Alessandro Torlonia, 2nd Prince di Civitella-Cesi

Don Alessandro Torlonia, of the House of Torlonia, was an Italian nobleman titled Duca di Ceri, Prince di Fucino. He was the second Prince of Civitella-Cesi.

He is notable for draining Fucine Lake in 1862 without regard to the cost. [cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17966 |title=Lake Fucine, Italy |accessdate=2008-08-20 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=nasa.gov] According to the "North Otago Times", it was common to hear in Rome:

"O Torlonia secca ll lago Fucino, o il lago Fucino secca Torlinia" — ("Either Torlonia will drain the Fucine lake, or the Fucine lake will drain Torlonia") --"North Otago Times", Volume VIII, Issue 202, 30 April 1867, Page 3 [cite web |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NOT18670430.2.18&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=-------en--1----0-all |title=THE "ROTHSCHILDS OF ROME !" |accessdate=2008-08-20 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=natlib.govt.nz]

This action subsequently enabled Cerchio families to farm the lake bed's rich soils under the Torlonia Administration.

Alessandro was born in Rome on 1 January 1800. He married the princess Donna Teresa Colonna-Doria (Rome, 22 July 1823-Rome, 17 March 1875) in Rome on 16 July 1840.

Alessandro died in Rome on 7 February 1886. Upon his death, the title passed to Don Augusto Torlonia, 3rd Prince di Civitella Cesi, grandson of Alessandro's older brother, Giulio.

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