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{{short description|Municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{quote|...that is Valmontone the round, walled town on the mount opposite...|[[Charles Dickens]]}}

{{Infobox Italian comune
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name = Valmontone
| name = Valmontone
Line 9: Line 8:
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_caption = Valmontone by night
| image_shield = Valmontone-Stemma.gif
| image_shield = Valmontone-Stemma.gif
| shield_alt =
| shield_alt =
Line 17: Line 16:
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_alt =
⚫
| coordinates = {{coord|41|47|N|12|55|E|source:plwiki_region:IT_type:city|display=inline}}
| latd = 41 |latm = 47 |lats = |latNS = N
| longd = 12 |longm = 55 |longs = |longEW = E
⚫
| coordinates_type = source:plwiki_region:IT_type:city
| coordinates_display = title
| coordinates_footnotes =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region = [[Lazio]]
| region = [[Lazio]]
| province = [[Province of Rome|Rome]]
| metropolitan_city = [[Metropolitan City of Rome Capital|Rome]] (RM)
| frazioni =
| frazioni =
| mayor_party =
| mayor_party = [[Partito Democratico|Democratic Party]]
| mayor = Egidio Calvano
| mayor = Alberto Latini
| area_footnotes =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 40
| area_total_km2 = 40.91
| population_footnotes =<ref name="istat">All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|Istat]].</ref>
| population_footnotes =<ref name="istat">All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|Istat]].</ref>
| population_total = 14625
| population_total = 15219
| population_as_of = 2008
| population_as_of = 31 August 2021
| pop_density_footnotes =
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonym = Valmontonesi
| population_demonym = Valmontonesi
Line 38: Line 34:
| twin1 =
| twin1 =
| twin1_country =
| twin1_country =
| saint = St. [[Luigi Gonzaga]]
| saint = [[Aloysius Gonzaga|St. Luigi Gonzaga]]
| day = June 21
| day = June 21
| postal_code = 00038
| postal_code = 00038
Line 46: Line 42:
}}
}}


'''Valmontone''' is a ''[[comune]]'' (municipality) in the [[Province of Rome]] in the Italian region [[Lazio]], located about 45&nbsp;km southeast of Rome.
'''Valmontone''' is a ''[[comune]]'' (municipality) in the [[Metropolitan City of Rome Capital|Metropolitan City of Rome]] in the Italian region [[Lazio]], located about {{convert|45|km|0|abbr=off}} southeast of Rome.


[[File:Valmontone Panorama.JPG|thumb|260px|Valmontone seen by [[Rocca di Cave]]: the massive white building is Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj.]]
[[File:Valmontone Panorama.JPG|thumb|260px|Valmontone seen by [[Rocca di Cave]]: the massive white building is Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj.]]


==Geography==
==Geography==
The historic part of the town is situated on a tuffaceous hill, 303 meters over the sea level, part of a morphological system of valleys and low relieves, known as [[Sacco River|Alta Valle del Sacco]] (High Valley of Sacco River).
The historic part of the town is situated on a [[tuffaceous]] hill, {{convert|303|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} [[above sea level]], part of a morphological system of valleys and low relieves, known as [[Sacco River|Alta Valle del Sacco]] (High Valley of Sacco River).
⚫
There are many natural springs due to the high water levels underground. Because of this, the landscape is covered by forest and farmland. To preserve this water system, in Valmontone exists the [[C.E.R.I.]], a center for the prevention and control of hydro-geological risks.
The underground is rich of water and this causes the presence of many natural springs: for this reason the landscape is covered by forests and farmlands.

⚫
To preserve this water system, in Valmontone exists the [[C.E.R.I.]], a center for the prevention and control of hydro-geological risks.


