientific documents of the geology, geography and terrestrial physics of the Earth. The astronomic observatory Franco Fuligni, located in the frazione of Vivaro, is a public structure, there is the Federal Equestrian Centre of C. O. N. I. It is situated on a knoll in the center of the farm of Domatore. Since 1960, when the equipment for the events was installed for the Olympic Games, it has been the center of equestrian championships. The equipment has improved and enlarged to form an adequate spot for the preparation of the best horse-riders, offering an excellent track with every kind of difficulty
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Valmontone
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Valmontone is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Lazio, located about 45 kilometres southeast of Rome. The historic part of the town is situated on a hill,303 metres above sea level, part of a morphological system of valleys and low relieves. There are many natural springs due to the water levels underground. Because of this the landscape is covered by forest and farmland, to preserve this water system, in Valmontone exists the C. E. R. I. A center for the prevention and control of hydro-geological risks, perhaps these are the remains of the ancient Labicum, which, according to the myth, was founded by Glaucus, Minos’ son, the name of the village derives from a kind of Greek shield. Later on, the castle was rebuilt on the site in the Late Roman Empire. The presence of a Castrum Lateranense goes back to the 1052, the Pamphili family became Doria-Pamphili-Landi in the 18th century. In 1843 Valmontone assumed the rank of “city” by decision of Pope Gregory XVI, with the post-war reconstruction the town lost its medieval and baroque appeal, of which only a few sights survive. Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj was originally a castle, until the Barberini decided to replace it with a bigger fortress. On the Piano Nobile are frescoes divided by themes, the four rooms of Elements, the four dedicated to the Continents, the ceiling frescoes were made between 1657 and the 1661 by Pier Francesco Mola, Gaspard Dughet, Guglielmo Cortese, Francesco Cozza and Mattia Preti. Valmontone Archeological Museum, situated in the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj, the ground floor houses a section which introduces the municipal area, the upper floor offers an introduction to the archeological sites and to related topics, through several media. Such topics include the coal miners village in Colle Carbone, the Colle dei Lepri settlement, the Mansio, the Thermal Baths, collegiate Church of Santa Maria dellAssunta, built on an ancient Gothic church with the same name, under Camillo Pamphilj, in the 17th century. The church has a composed by two bell towers and a curved colonnade with four Ionic columns. The plan is elliptic, with four chapels along each side, including numerous Baroque pictures, in front of the main entrance, fontana del Colle, in Baroque style, is part of the original Prince Pamphilj project. It is composed by a pedestal with four round-shaped basins, one at each angle, on the pedestal is a column surmounted by the bronze statue of the Labicanus, a Roman warrior, symbol of Valmontone. This fountain was destroyed under the World War II bombings, except one of the basins and the pedestal. The Church of SantAntonio was not bombed during World War II, the interior is decorated with Baroque stuccoes, a Madonna with the Son and a SantAntonio Abate, both painted by anonymous. Sanctuary of Madonna del Gonfalone, this church was built in 1508, with a Gothic plan, in origin, the sanctuary had 15 altars
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Zagarolo
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Zagarolo is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the region of Lazio of central Italy. It has 17,803 inhabitants and a area of 28 square kilometres. It lies 34 kilometres south-east of Rome, and it borders the municipalities of Colonna, Gallicano nel Lazio, Monte Compatri, Palestrina, Rome, San Cesareo. Zagarolos town center lies on a narrow tuff hill,2 kilometres long and about 100 metres wide, at an elevation of 310 metres. The south continuation of the important pilgrim route Via Francigena passes through the countryside of Zagarolo, Zagarolo may have origins in Gabii, an ancient city founded in the 5th century, which is a few kilometers from Zagarolo. The town center is of medieval origin and its current urban plan was developed in the 16th century, Zagarolo is the birthplace of composer Goffredo Petrassi. Most of the attractions of Zagarolo are in the historical town center. For many centuries it remained under the Colonna influence, and was besieged and destroyed several times due to the rivalry between the papacy and the Colonna family. In the 16th century the Colonnas and the papacy started having peaceful relationships, the palace now was used as a residence and two major wings were added to it towards the piazza, frescoes were painted and a hanging garden was built. In 1591 a council of eight cardinals was held in the Palace, with the mission to revise the Bible for an edition, among them were Marcantonio Colonna. The building is characterized by frescoes painted by manierist artists of 16th century, attributed to Dutch painters, to Antonio Tempesta, in the Palace also worked Carlo Maratta and Ludovico Gimignani, who died in this palace in 1697. Later the Palace became property of the Pallavicini family, until it was sold to the comune in 1979, when the Rospigliosi acquired the duchy of Zagarolo in 1668, it became property of that family. During World War II the palace was transformed in a German military hospital, today the Library of Zagarolo and the Toy Museum are inside the palace, and it is used for conventions, exhibitions and other cultural events. Church of St. Lawrence Martyr, located in Piazza del Risorgimento, convent and Church of St. Mary of the Graces, located in Piazza Santa Maria Church of St. Annunziata, has a peculiar octagonal belltower, and dominates the skyline of Zagarolo. Church of St. Peter, a Baroque church built on the site of an ancient church. It has an elliptical dome 46 meters high, the first gate to be encountered entering the city center from the southeast is Porta Rospigliosi, decorated with bas-reliefs in the 16th century and Roman busts and theatrical masques. The other gate, at the northwest entrance to the city is Porta San Martino, the Zagarolo Toy Museum, located in Rospigliosi Palace. The Museum offers a reconstruction of toys and the act of playing in a series of sections that, through a historic excursus
