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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 Italian visitors of my web site

In and About Viterbo S. Martino al Cimino

Olimpia Maidalchini, the very powerful sister-in-law of Pope Innocentius X (1644-55) was born in Viterbo and the pope to please her gave her the title of Princess of S. Martino al Cimino a small town located outside Porta Romana. S. Martino was completely renovated by Olimpia, who wanted to be buried in the Cathedral, where several inscriptions are a memento of her role as protectress of S. Martino. Olimpia was the wife of Pamphilio Pamphili, elder brother of the pope, so her coat of arms had the dove with the olive leaves.

Inscriptions in the Cathedral
Inscriptions in the Cathedral

S. Martino had new walls and two new baroque gates. The main one has a long inscription which details the improvements made by the pope. Both gates lead to large new squares: the pope and the princess had been involved in the redesign of Piazza Navona in Rome and they invited some of the same architects (including Francesco Borromini) who had worked there to help in the renovation of S. Martino.

The gates
The two gates

The only monument left of medieval S. Martino is the imposing Cistercian Cathedral built at the beginning of the XIIIth century. The two bell towers were added by Borromini and also the coat of arms was designed by him: it is a replica of Urbanus VIII's coat of arms in Palazzo Barberini.

Cathedral
The Cathedral

Pope Innocentius X is known for having set strict limits to the changes Borromini wanted to make in St John Lateran: he took the same line with respect to this Cathedral, which retained its medieval atmosphere.

Interior of the Cathedral
Interior of the Cathedral

Olimpia built her palace next to the Cathedral with a direct access to it. The access to the upper floors of the palace is facilitated by a cordonata, a ramp with very short steps. Its design recalls the steps of Palazzo Barberini.

Palazzo Pamphili

Palazzo Pamphili

The renovation of S. Martino covered also the ordinary houses. They were built following the same pattern and they were numbered. They constitute a very interesting example of early urban development planning.

XVIIth century urban development
XVIIth century urban development

The walls of S. Martino were not meant for defence against an army, but just as a security measure against bands of robbers. For this reason they were used as part of the houses. The house built on the back of the main gate has a window which is an excellent spot for seeing what goes on in S. Martino.

Balcony over the main gate
A fine spot for knowing what goes on


In and about Viterbo - other pages:
Viterbo
Bagnaia
Bagnoregio
Bomarzo
Orte and Vasanello
S. Maria della Querce
Tuscania
Vitorchiano

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.