==History==
==History==
The origins of Valmontone are uncertain: it seems that a village was founded before the rise of Rome on a hill in the modern municipality of the town, and its ruins were visible until the 18th century.
The origins of Valmontone are uncertain: it seems that a village was founded before the rise of [[Rome]] on a hill in the modern municipality of the town, and its ruins were visible until the 18th century. Perhaps these are the remains of the ancient [[Labicum]], which, according to the myth, was founded by [[Glaucus]], [[Minos]]’ son: the name of the village derives from a kind of [[Greece|Greek]] shield.
Perhaps these are the remains of the ancient [[Labicum]], which, according to the myth, was founded by [[Glaucus]], [[Minos]]’ son: the name of the village derives from a kind of [[Greece|Greek]] shield.
Labicum was in war against Rome, but at last it was defeated and became a Roman castrum, a fortified castle: other testimonies of the Roman period are the post-station Ad Bivium, situated along the road called [[Via Latina]], a village of coal-makers, some furnaces for tiles and vases, a villa and some other remains (two sarcophagus, memorial plates).
Labicum was in war against Rome, but at last it was defeated and became a Roman castrum, a fortified castle: other testimonies of the Roman period are the post-station Ad Bivium, situated along the road called [[Via Latina]], a village of coal-makers, some furnaces for tiles and vases, a villa and some other remains (two sarcophagus, memorial plates).


⚫
Later on, the castle was rebuilt on the actual site in the Late [[Roman Empire]]. The presence of a Castrum Lateranense goes back to the 1052, while the name of Vallis Montonis (Valmontone means “a valley overhung by a little hill”) appears the first time in a document dated 1139. Valmontone became a fief under the Conti family until the 16th century, when, in 1548, the fief passed under the [[Sforza]] then, in 1632 and for a few years, under the [[Barberini]], until [[Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili|Camillo Pamphili]] bought Valmontone (1634). The Pamphili family became [[Doria-Pamphilii-Landi|Doria-Pamphili-Landi]] in the 18th century.
Later on, the castle was rebuilt on the actual site in the Late [[Roman Empire]].
The presence of a Castrum Lateranense goes back to the 1052, while the name of Vallis Montonis (Valmontone means “a valley overhung by a little hill”) appears the first time in a document dated 1139.
⚫
Valmontone became a fief under the Conti family until the 16th century, when, in 1548, the fief passed under the [[Sforza]] then, in 1632 and for a few years, under the [[Barberini]], until [[Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili|Camillo Pamphili]] bought Valmontone (1634).
The Pamphili family became [[Doria-Pamphilii-Landi|Doria-Pamphili-Landi]] in the 18th century.
In 1843 Valmontone assumed the rank of “city” by decision of [[Pope Gregory XVI]].
In 1843 Valmontone assumed the rank of “city” by decision of [[Pope Gregory XVI]].


On January 22, 1944, the Allies commenced [[Operation Shingle]] to outflank the Germans at the Winter Line and push toward Rome: Valmontone was an important objective on the way to Rome, in according to the [[Operation Buffalo]], May–June 1944.
On 22 January 1944, during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] commenced [[Battle of Anzio|Operation Shingle]], an [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious landing]] at [[Anzio]] in an attempt to outflank the formidable [[Wehrmacht|German]] defensive positions known as the [[Winter Line]] (also Gustave Line) and push toward [[Rome]]: Valmontone was an important objective on the way to Rome, in according to [[Battle of Anzio|Operation Buffalo]], May–June 1944. The Allies thought the German forces were garrisoning the city, so they bombed Valmontone with their air forces, nearly destroying it completely: Valmontone lost 80&nbsp;percent of its ancient buildings, like the fortified gates, the monastery on Colle Sant’Angelo, fountains, churches. With the post-war reconstruction, the town lost its medieval and baroque appeal, of which only a few sights survive.
During the Second World War, [[Allies]] thought the [[Nazi]] forces were garrisoning the city, so they bombed Valmontone with airplanes, nearly destroying it completely: Valmontone lost 80% of its ancient buildings, like the fortified gates, the monastery on Colle Sant’Angelo, fountains, churches.
With the post-war reconstruction the town lost its medieval and baroque appeal, of which only a few sights survive.


==Main sights==
==Main sights==
⚫
[[File:Stanza Aria Valmontone.JPG|thumb|250px|left|[[Mattia Preti]], ceiling fresco of Stanza dell'Aria, Palazzo Doria-Pamphilij.]]
Although World War II caused major destruction, in Valmontone there are still some important buildings:
[[File:La Colleggiata, Valmontone.JPG|thumb|250px|Colleggiata church.]]

