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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

To the visitors of my web site

From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana Oriolo Romano and Capranica

Oriolo Romano

Oriolo Romano was founded in 1562 by Giorgio Santa Croce (or Santacroce) around a castle he had acquired from the Orsini and which was surrounded by woods. The area was deforested and populated with immigrants from Tuscany and Umbria. Oriolo has a very clearly planned structure with three parallel streets leading to a square closed by a large palace.

Palazzo Altieri
Palazzo Altieri

The palace, maybe designed by il Vignola, was modified in the late XVIIth century after Oriolo was acquired in 1671 by the Altieri, the family of Pope Clemens X (1670-76). It is a complex building which seen from different angles appears as a town palace, a villa, a fortress and even a farm. A bridge linked the apartments of the Altieri with a large park. The Altieri decorated a long gallery (today a museum) with the portraits of 256 popes (I have to say it is a rather boring visit).

Walls, column and the detail of a house
Walls, main fountain and the detail of a house

Oriolo retains in part its old walls, but not its gates. The fountain was erected by the Santa Croce, but the Altieri added their heraldic star on its top and on the little piers which surround the fountain (see the image used as background for this page). Although initially all the inhabitants of Oriolo were farmers or servants of the Santa Croce, and they lived in identical small houses, over time some families acquired a more important status which shows up in a few larger buildings.

Coats of arms
Coats of arms

The coats of arms of the Altieri or their heraldic stars are everywhere in Oriolo. The coat of arms of Oriolo, however, is still faithful to the founders and it shows a pelican, a symbol of the Santa Croce (see S. Maria in Publicolis the Santacroce church near Piazza Giudia in Rome).

Capranica

Capranica is located at the confluence of two little streams which have deeply cut the tufaceous rocks of a small hill with two peaks. Capranica can be accessed only from one side. Half a mile outside the gate of Capranica there is a church (Madonna del Piano) designed by il Vignola in the second half of the XVIth. The gate was built in the same period and it leads to Borgo, one of the two peaks of the hill.

Madonna del Piano, Outer Gate and S. Francesco
Madonna del Piano, Outer Gate and S. Francesco

Borgo has an interesting medieval church (S. Francesco), but when I approached the church my interest was on something other than its architecture: I first saw a long black car used for funerals and then another car decorated for a wedding: although funny things occur in my country, Capranica did not seem to me the right place to test an innovative liturgy mixing funerals with weddings. When I got closer to the scene I realized I had come across the shooting of a movie.

Relief at the entrance of the Hospital
Relief at the entrance of the Hospital

The medieval (XIIth century) entrance to the hospital has a relief showing men and animals framed by vine-branches; the meaning of the relief is obscure: experts know much more about the iconography of the Greeks and the Romans, than of that of the Middle Ages.

Inner Gate and Coat of arms of Urbanus VIII
Inner Gate and Coat of arms of Pope Urbanus VIII

The access to Castello (castle), the second peak of the hill, is protected by another gate, largely restored by Pope Urbanus VIII (1623-44) and as usual decorated with his coat of arms.

A window and a sacred image
A window and a sacred image in Castello

Castello is the oldest part of Capranica and its being so inaccessible once was an advantage, but today is a minus. You see very few people around and many houses are closed. It is a pity because the narrow streets are very evocative.


From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana - other pages:
Civitavecchia, Allumiere and Tolfa
Sutri, Bassano and Monterosi
Nepi and Castel Sant'Elia
Civita Castellana

Pages on towns of Latium other than Rome In the Duchy of Castro: Farnese, Ischia di Castro, Valentano, Gradoli, Capodimonte, Marta In Maremma: Corneto (Tarquinia), Montalto, Canino A Pilgrim's Way: Via Francigena: Acquapendente, Bolsena, Montefiascone In and about Viterbo: Viterbo, Bagnoregio, S. Martino al Cimino, Tuscania, Bomarzo, S. Maria della Querce, Bagnaia, Orte, Vasanello, Vitorchiano From Civitavecchia to Civita Castellana: Civitavecchia, Tolfa, Allumiere, Oriolo Romano, Capranica, Sutri, Bassano, Monterosi, Nepi, Castel d'Elia, Civita Castellana From Bracciano to Viterbo: Manziana, Canale Monterano, Vejano, Barbarano, Blera, Vetralla Around Monte Cimino: Ronciglione, Caprarola, Carbognano, Fabrica, Corchiano, Vignanello, Vallerano, Soriano The Bracciano Lake: Bracciano, Trevignano, Anguillara At the foot of Monte Soratte: S. Oreste, Rignano, Faleria Land of the Romans' wives: Montopoli, Poggio Mirteto, Casperia, Cantalupo, Roccantica Sentinels on the Highway: Fiano Romano, Civitella S. Paolo, Nazzano, Torrita Tiberina, Filacciano, Ponzano Along Via Aurelia: Palidoro, Palo, S. Severa and S. Marinella A Walk to Malborghetto: Prima Porta, Malborghetto Branching off Via Cassia: S. Maria di Galeria, Formello, Isola Farnese To Nomentum and beyond: Mentana, Monterotondo, Palombara A Walk to Ponte di Nona: ancient monuments along Via Prenestina Via Appia Antica A short and delicious digression: Tivoli, Montecompatri, Monte Porzio Catone, Frascati, Grottaferrata, Marino, Castelgandolfo, Albano, Ariccia, Genzano, Velletri, Nemi, Rocca di Papa, Rocca Priora, Civita Lavinia (Lanuvio), Porto, Ostia Where the painters found their models: Anticoli Corrado, Castelmadama, Vicovaro, Arsoli Subiaco The Roman Campagna: Palestrina, Genazzano, Paliano, Anagni The Ernici Mountains: Ferentino, Alatri The Volsci Mountains: Valmontone, Colonna, Segni, Norma, Cori On the Latin Shores: Anzio, Nettuno, Torre Astura On the edge of the marsh: Sermoneta, Sezze, Priverno Circe's Cape: S. Felice, Terracina Veroli Branching off Via Flaminia: Riano, Castelnuovo di Porto, Morlupo, Leprignano (Capena)

Latium was enlarged in the 1920s with territories from the neighbouring regions: the map on the left shows the current borders of Latium; the map on the right has links to pages covering towns of historical Latium: in order to see them you must hover and click on the dots.