Sezze

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Comune di Sezze
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Latina (LT)
Mayor
Elevation	319 m
Area	101 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	22,835
- Density	216/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°30′N 13°04′E
Gentilic	Setini
Dialing code	0773
Postal code	04010, 04018
Frazioni	Casali, Ceriara, Colli, Crocemoschitto, Foresta, Sezze Scalo
Website: www.comune.sezze.lt.it

Sezze is a small town in the Province of Latina, Italy, about 90 km south from Rome. The historical center of Sezze is located on one high hill commanding the Pontina plain.

The salubrity of the climate has been appreciated and praised since the Roman Age and has been confirmed from recent studies.

[edit] History

According to a legend, the city was founded by the mythical hero Hercules after his victory on the Lestrigones, a population of southern Lazio. In the today's city coat of arms is present the white lion Nemeos.

The historical Setia appeared around the 5th century BCE. It became a Roman colony in 382 BCE, and flourished thanks to his strategic and commercial position near of the "pedemontana" way and the Appian Way, the road that connected Rome to the southern Italy.

During the Civil War between Caius Marius and Sulla, Setia supported the former and was later punished by the victorious Sulla. In the Imperial period Setia was famous for its villas, and its wines were praised by Martial, Juvenal and Cicero.

In the early Middle Ages the city had a troubled life due to its location near the main road of communication, until, in the 956, it freed from the Papal authority and organized istelf as commune with laws of its own. Later, in Sezze sojourned several popes, including Gregory VII (1073), Paschal II (1116) and Lucius III (1182).

The semi-autonomous status lasted until the city, after decades of skirmishes and wars with the neighbouring Sermoneta and Priverno, was conquered by the troops of the Caetani family in 1381. After 12 years the Setini revolted and exterminated the occupants and, once free, they returned under the protection of the Pope.

In 1656 the population was halved both because of the plague and of raids from the Spanish and Austrians troops.

In 1690 in Sezze it was founded the scientific-literary Academy of the "Abbozzati", one of the first academies founded in Italy.

In 1798 the whole Lazio was occupied by French troops. The Setini rebelled exterminating the garrison: they avoided a bitter revenge only paying a large sum of money.

In the late 19th century the city was annexed to the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

During World War II some churches and buildings of the historical center were destroyed by the American bombardments.

[edit] Transportation

Sezze is connected to the railway line Rome-Naples. The main road connection is the modern SS.7, which bears the name of the ancient Appian Way.