Ariccia

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Comune di Ariccia
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Rome
Mayor	Emilio Cianfanelli (since June 2006)

Elevation	412 m
Area	18 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	17,995
- Density	960/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°43′N 12°40′E
Gentilic	Ariccini or (dialect) Aricciaroli
Dialing code	06
Postal code	00040

Patron	St. Apollonia
- Day	February 9
Website: ariccia.comuninrete.com

View from the bridge

Ariccia (Latin Aricia) is a commune in the province of Rome, in the Lazio (Latium) region, in the Alban Hills. It is part of the suburbs of Rome and is situated in the regional park known as the "Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani".

Ariccia is famous for its porchetta, an excellent local roast pork recipe, and for its excellent wine. The commune of Ariccia includes the frazioni of Vallericcia and Cecchina. It is bounded by the communes of Albano Laziale, Castel Gandolfo, Genzano di Roma and Marino Laziale.

[edit] History

According to a vague notice by Caius Julius Solinus, Ariccia was founded by one Archilocus Siculus in very ancient times. Ruins found in the city confirm the existence of a settlement in the 8th-9th centuries BC. Later the city was a member of the Latin League and in its territory, including the Lake of Nemi, was sited the sanctuary of Diana Aricina (or Diana Nemorensis) held by the Latin cities in common, and presided over by the Rex Nemorensis made famous in the pages of Frazer's The Golden Bough.

Under its walls the Battle of Aricia was fought (506 BC), in which the Aricini, allied with the Cumani of Aristhodemus, defeated the Etruscans led by Aruns son of Porsenna.

Aricia was definitively conquered by the Romans in the 4th century BC: it received the title of municipium, and expanded towards the valley below, in which the Via Appia connected it with Rome. Ariccia became therefore the first main posting station in the way from Rome towards southern Italy. Being rather near to the Imperial capital, and favoured by a fresher climate, Ariccia was chosen by many of the Rome's patricii as seat of their leasure villas.

Being placed in a strategic position, the city was sacked several times during and after the fall of the Roman Empire, by Goths, Vandals and, finally, by the Saracens who destroyed it in 827. The inhabitants subsequently moved to the ancient acropolis and founded a new community.

In 990 the Castrum Ariciensis ("Ariccia's Castle") 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 in turn passed again to the Earls of Tusculum as a fief (1116). The Roman Church regained Ariccia in 1223 with Pope Honorius III, of the Savelli family, and maintained it until the first half of the 15th century.

Ariccia began to depopulate, however: after a period under the administration of the castle of Lariano, it passed to the Genzano district, which registered only 100 people in it. Around 1400 all the territory became property of the Monastery of Sant'Anastasio alle Tre Fontane and, after a brief period under the Savelli once more, was sold to the Abbey of Grottaferrata.

The church of the Assunta by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Pope Sixtus IV handed Ariccia over to the Savelli, who executed several works for improve its condition, including the draining of the lake situated in the valley (Lake of Vallericcia). In 1661 the city passed to the powerful Chigi family, who rebuilt the splendid Palazzo Savelli Chigi in the main square, in which the invaluable Chigi archives were housed. The Chigi Pope Alexander VII lived for long periods in Ariccia and changed drastically its urbanistic asset, with the important contribution of Gian Lorenzo Bernini who designed the main square and the Church of the Assunta facing the palazzo.

In 1854 Pope Pius IX ordered the construction of a bridge: this bypassed the large wood (now the Parco Chigi) in the valley, which hindered access to Ariccia from Rome along the Via Appia. The bridge was destroyed by retreating German troops during World War II (along with much of the city). Rebuilt in 1947, it crumbled suddenly in 1967 and was rebuilt again.

[edit] Main sights

The most noteworthy sight in Ariccia is its entrance from the famous bridge, which leads to Bernini's Baroque square. The main monuments include:

The Palazzo Savelli Chigi, whose perfectly restored rooms are renowned as seat of many historical movies.
The domed circular church of the Assunta, by Bernini, inspired by the Pantheon. In the interior the apse has a notable fresco by Borgognone.
The Fontana delle Tre Cannelle ("Fountain of the three spouts"), once thought to contain the tomb of Simon Magus.

Other monuments include the Porta Romana, also by Bernini, and, two kilometres outside the city, the venerated Sanctuary of the Madonna del Galloro, with facade by Bernini. The latter is the final stop of a religious procession held on December 8 and called "Procession of the Lady", as a young woman is asked to lead it.

The area around Ariccia houses many interesting archaeological finds such as the Villa of the Roman Emperor Vitellius, the remains of the Via Appia Antica, as well as those of the ancient temples on Monte Cavo and in the Lake Nemi basin.