'''Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj''' is the baronial palace: in origin it was a fortified castle, until the Barberini decided to replace it with a bigger fortress, and began the construction. When [[Camillo Pamphilj]] bought the fief, he wanted to create a sort of “ideal city”, a Città Panfilia (Pamphiljan Town), including the palace, the nearby church and the other buildings (stables, warehouses, house, etc.). For this reason he called in Valmontone many important artists. On the Piano Nobile (the second floor) there are some important frescoes, divided by themes: the four rooms of Elements, the four dedicated to the [[Continents]] (Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia), the Sala del Principe and two chapels.
*''Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj'' was originally a fortified castle, until the Barberini decided to replace it with a bigger fortress. When [[Camillo Pamphilj]] bought the fief, he wanted to create a sort of “ideal city”, a ''Città Panfilia'' (Pamphiljan Town), including the palace, the nearby church and the other buildings (stables, warehouses, house, etc.): for this reason he called in Valmontone many important artists. On the Piano Nobile (the second floor) are frescoes divided by themes: the four rooms of Elements, the four dedicated to the [[Continents]] (Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia), the Sala del Principe and two chapels. The ceiling frescoes were made between 1657 and the 1661 by [[Pier Francesco Mola]], [[Gaspard Dughet]], [[Guglielmo Cortese]], [[Francesco Cozza (painter)|Francesco Cozza]] and [[Mattia Preti]].
⚫
*Valmontone Archeological Museum, situated in the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj. The ground floor houses a section which introduces the municipal area, the upper floor offers an introduction to the archeological sites and to related topics, through several media. Such topics include the coal miners' village in Colle Carbone, the "Colle dei Lepri" settlement, the "Mansio", the Thermal Baths and the "Colle Pelliccione" furnace.
The ceiling frescoes were made between 1657 and the 1661 by [[Pier Francesco Mola]], [[Gaspard Dughet]], [[Guglielmo Cortese]], [[Francesco Cozza (painter)|Francesco Cozza]] and [[Mattia Preti]].
*Collegiate Church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, built on an ancient [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] church (12th century) with the same name, under Camillo Pamphilj, in the 17th century. The architect was [[Mattia de Rossi]], who rose to prominence under the mentorship of [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini]]: however, de Rossi was for this structure inspired by [[Borromini]]'s design for the Roman church of [[Sant'Agnese in Agone]]. The church has a façade composed by two bell towers and a curved colonnade with four [[Ionic order|Ionic columns]]. The plan is elliptic, with four chapels along each side, including numerous Baroque pictures; in front of the main entrance, between two other chapels, is the apse with the altar.
⚫
[[File:Stanza Aria Valmontone.JPG|thumb|250px|left|<center>[[Mattia Preti]], ceiling fresco of Stanza dell'Aria, Palazzo Doria-Pamphilij</center>]]
⚫
*''Fontana del Colle'', in Baroque style, is part of the original Prince Pamphilj project. It is composed by a pedestal with four round-shaped basins, one at each angle, decorated with lions heads. On the pedestal is a column surmounted by the bronze statue of the Labicanus, a Roman warrior, symbol of Valmontone. This fountain was completely destroyed under the World War II bombings, except one of the basins and the pedestal: the structure was rebuilt in 1968.
⚫
Valmontone Archeological Museum, situated in the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj. The ground floor houses a section which introduces the municipal area, the upper floor offers an introduction to the archeological sites and to related topics, through several media. Such topics include the coal miners's village in Colle Carbone, the "Colle dei Lepri" settlement, the "Mansio", the Thermal Baths and the "Colle Pelliccione" furnace.
⚫
*The Church of ''Sant'Antonio'' was not bombed during World War II, and is the last medieval building of Valmontone. The real name of the church is Santa Maria delle Grazie and was erected in the 9th century: the construction is made with blocks of [[tuff]], with two closed windows, one of them decorated with a little arch. The interior is decorated with Baroque stuccoes, a [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Madonna]] with the Son and a [[Sant'Antonio Abate]], both painted by anonymous.

