Palestrina

Palestrina, the ancient and noble city of Praeneste, is an medieval city about 35 km east of Rome located in a panoramic position on the Southern slopes of Monte Ginestro, the last spur of the Prenestini Mountains. Its origin was attributed by the ancients to Ulysses, or to another fabulous personage.

Palestrina

Palestrina has been a cultural centre for artists and writers. It is also renowned for being the birthplace, in 1525, of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the prince of polyphonic and sacred music. His former home is now a museum and important music library with about six thousand volumes of music and musical critics and with a focus on the Renaissance. At the centre of the main square, Piazza Regina Margherita, is the statue of the composer.

Church of S.Rosalia

Annexed to the Palazzo Barberini there is the Church dedicated to Santa Rosalia, involved against the plague of Rome (and naturally Palestrina). In fact the church was commissioned by Maffeo Berberini in accordance with a vow made during the time of the plague that struck the town in1656. The church, richly adorned with marbles and alabaster, was consecrated in 1660. Here many members of Barberini family are buried and there is one of the richly decorated Barberini tombs. In the sacresty there used to be the so called Pietà di Palestrina by Michelangelo, carved in the solid rock, wich, since 1938, has been removed to the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. The sculpture is a group of three figures: Jesus, Virgin and Maria Maddalena.

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Castel S.Pietro

On the summit of the Monte Ginestro, on the site of the ancient acropolis, nearly a mile from the town, stood the ancient citadel, the site of which is now occupied by the pretty town called Castel San Pietro. It's is a caratheristic place with few houses and a ruined medieval castle of the Colonna family where Coradino of Swabia and Iacopone da Todi, among others, were imprisoned. Considerable portions of the southern wall of the ancient citadel, built in very massive Cyclopean masonry of blocks of limestone, are still to be seen. From the town walls you can admire a splendid view on the roman country, the Alban Hills as far as the sea.

Surroundings

  • The Sacro Speco

    An impressive complex of buildings which almost looks as if it is one with the surrounding rock...

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  • Rocca Pia

    Built on the place where Callisto II Borgia's Castle was situated...

  • Church of St.Peter

    It was built on the rests of a roman villa...

Con il patrocinio del Comune di Tivoli, Assessorato al Turismo

Patrocinio Comune di Tivoli

Assessorato al Turismo