![]() ![]() What's New! Detailed Sitemap All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore. | Giuseppe Vasi's Digression - Civita Lavinia (Lanuvio)
Civita Lavinia, today Lanuvio, is another town the Romans associated with the wanderings of the Trojan
prince Aeneas in southern Latium. According to the myth the town of Lavinia was founded by Aeneas in honour of his wife Lavinia,
daughter of Latinus, king of Latium, and son of Ulysses and the goddess Circe. This narration does not pay too
much attention to consistency. Aeneas and Ulysses, both wandered for several years after they left Troy (at the same time) and it seems unlikely that
Aeneas could marry a grand daughter of Ulysses, but this union had the advantage of providing the Romans with both Trojan and Greek ancestors (see also Albano and S. Felice Circeo).
The military aspect of Lavinia is still evident in the walls and towers which protect its historical part. The tower shown on the left was built on a previous Roman wall, while the other two towers show medieval and Renaissance features.
Lavinia was renowned for its temples. The Romans built walls on the slopes of the hill to obtain the large terraces they needed for
the erection of temples and of their ancillary facilities. While the temples are lost, their location is indicated by the walls which supported the terraces.
The old town retains some elements of its Roman period (in the image above a Roman sarcophagus turned into a fountain; in the image used as a background for this page you can see
a Roman relief showing a triton and a mermaid; in the last image of the page, a Roman inscription).
Lavinia was for many centuries a fief of the Colonna family. The main church was built at various stages at their expense: the fine Baroque bell tower was added in 1680.
The old town inside the walls and its immediate surroundings near the rural sanctuary of S. Maria delle Grazie have retained a very evocative and peaceful atmosphere. Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:
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