.gif)
Ardea (RM)
Encyclopedia
Ardea is an ancient town and comune
in the province of Rome
, 35 km south of Rome
and about 4 km from today's Mediterranean coast.
The economy is mostly based on agriculture, although, starting from the 1970s, industry has had an increasingly important role.
, one of the consular roads
, to which it gave its name. Columella
owned a farm there.
Ardea was the capital of the Rutuli
, mentioned in the Aeneid
. The town was captured by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
, the Etruscan
king of Rome
. In 509 BC it is mentioned as a Roman ally. In 443 BC the Volscians laid siege to Ardea. The siege was soon broken by Roman troops under the leadership of Marcus Geganius Macerinus.
During the Second Punic War
, it was one of the few cities that refused military support to Rome, and, after the Roman victory, was deprived of its autonomy. In the 3rd-2nd centuries BC it decayed until, in the Imperial Age, it was scarcely populated at all. The 1st century agricultural writer Columella
possessed estates there.
It returned to growth only after the 9th century AD. Its castle in 1118 housed Pope Gelasius II
and was later contended among various feudal barons of the area. In 1419 Pope Martin V
assigned it to his kinsmen, the Colonna family
, who sold it in 1564 to the Cesarini.
In 1816 it became a frazione
of Genzano
. Starting from 1932, the surrounding area was drained and Ardea began to flourish again, becoming a frazione
of Pomezia
starting from its foundation around 1948 and an independent municipality in 1970.
, dating to the 7th century BC and later (4th century BC) updated to larger walls. Archaeological excavations have brought to light four temples, of unknown dedication. Part of the pavement of a basilica
(c. 100 BC) have also been found in the area of the ancient Forum.
Other sights include:
, Greece
Rielasingen-Worblingen
, Germany
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Rome
Province of Rome
The Province of Rome , is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the city of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by rural landscape.-Geography:The Province of Rome...
, 35 km south of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and about 4 km from today's Mediterranean coast.
The economy is mostly based on agriculture, although, starting from the 1970s, industry has had an increasingly important role.
History
In Antiquity, Ardea was most often mentioned in connection with the Via ArdeatinaVia Ardeatina
Via Ardeatina was an ancient road of Rome leading to the town of Ardea, after which it is named. Ardea lay 24 miles distant from Rome.-External links:*...
, one of the consular roads
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
, to which it gave its name. Columella
Columella
Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella is the most important writer on agriculture of the Roman empire. Little is known of his life. He was probably born in Gades , possibly of Roman parents. After a career in the army , he took up farming...
owned a farm there.
Ardea was the capital of the Rutuli
Rutuli
The Rutuli or Rutulians were members of a legendary Italic tribe...
, mentioned in the Aeneid
Aeneid
The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter...
. The town was captured by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was the legendary seventh and final King of Rome, reigning from 535 BC until the popular uprising in 509 BC that led to the establishment of the Roman Republic. He is more commonly known by his cognomen Tarquinius Superbus and was a member of the so-called Etruscan...
, the Etruscan
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
king of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. In 509 BC it is mentioned as a Roman ally. In 443 BC the Volscians laid siege to Ardea. The siege was soon broken by Roman troops under the leadership of Marcus Geganius Macerinus.
During the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
, it was one of the few cities that refused military support to Rome, and, after the Roman victory, was deprived of its autonomy. In the 3rd-2nd centuries BC it decayed until, in the Imperial Age, it was scarcely populated at all. The 1st century agricultural writer Columella
Columella
Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella is the most important writer on agriculture of the Roman empire. Little is known of his life. He was probably born in Gades , possibly of Roman parents. After a career in the army , he took up farming...
possessed estates there.
Pope Gelasius II
Pope Gelasius II , born Giovanni Caetani , was pope from January 24, 1118 to January 29, 1119.-Biography:He was born between 1060 and 1064 at Gaeta into the Pisan branch of the Caetani family....
and was later contended among various feudal barons of the area. In 1419 Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
assigned it to his kinsmen, the Colonna family
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
, who sold it in 1564 to the Cesarini.
In 1816 it became a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of Genzano
Genzano di Roma
Genzano di Roma is a town and comune in the province of Rome, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani, at a distance of 29 km from Rome, on the Alban Hills.-History:The origin of the name Genzano is still disputed...
. Starting from 1932, the surrounding area was drained and Ardea began to flourish again, becoming a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of Pomezia
Pomezia
Pomezia is a municipality in the province of Rome, Lazio, central Italy. In 2009 it had a population of about 60,000.-History:The town was built entirely new near the location of ancient Lavinium on land resulting from the final reclamation of the Pontine Marshes under Benito Mussolini, being...
starting from its foundation around 1948 and an independent municipality in 1970.
Main sights
Remains of the ancient city include the old defensive aggerAgger
An agger is an ancient Roman embankment or rampart, or any artificial elevation. It is a Latin word.It is especially used for the raised and cambered embankment carrying a Roman road...
, dating to the 7th century BC and later (4th century BC) updated to larger walls. Archaeological excavations have brought to light four temples, of unknown dedication. Part of the pavement of a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
(c. 100 BC) have also been found in the area of the ancient Forum.
Other sights include:
- Church of Santa MarinaSanta MarinaSanta Marina can refer to:* Santa Marina Salina, a town on the Eolian Island, Italy* Santa Marina, Campania, a town and comune in Campania, Italy* Santamarina, Noreña, Asturias, Spain...
, erected in 1191 by Cencio Savelli, the future Pope Honorius IIPope Honorius IIPope Honorius II , born Lamberto Scannabecchi, was pope from December 21, 1124, to February 13, 1130. Although from a humble background, his obvious intellect and outstanding abilities saw him promoted through the ecclesiastical hierarchy...
. The interior, on a single nave, was originally entirely frescoed. - RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
Church of San PietroSan PietroSan Pietro is Italian for Saint Peter – see also Saint Peter .It may also refer to:- Churches :* Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano* Antica basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano* San Pietro di Castello in Venice...
Apostolo (12th century), which was a possession of the monks of San Paolo Fuori le Mura of Rome. It incorporates a former watchtower used to counter SaracenSaracenSaracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
attacks, now turned into a bell tower. It has 15th century frescoes and a 16th century wooden crucifix. - The Giardini della Landriana, designed by Russell PageRussell PageMontague Russell Page was a British gardener, garden designer and landscape architect.Former partner of Geoffrey Jellicoe and author of The Education of a Gardener . In this book he includes some reference to Islamic and classical gardens...
. - Giacomo ManzùGiacomo ManzùGiacomo Manzù, pseudonym of Giacomo Manzoni , was an Italian sculptor, communist, and Roman Catholic.-Biography:...
Museum, housing some 400 works of the artist. - Tor San Lorenzo', a tower in the eponymous seaside frazioneFrazioneA frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
. It was rebuilt in 1570 after a design by MichelangeloMichelangeloMichelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
, in the area of a former Palaeo-Christian church devoted to St. Lawrence.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ardea is twinned with: ArgosArgos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Rielasingen-Worblingen
Rielasingen-Worblingen
Rielasingen-Worblingen is a municipality in the district of Konstanz, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the border with Switzerland, 4 km south of Singen, and 20 km east of Schaffhausen...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...