Home

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
What's New!

Detailed Sitemap

All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.

To the Italian visitors of my web site

In Maremma Montalto di Castro and Canino

Montalto di Castro

Montalto is a little town on a hill overlooking the coast (Montalto = monte alto = high mountain). It is called Montalto di Castro with reference to the Duchy of Castro to which it belonged for a century.

Castello Guglielmi
Castello Guglielmi

The road leading to the town is dominated by the mass of Castello Guglielmi, a medieval castle built by the Orsini, perhaps too much restored in the XIXth century by the Guglielmi, a rich family of Civitavecchia, owner of most of the land around Montalto.

In old Montalto
In old Montalto

There are still only two entrances to old Montalto, the streets of which maintain the atmosphere of the past.

XVIIIth century fountains
XVIIIth century fountains

According to an old saying: "Dell'Italia il Papa ha la ciccia e il Granduca l'ossa" (the Pope has the meat of Italy and the Grand Duke - of Tuscany - only the bones): it meant that the land of the Papal State was by far more fertile than that of Tuscany (which had many more mountains). But in the XVIIIth century the saying was no longer true. Towards the end of the XVIth century the Grand Dukes of Tuscany realized that the fortunes of their family (the Medici) could no longer rely on trade and banking because the discovery of America and the new large European states had changed the economic elements which had supported the growth of Italy until the end of the XVth century. They therefore turned their attention to agriculture and through various means they developed it. Their villas are decorated with frescoes and oil paintings showing the apples, the peaches, the pumpkins which grew on their farms. This continued effort made Tuscany a very well cultivated land. Even unhealthy Maremma was in part reclaimed by digging channels which drained the marshes. Travellers were struck by the change they noticed in the fields when they passed the border between Tuscany and the Papal State.

In the XVIIIth century the popes tried to emulate their neighbours and Montalto retains some memories of these efforts. An aqueduct brought fresh water to Montalto and two fine fountains were built to celebrate the event and a major restoration of the aqueduct.

Coats of arms
Coats of arms

The oldest fountain was built during the pontificate of Pope Clemens XI (1700-21) and the coat of arms of the pope is accompanied by the coats of arms of Cardinal Lorenzo Corsini (Pope Clemens XII in 1730-40) and Cardinal Lorenzo Imperiali, who came very close to becoming pope in 1730. The coats of arms of the cardinals are twisted to compose a very elegant design.

Main church and granary
Main church and granary

Other XVIIIth century buildings of Montalto are the main church built during the pontificate of Pope Pius VI (1775-99) and a granary during that of Pope Clemens XIII (1758-69).

Canino

Main fountain and window with the Farnese lily
Main fountain and window with the Farnese lily

Canino was the birthplace of Pope Paulus III Farnese (1534-49) and the lilies of the papal coat of arms can still be seen on several building, although the family palace was largely modified when it became the palace of Lucien Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. Lucien Bonaparte spent most of his life in Canino from which he promoted the excavations of the nearby Etruscan town of Vulci. Pope Pius VII (1800-21) gave him the title of Principe di Canino. The image used as a background for this page shows a Farnese coat of arms in Canino. Il Vignola is thought to have designed the fine Renaissance fountain by which the Farnese embellished the main square of Canino.


In Maremma - other pages:
Corneto (Tarquinia)


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.