⚫
*Colle Sant'Angelo hill houses the cemetery of Valmontone and the convent of Sant’Angelo: built on the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, it was also nearly destroyed during the last war, and rebuilt immediately. It was erected in the 8th century by the [[Benedictine Order]], and includes some remains of the old monastery in the [[cloister]] and in the [[refectory]]: two bells, one of them of 1523, the other of 1744, are visible in the cloister.
'''Collegiata Church of Santa Maria dell’Assunta''', built on the ancient gothic church (12th century), with the same name, under Camillo Pamphilj, in the 17th century. The architect was [[Mattia de Rossi]], who rose to prominence under the mentorship of [[Bernini]]: although this situation, for the Colleggiata de Rossi was inspired by [[Sant'Agnese in Agone]], sited in [[Piazza Navona]] in Rome, which was edified by [[Borromini]].
⚫
*Sanctuary of ''Madonna del Gonfalone'': this church was built in 1508, with a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] plan, out of the old town's walls. In origin, the sanctuary had 15 altars. Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1950s and the only original part is the [[renaissance]]’s portal with the [[pediment]]. The interior maintains as original the apsidal zone, with the main altar, and a [[fresco]] (1514) of the [[Virgin]] who nurses Jesus.
The church has a façade composed by two bell towers and a curved colonnade with four ionic columns. The plan is elliptic, with four chapels along each side, including numerous Baroque pictures; in front of the main entrance, between two other chapels, is the abside with the altar.
⚫
*Fortified wall's gates: before World War II Valmontone was home to three gates, though one of them, Porta Romana, in Renaissance style, was completely destroyed. The other two are Porta Napoletana and Porta Nuova: the first one was a medieval fortified gate, with two massive towers on sides, partially visible nowadays. The other one was erected on the Via Nuova by Camillo Pamphilj, in baroque style, as a gate on the road to the central town square on the hilltop.

⚫
'''Fontana del Colle''' was erected in baroque style, and is part of the original Prince Pamphilj project. It is composed by a pedestal with four round-shaped basins, one for each angle, decorated with lion’s heads. On the pedestal there is a column surmounted by the bronze statue of the Labicanus, a Roman warrior, symbol of Valmontone. This fountain was completely destroyed under the World War II bombardment, except one of the basins and the pedestal: the monument was rebuilt in 1968.<br /> [[File:La Colleggiata, Valmontone.JPG|thumb|260px|Valmontone, Colleggiata.]]

⚫
'''The Church of Sant'Antonio''' was not bombed during World War II, and is the last medieval building of Valmontone. The real name of the church is Santa Maria delle Grazie and was erected in the 9th century: the construction is made with blocks of [[tuff]], with two closed windows, one of them decorated with a little arch.
The interior is decorated with baroque stuccoes, a [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Madonna]] with the Son and a [[Sant'Antonio Abate]], both painted by anonymous.

⚫
'''Colle Sant'Angelo''': on this hill there are the cemetery of Valmontone and the convent of Sant’Angelo: build on the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, also this was nearly destroyed completely during the last war, and rebuilt immediately. It was erected in the 8th century by the [[Benedictine Order]], and there are some remains of the old monastery in the [[cloister]] and in the [[refectory]]: two bells, one of them of 1523, the other of 1744, are visible in the cloister.

⚫
'''Santuario della Madonna del Gonfalone''': this church was built in 1508, with a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] plan, out of the old town's walls. In origin, the sanctuary had 15 altars. Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1950s and the only original part is the [[renaissance]]’s portal with the [[pediment]]. The interior maintains as original the apsidal zone, with the main altar, and a [[fresco]] (1514) of the [[Virgin]] who nurses Jesus.

⚫
'''Fortified wall's gates'''. Before the last war in Valmontone there were three gates, but one of them, Porta Romana, in Renaissance style, was completely destroyed. The other two are Porta Napoletana and Porta Nuova: the first one was a medieval fortified gate, with two massive towers on sides, partially visible nowadays. The other one was erected on the Via Nuova by Camillo Pamphilj, in baroque style, as a gate on the road to the central town square on the hilltop.


Not far from Valmontone is the large Valmontone Outlet, a shopping center built like an American town, with squares, buildings, streets, a fake train-station, etc. Near this complex is [[Rainbow S.r.l.|Rainbow Magic Land]], the biggest [[theme park]] in Europe {{citation needed|date=December 2011}}, opened May 26, 2011 .
Not far from Valmontone is the large Valmontone Outlet, a shopping center built like an American town, with squares, buildings, streets, a fake train-station, etc. Near this complex is [[Rainbow S.r.l.|Rainbow Magic Land]], opened on 26 May 2011.