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Metropolitan cities of Italy
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The metropolitan city is an administrative division of Italy, operative since 2015. In 2009, amendments added Reggio Calabria to the list, the metropolitan areas individuated by the autonomous regions were, Trieste in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Cagliari in Sardinia, Catania, Messina and Palermo in Sicily. On 3 April 2014 the Italian Parliament approved a law that establishes 10 metropolitan cities in Italy, the new metropolitan cities have been operative since 1 January 2015. The metropolitan city is composed by the municipalities that before had been members of the same province, each metropolitan city is headed by a metropolitan mayor assisted by a legislative body, the Metropolitan council, and by a non-legislative assembly, the metropolitan conference. Members of the Metropolitan council are elected and chosen by mayors and city councilors of each municipality in the metropolitan city, the metropolitan conference is composed by the mayors of the municipalities closest to the capital. The main functions devolved to the new cities are, local planning and zoning, provision of local police services, transport. Regions of Italy Provinces of Italy Municipalities of Italy Media related to Metropolitan cities of Italy at Wikimedia Commons
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Milan metropolitan area
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The Milan metropolitan area, known as Grande Milano, is the metropolitan area of the Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy. The spatial spread of the Milan metropolitan area has accelerated over recent decades. A single, large and increasingly widespread conurbation with the city of Milan at its hub defines the area, however. The Milan metropolitan area contains a population of 8,123,020 in 2013 ISTAT, the Milan metropolitan area is part of the so-called Blue Banana, the area of Europe with the highest population and industrial density. The metropolitan area is statistical and does not imply any kind of administrative unity or function. Another definition is synonymous with the province of Milan, with 3,869,037 inhabitants distributed over an area of 1,982 km2, according to Eurostat Urban Audit program, the larger urban zone of Milan has a population of 3,076,643. Finally, an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development territorial review of 2006 takes a more inclusive definition based on socioeconomic patterns, the overall population under this definition is about 7,400,000, dispersed over an area of about 12,000 km2. The most important of these by population are Monza, Busto Arsizio, Sesto San Giovanni, Legnano, the total land area of the greater urban area is 2944.53 km² with a population of 5.246.000 the largest in Italy by population. 27% of this population resides in the city of Milan, the density of the Milan urban area is 1,651 per km², one of the highest in Europe. This table shows the main Italian urban areas by population, the Milan urban area is the largest Transport in Milan Larger Urban Zones in the European Union Largest European metropolitan areas
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Naples metropolitan area
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The Naples metropolitan area is a metropolitan area in Campania, Italy, centered on the city of Naples. With a population of around 4,5 million, its the third most populous metropolitan area on the European part of Mediterranean coast, Naples urban area and metropolitan area is the second most populous in Italy, after Milan. The urban area has a population of 3,020,000 being the 10th-most populous urban area in the European Union, according to European Spatial Planning Observation Network, Naples polycentric metropolitan area has a population of 3,714,000. According to The Principal Agglomerations of the World - Population Statistics and Maps by Citypopulation. de, according to Associazione per lo sviluppo dellindustria nel Mezzogiorno, Naples metropolitan area has a population of 4,434,136 on area of 2,300 km². Naples metropolitan area - SVIMEZ - it, Area metropolitana di Napoli - ISTAT data - es, the Naples metropolitan area is in the second place
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Turin metropolitan area
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The Turin metropolitan area is the urban agglomeration centred on the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy. It is defined statistically and does not correspond to an area of local government. Administratively it comprises the comune of Turin plus 52 further communes, the metropolitan area has a total population of 1,700,000 estimated by the OECD and an area of 1.127 km², giving a density of 1,512 people per square kilometre. It is the fourth most populous area in Italy. 52% of the population lives within the city of Turin, the Turin metropolitan area lies in fourth place
