Rocca Priora

Rocca Priora
—  Comune  —
Comune di Rocca Priora

Coat of arms
Rocca Priora
Location of Rocca Priora in Italy
Coordinates:
Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province Rome
Frazioni Colle di Fuori
Government
 • Mayor Damiano Pucci ([[List of political parties in Italy|UdC]])
Area
 • Total 28 km2 (10.8 sq mi)
Elevation 768 m (2,520 ft)
Population (30 April 2009)
 • Total 11,859
 • Density 423.5/km2 (1,097/sq mi)
Demonym Roccaprioresi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 00040
Dialing code 06
Patron saint St. Roch and St. Sebastian
Saint day August 16 and January 20
Website Official website

Rocca Priora is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani on the Alban Hills about 25 km south east of Rome, situated in the Regional Park known as the "Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani".

History

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, apart from two short periods in 1436-1447 and in the early 16th century, when it went to Cesare Borgia. According to some sources, the town was destroyed by Renzo da Ceri's troops during the conflict between Pope Clement VII and the Colonna, and by the imperial troops in the wake of the Sack of Rome (1527).

After a period as a direct Papal rule, it was sold in part to the Rospigliosi family, who held it until 1870, when it became a commune as part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

Twin cities

Famous citizens and residents