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
Line 104: Line 82:


===Twin towns – Sister cities===
===Twin towns – Sister cities===
Valmontone is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
Valmontone is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Benifaió]], Spain, since 1987
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Benifaió]], Spain, since 1987
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Weiler-Simmerberg]], Germany
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Weiler-Simmerberg]], Germany
*{{flagicon|AZE}} [[Goychay (city)|Goychay]], Azerbaijan


==References==
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}
;Notes
⚫
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{commons category|Valmontone}}
{{commons category|Valmontone}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.comunevalmontone.it Official website] {{it icon}}
* [http://www.comunevalmontone.it Official website] {{in lang|it}}


<br>
<br>
{{Province of Rome}}
{{Province of Rome}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Lazio]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Lazio]]
[[Category:House of Barberini]]
[[Category:Barberini family]]
[[Category:Pamphili family]]
[[Category:Pamphili family]]

Latest revision as of 16:17, 15 July 2024

Valmontone
Comune
Comune di Valmontone
Valmontone by night
Valmontone by night
Coat of arms of Valmontone
Coat of arms
Location of Valmontone
Map
Valmontone is located in Italy
Valmontone
Valmontone
Location of Valmontone in Italy
Valmontone is located in Lazio
Valmontone
Valmontone
Valmontone (Lazio)
Coordinates: 41°47′N 12°55′E / 41.783°N 12.917°E / 41.783; 12.917
CountryItaly
RegionLazio
Metropolitan cityRome (RM)
Government
 • MayorAlberto Latini (Democratic Party)
Area
[1]
 • Total
40.91 km2 (15.80 sq mi)
Elevation
303 m (994 ft)
Population
 (31 August 2021)[2]
 • Total
15,219
 • Density370/km2 (960/sq mi)
DemonymValmontonesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
00038
Dialing code06
Patron saintSt. Luigi Gonzaga
Saint dayJune 21
WebsiteOfficial website

Valmontone is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Lazio, located about 45 kilometres (28 miles) southeast of Rome.

Valmontone seen by Rocca di Cave: the massive white building is Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj.

Geography

[edit]

The historic part of the town is situated on a tuffaceous hill, 303 metres (994 feet) above sea level, part of a morphological system of valleys and low relieves, known as Alta Valle del Sacco (High Valley of Sacco River). There are many natural springs due to the high water levels underground. Because of this, the landscape is covered by forest and farmland. To preserve this water system, in Valmontone exists the C.E.R.I., a center for the prevention and control of hydro-geological risks.

History

[edit]

The origins of Valmontone are uncertain: it seems that a village was founded before the rise of Rome on a hill in the modern municipality of the town, and its ruins were visible until the 18th century. Perhaps these are the remains of the ancient Labicum, which, according to the myth, was founded by Glaucus, Minos’ son: the name of the village derives from a kind of Greek shield. Labicum was in war against Rome, but at last it was defeated and became a Roman castrum, a fortified castle: other testimonies of the Roman period are the post-station Ad Bivium, situated along the road called Via Latina, a village of coal-makers, some furnaces for tiles and vases, a villa and some other remains (two sarcophagus, memorial plates).

Later on, the castle was rebuilt on the actual site in the Late Roman Empire. The presence of a Castrum Lateranense goes back to the 1052, while the name of Vallis Montonis (Valmontone means “a valley overhung by a little hill”) appears the first time in a document dated 1139. Valmontone became a fief under the Conti family until the 16th century, when, in 1548, the fief passed under the Sforza then, in 1632 and for a few years, under the Barberini, until Camillo Pamphili bought Valmontone (1634). The Pamphili family became Doria-Pamphili-Landi in the 18th century. In 1843 Valmontone assumed the rank of “city” by decision of Pope Gregory XVI.

On 22 January 1944, during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War, the Allies commenced Operation Shingle, an amphibious landing at Anzio in an attempt to outflank the formidable German defensive positions known as the Winter Line (also Gustave Line) and push toward Rome: Valmontone was an important objective on the way to Rome, in according to Operation Buffalo, May–June 1944. The Allies thought the German forces were garrisoning the city, so they bombed Valmontone with their air forces, nearly destroying it completely: Valmontone lost 80 percent of its ancient buildings, like the fortified gates, the monastery on Colle Sant’Angelo, fountains, churches. With the post-war reconstruction, the town lost its medieval and baroque appeal, of which only a few sights survive.

