Albano Laziale

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Comune di Albano Laziale
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Rome
Mayor	Marco Mattei (since 2003-04-03)

Elevation	400 m
Area	23.80 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	35,428
- Density	1,489/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°44′N 12°40′E
Gentilic	Albanensi
Dialing code	06
Postal code	00041
Frazioni	Cecchina, Pavona


Website: www.comune.albanolaziale.roma.it

Albano Laziale is a commune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Lazio (Latium). It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Rome, Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Transportation
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

Albano is located in the area in which, according to the legend, Aeneas's son, Ascanius, founded Alba Longa. Today the coat of arms of Albano still sport the white (Latin: Alba) boar dreamt by Ascanius before the founding of the city. Alba Longa was one of the main cities of the Latins and, again according to the legend, the birthplace of Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome.

Alba Longa acquired importance when the Appian Way was built nearby, and the Romans built numerous villas in the area. One of the most magnificent was that of emperor Domitian. In the 3rd century emperor Septimius Severus had a military camp, called Castra Albana, built nearby to house a Roman legion of the central army reserve. Today's Albano developed from this settlements, as it is showed the main streets, which still follow the ancient decumanus and cardo. Remains of the large baths built by Septimius' son, Caracalla, are still visibile.

During the Middle Ages the city was abandoned, regaining importance only in the 12th century for its strategic position across the Appian Way. It became a possession of the Savelli family, who resided there until 1697: it was thenceforth a Papal possession, the Popes maintaining today a villa in the communal territory.

In the 18th century Albano became the summer residence of numerous Roman families, and the population increased substantially.

[edit] Main sights

During the Papal domination Albano received numerous churches, often modelled on the Rome's ones. An example is Santa Maria della Rotonda, inspired to the Pantheon and built over the ruins of Domitian villa. The belltowers are also very similar to those of Rome's medieval churches.

The large Cathedral was built in 1721.