Ceccano

Ceccano
Comune
Comune di Ceccano

Coat of arms
Ceccano

Location of Ceccano in Italy

Coordinates: 41°34′N 13°20′E / 41.567°N 13.333°E / 41.567; 13.333
Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province Frosinone (FR)
Government
  Mayor Roberto Caligiore
Area
  Total 60 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation 200 m (700 ft)
Population (30 June 2011)
  Total 23,504
  Density 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Ceccanesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 03023
Dialing code 0775
Patron saint St. John the Baptist
Saint day 24 June
Website Official website

Ceccano is a town and comune in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, central Italy.

History

The town had its origins as an ancient Volscian citadel that surrendered to the Romans in 424 BC.[1] Its name in ancient times was Fabrateria Vetus.

According to tradition, the name was changed into the current one in the early Middle Ages, in honor of one Petronius Ceccanus, father of Pope Honorius I. Conquered by the Lombards at the time of King Aistulf (c. 750), later it became an important fortress of the Papal territories. In 1218, a monk from nearby Fossanova Abbey compiled the Annals of Ceccano. From 900 to 1450 it was ruled by the local Counts of Ceccano, most likely of German origin; later their territories were assigned to Rodrigo Borgia by Pope Alexander VI and then to the Colonna family.

From 3 November 1943 and 31 May 1944, during World War II, the town suffered 38 air attacks from Allied forces despite having no strategical importance; in one of them the Church of Santa Maria a Fiume, a national monument, was destroyed. Canadian Army war artist Charles Comfort painted the town as it appeared during the Second World War.

Main sights

During excavations for the construction of the TAV high speed railroad, remains of a large Roman villa have been discovered.

Twin towns

References

  1. The History of Rome, Book II, Theodor Mommsen, (Kessinger Publishing, 2004), p. 112.


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