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Historical Notes
Alatri’s protohistoric origins are closely liked to a people, the Hernici- the most
ancient lineage of the Italics- who supposedly built, around the 7th century BC, the
Acropolis and the massive megalithic walls encircling the built-up area. With the
Roman expantion and the entrance into the Foedus Cassianum in 484 BC, the city
first formed an alliance with Rome and then became a Municipium later in 90 BC.
The bishop’s seat since Constantine period, the former Alatrium hosted, in the first
years of the 6th century, one of the most ancient cenobitic communities of the West,
even before the founding of the Benedectine Order.
During barbarian invasions,after the siege and the sack of Alatri by Totila King of the
Ostrogoths,further reinforcement of the city's defensive structures was required in order to thwart
the continuous attacks of the Longobards first and the Saracens later.
One of Italy's independent communes (libero comune) since the second half of 1100, showing
constant devotion to the Church,in the 13th century the city was at the height of its glory in political
and cultural life attested by remarkable civil and religious sights.
Along the 14th century, with the Papacy's forced establishment at Avignon, the city suffered
the power of the Counts of Ceccano (1324) and Cardinal Albornoz strongly reduced its
communal indipendence. The power ( Signoria) of the Durazzo (1408-1414) and the
Visconti (1434) families, so as the humiliating dominion of Spain in 1556 all had so much
strong effects on the citizens that Bishop Ignazio Danti (1583-1586) of Alatri's diocese was
obliged to start a relevant restructuring action involving the whole religious life and which
acted as an example for the succeeding social actions promoted by the civil administration
for the following two centuries.
Built around the 5th century, its current aspect is the result of radical
transformations made by Burgundian masons in the 13th century.
Interior, with a nave and two aisles separated by a double row of massive pilasters,
where semicircular alternate columns stand, contains precious works of the Middle
Ages and Renaissance art: the wood group of the Madonna of Costantinople, the
triptych of the Redeemer, the Baptismal Font.
This building in the pure 18th century style was erected between 1734 and 1745 on
the design of the architect Benedetto Margariti da Manduria. The design of the façade
and of the greek cross plan results from the simplification of the elements which are
typical of Borromini’s art. Inside with paintings by the Venetian Benedetto Mora and
byCarmine Spinetti.
Chiesa di S. Francesco
Of this Church, built by the Franciscan Order in the second half of the 13th
century together with the adjacent monastery, only the facade (with the
lancet-arch portal and the rose window with radial columns) is still quite
preserved. The interior, radically transformed in the ‘600, a valuable
Deposizione attributed to a Neapolitan school of the 17th century and the St.
Francis precious mantel that he donated to the city in 1222.
Chiesa di S. Silvestro
Costruita ad una sola navata alla fine del X secolo, fu ampliata nel 1331 con
l’aggiunta della nave di sinistra. La garbata semplicità dell’edificio, già
espressa dalla facciata in pietra concia, sovrastato da capriate lignee e
parzialmente ricoperto da affreschi, tra i quali, spicca un meraviglioso San
Silvestro con il drago risalente al XII secolo. Degna di ammirazione è anche
la cripta sottostante del IX secolo.
A single-nave Church built at the end of the 10th century and elarged by the
addition of the left side aisle in 1331. The graceful simplicity, which is already
visible in the cut stone façade, roofed with wood trusses and partially covered
with frescoes among which is the wonderful S. Silvestro with the dragon,
dating from the 12th century. Admirable is also the 9th century crypt below.
Palazzo Gottifredo
La massiccia costruzione, fu realizzata nel corso del XIII secolo per volere del
nobile Gottifredo Raynaldi, cardinale protodiacono e ricco feudatario
alatrino. L’intero complesso, frutto della felice commissione tra due edifici
contigui, diversi per stile ed epoca di costruzione, accoglie nel proprio interno,
nelle sale del Museo Civico, importanti testimonianze di archeologia etrusca
e romana, nonché reperti di epoca medievale.
The massive building, was built along the 13th century for the nobleman
Goffredo Raynaldi, a cardinal deacon and rich feudatory of Alatri. The whole
complex, resulting from the harmonious melding of two adjacent buildings,
different in styles and periods, is the home of the Civic Museum which
displays important Etruscan and Roman archaeological finds and remains
from the Middle Ages.
Cinta muraria
Innalzata sulla viva roccia del colle, assecondando l’orografia del terreno,ostenta
ancor oggi a distanza di molti secoli, tutta l’imponenza e la solidità costruttiva tipiche
dell’antica architettura ciclopica.
Nel Medioevo, la sua struttura fu ulteriormente irrobustita con la costruzione di
torrioni, posti a controllo e a difesa della zona circostante.
Erected on the living rock of the hill, following soil’s natural profile, they still show,
after centuries, the imposing and solid structure of the ancient Cyclopean
architecture.In the Middle Ages they were fortified with imposing quadrangular.
towers for defence of the surrounding towers for defence of the surrounding area
Besides the walls, impressive for size of the stone blocks and height, the two
gates are also very admirable: Porta Maggiore to the south with an
outstanding big monolithic architrave, and the Porta Minore, lesser imposing,
but an inner ascending narrow corridor: perfectly preserved, gives it equal
charm. Just a little away from the two gates are three very ancient
quadrangular niches and the remains of a portico accessing the Acropolis,
built by the censo, Lucio Betilieno Varo in the 2th century B.C.
Cattedrale di S. Paolo
Sulle sommità dell’ Acropoli, al di sopra di un antico Ierone, sorge invece la cattedrale di San
Paolo con l’attiguo Vescovado. Entrambi gli edifici, si presentano attualmente con le forme assunte
nel corso del XVIII secolo, in seguito a consistenti ristrutturazioni che culminarono con la
costruzione di una nuova fronte affidata al progetto dell’architetto Jacopo Subleyras. L’interno,
conserva preziosi reperti cosmateschi del 1222.
Located on the top of the acropolis, on the site of an ancient ierone , is saint Paul’s Cathedral and
the adjacent Bishop’s Palace. Both building, dating from the early middle ages, now show the
profile received by relevant restoration made in the 18th century which led to the construction of a
new façade on the project of the architect Jacopo Subleyra. The interior with houses valuable
Cosmate remains of the 1222.
in the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle is preserved the wellknown relic of the Miracle of the
Eucharist: a piece of Eucharist miraculously became human flesh between 1227 and the beginning
of the following year.
Badia di S. Sebastiano
Incastonato su un piccolo colle ad Oriente del centro cittadino, il complesso
monastico, fondato agli inizi del VI secolo dall’abate Servando, ospitò nel
528 Benedetto da Norcia durante il viaggio da Subiaco a Montecassino.
Ristrutturato completamente ed ampliato nella prima metà del XIII secolo, per
accogliere l’ordine della Damianite di Santa Chiara, presenta ancora oggi la
suggestiva articolazione architettonica medioevale.
Inserted in a low hill, east of town centre, this monastery was founded at the
beginning of the 6th century by Abbot Servando and hosted Benedetto da
Norcia along his way from Subiaco to Montecassino in 528. It was completely
renewed and enlarged in the first half of the 13th century to host the Order of
the Damianite of St. Clare and has kept the impressive complexity of the
Medieval architectural structure.