Main sights

[edit]
Mattia Preti, ceiling fresco of Stanza dell'Aria, Palazzo Doria-Pamphilij.
Colleggiata church.
  • Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj was originally a fortified castle, until the Barberini decided to replace it with a bigger fortress. When Camillo Pamphilj bought the fief, he wanted to create a sort of “ideal city”, a Città Panfilia (Pamphiljan Town), including the palace, the nearby church and the other buildings (stables, warehouses, house, etc.): for this reason he called in Valmontone many important artists. On the Piano Nobile (the second floor) are frescoes divided by themes: the four rooms of Elements, the four dedicated to the Continents (Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia), the Sala del Principe and two chapels. The ceiling frescoes were made between 1657 and the 1661 by Pier Francesco Mola, Gaspard Dughet, Guglielmo Cortese, Francesco Cozza and Mattia Preti.
  • Valmontone Archeological Museum, situated in the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj. The ground floor houses a section which introduces the municipal area, the upper floor offers an introduction to the archeological sites and to related topics, through several media. Such topics include the coal miners' village in Colle Carbone, the "Colle dei Lepri" settlement, the "Mansio", the Thermal Baths and the "Colle Pelliccione" furnace.
  • Collegiate Church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, built on an ancient Gothic church (12th century) with the same name, under Camillo Pamphilj, in the 17th century. The architect was Mattia de Rossi, who rose to prominence under the mentorship of Gian Lorenzo Bernini: however, de Rossi was for this structure inspired by Borromini's design for the Roman church of Sant'Agnese in Agone. The church has a façade composed by two bell towers and a curved colonnade with four Ionic columns. The plan is elliptic, with four chapels along each side, including numerous Baroque pictures; in front of the main entrance, between two other chapels, is the apse with the altar.
  • Fontana del Colle, in Baroque style, is part of the original Prince Pamphilj project. It is composed by a pedestal with four round-shaped basins, one at each angle, decorated with lions heads. On the pedestal is a column surmounted by the bronze statue of the Labicanus, a Roman warrior, symbol of Valmontone. This fountain was completely destroyed under the World War II bombings, except one of the basins and the pedestal: the structure was rebuilt in 1968.
  • The Church of Sant'Antonio was not bombed during World War II, and is the last medieval building of Valmontone. The real name of the church is Santa Maria delle Grazie and was erected in the 9th century: the construction is made with blocks of tuff, with two closed windows, one of them decorated with a little arch. The interior is decorated with Baroque stuccoes, a Madonna with the Son and a Sant'Antonio Abate, both painted by anonymous.
  • Colle Sant'Angelo hill houses the cemetery of Valmontone and the convent of Sant’Angelo: built on the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, it was also nearly destroyed during the last war, and rebuilt immediately. It was erected in the 8th century by the Benedictine Order, and includes some remains of the old monastery in the cloister and in the refectory: two bells, one of them of 1523, the other of 1744, are visible in the cloister.
  • Sanctuary of Madonna del Gonfalone: this church was built in 1508, with a Gothic plan, out of the old town's walls. In origin, the sanctuary had 15 altars. Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1950s and the only original part is the renaissance’s portal with the pediment. The interior maintains as original the apsidal zone, with the main altar, and a fresco (1514) of the Virgin who nurses Jesus.
  • Fortified wall's gates: before World War II Valmontone was home to three gates, though one of them, Porta Romana, in Renaissance style, was completely destroyed. The other two are Porta Napoletana and Porta Nuova: the first one was a medieval fortified gate, with two massive towers on sides, partially visible nowadays. The other one was erected on the Via Nuova by Camillo Pamphilj, in baroque style, as a gate on the road to the central town square on the hilltop.

Not far from Valmontone is the large Valmontone Outlet, a shopping center built like an American town, with squares, buildings, streets, a fake train-station, etc. Near this complex is Rainbow Magic Land, opened on 26 May 2011.

Transportation

[edit]

The town is crossed by via Casilina, a modern road following the ancient road with the same name built by the Romans, now the town's main street: moreover it is connected with the Autostrada A1 (Autostrada del Sole), on the Roma-Napoli branch (exit to Valmontone).

Valmontone has a railway station, served by the line Rome-Cassino-Naples.

International relations

[edit]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Twin towns – Sister cities

[edit]

Valmontone is twinned with:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  2. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valmontone.
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