Genzano di Roma

Genzano di Roma
Comune
Comune di Genzano di Roma
Panorama o Genzano
Coat airms
Genzano di Roma Location o Genzano di Roma in Italy
Coordinates: 41°42′N 12°41′E
Kintra	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Roum
Frazioni	Landi, Muti
Govrenment
• Mayor	Flavio Gabbarini
Area
• Total	18 km2 (7 sq mi)
Elevation	435 m (1,427 ft)
Population  (2007)
• Total	23,122
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Genzanesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	00045
Diallin code	06
Patron saunt	St. Thomas o Villanova
Website	Offeecial wabsteid

Genzano di Roma is a toun an comune in the province o Roum, in the Lazio region o central Italy. It is ane o the Castelli Romani, at a distance o 29 km frae Roum, in the Alban Hills.

History

The oreegin o the name Genzano is still disputit. Accordin tae ane version, the hill owerleukin the Loch o Nemi on which the ceety is situatit wis ance devotit tae the goddess Cynthia, whose cult wis associatit tae that o Diana Nemorensis. Anither version relates its oreegin tae the Gentiani faimily. For ithers the presence on the hills, at that time o the "tribus or gens Cynthia" oreeginators an custodians o the cult o courage, in "Castrum Gentianum" frae thaim the derivation o the name Genzano. Durin the Roman empire the aurie wis inhabitit bi walthy Roman ceetizens who wished tae benefit frae the cleaner air, uncontaminatit watter an ceuler temperaturs durin the hot simmer months. The remains o mony auncient Roman villas are tae be foond in the surroondins. The maist impressive bein the waws o the "Villa o the Antonini" whaur the later Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (r. 138-161 AD.) wis born. The Herculean Sarcophagus o Genzano, currently in the British Museum wis foond here.

In the 12t century a touer of the Gandolfi faimily, laird o Castel Gandolfo, existit in the steid. In 1183 Pape Lucius III gave it tae the Cistercian monks o St. Anastasius of Aquae Salviae in Roum. In 1235 they biggit a lairge castle aroond which the toun later grew. In 1378 the Papes assigned it tae Giordano Orsini. The Cistercians an the Colonna alternatively ruled Genzano till 1563, when the castle wis cedit for 150,000 scudos to the Massimi, frae which it wis bocht bi Giuliano Cesarini.

Livia Cesarini, the last exponent o the faimily an wife o Francesco II Sforza, thegither wi airchitect Giovanni Iacobini, designed an biggit Genzano Nuova (New Genzano) in 1708, accordin tae the maist modren urban plannin o that time. The painter Maratti wis ane o the ceetizens who settled in Livia Sforza-Cesarini's new toun.

In 1873 it wis decidit that the name o the toun shoud be chyngit tae Genzano di Roma tae avoid confusion athin the postal service as there are twa touns in Italy cried Genzano.

In the 19t an early 20t century it wis seat o numerous peasant revolts; durin Warld War II it suffered hivy damage under Allee'd bombins, 90% o its biggins bein destroyed.

Main sichts

• The baronal Palace Sforza Cesarini;
• The Inglis garden o Palace Sforza Cesarini;
• The Kirk o St Mary o the Cappuccines;
• The airtistic foontain o St Sebastian;
• The Cathedral St Mary o the Hilltop;

Infiorata Feastival

In Juin, a great folkloristic an releegious exhibition, the "Infiorata" is held. A whole street (Via Italo Belardi) is covered wi allegorical carpets o flouers an a maskit parade walk on these, wi medieval an tradeetional clothes realisit bi the toun's weemen. For mair nor twa centuries (frae 1778) on Sunday an Monday follaein Corpus Christus feast the Infiorata a maist suggestive manifestation o airt, pride o the airtists o Genzano haes taken place. Each year the airtists suggestions must conform tae a previously agreed upon theme, such as The Colours o Michelangelo, or The Designs o Bernini. In the ware it haes recently become tradeetion tae have a "mini Infiorata" made bi the childer frae the local schuils.

Twin ceeties

• Châtillon, Fraunce
• Merseburg, Germany
• Mokotów, Poland

Freemit airtins

• Offeecial wabsteid o Infiorata