[ Petrassi, Goffredo. (2008). In Encyclopædia Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9059491] ]History
Architecture
The "Tondo"
The "Tondo" (as it is called by the local population) is located at the "Colle del Pero" hill. It is a rare example of an ancient roman Ludus (see Ludus Magnus) dated I century, a sort of a little amphitheatre used as a gym or training ground for gladiators (see List of Roman amphitheatres). This archeological treasure is not sufficiently if at all exploited by the city governament.
Rospigliosi Palace
The "Palazzo Rospigliosi" is a big structure in the city center, it is the fulcrum of the history and modern cultural life of Zagarolo.It rises at the site of an ancient medieval caste, which is first referenced to when pope Paschal II destroyed Zagarolo in early XII century after the rebellion of the Colonna family, of which the palace was one of the strongholds.For many centuries it remained under the Colonna influence, and was besieged and destroyed several times due to the rivalry beetwen the papacy and the Colonna family.In the XVI century the Colonnas and the papacy started having peaceful relationships, and Zagarolo became a duchy, hence the Palace became known as "Palazzo Ducale". The palace now was used as a residence and two magor wings were added to it towards the piazza, frescoes were painted and a hanging garden was built.In 1591 a council of eight cardinals was held in the Palace, whit the mission to revise the Bible for a printed edition, among them were Marcantonio Colonna (the cardinal) and Saint Robert Bellarmine.The building is characterized by prestigious frescoes painted by manierist artists of XVI century, attributed to Dutch painters, to Antonio Tempesta, and to the Zuccaris (Taddeo Zuccari and Federico Zuccari).
Here in 1606 Caravaggio created masterpieces for the Colonnas, in exchange of refuge on his jurney towards Naples, beetwen Zagarolo and Paliano he created Supper at Emmaus, Mary Magdalen in Ecstasy (Caravaggio) and maybe Saint Francis in Prayer (Caravaggio).In the Palace among others also worked Carlo Maratta, and Ludovico Gimignani who died in this palace in 1697.
Later the Palace became property of the Pallavicini family, until it was sold to the comune in 1979.During World War II the palace was transformed in a german military hospital.Today the Library of Zagarolo and the Toy Museum are inside the palace, and it is used for conventions, exhibitions and other cultural events. [Site of Zagarolo (in italian) http://www.zagarolo.comnet.roma.it/]
Churches
Church of St. Lawrence Martyr (1607) ("Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire", in italian), located in "Piazza del Risorgimento", it is the church dedicated to the patron saint of Zagarolo St. Lawrence of Rome.
Convent and Church of St. Mary of the Graces ("Santa Maria delle Grazie", in italian), located in "Piazza Santa Maria"
Church of St. Annunziata (1580-1582) ("Chiesa di Santissima Annunziata", in italian), has a peculiar octagonl belltower, and dominates the skyline of Zagarolo.
Church of St. Peter the Apostol (1717-1722) ("Duomo di San Pietro Apostolo", in italian) a baroque church built on the site of a more ancient church. It has an elliptical dome 46 meters high.
City Gates and Piazzas
The city of Zagarolo has two main gates and several piazza.
The first gate to be encountered entering the city center from the south-east is "Porta Rospigliosi", decorated with bas-reliefs dated 1500s and roman busts and theathrical masques.
The other gate, at the north-west entrance to the city is "Porta San Martino", named in honour of pope Martin V (Oddone Colonna).
"Piazza Santa Maria", is the piazza in front of St. Mary's church.
"Piazzetta delle Tre Cannelle" ("piazzetta" is a small piazza), immediately after "Porta Rospigliosi", has a fountain made from an ancient roman sarcophagus.
"Piazza dell'Indipendenza" (formerly known as the "Piazza di Corte") is where the Rospigliosi Palace is located.
"Piazza Guglielmo Marconi" is the center of the city, dated 1500s, the palace of the Comune and the mayor's office and St. Lawrence's church are located here. Next to th piazza is the "portichetto", where an old marble plaque on which are engraved the units of measurement once in use in the town is held. Here is also a bust of pope Clement IX, called by the locals "Lu Giustu" (meaning 'the just' in zagarolese dialect). [Comuni Italiani Wiki for Zagarolo (in italian) http://rete.comuni-italiani.it/wiki/Zagarolo] [Zagarolo - Roma&piu http://www.romaepiu.it/index.php/121-Comuni-fuori-dal-comune/ZAGAROLO.html]
Zagarolo Toy Museum
The Zagarolo Toy Museum is located in Rospigliosi Palace. The Museum offers a social reconstruction of toys and the act of playing in a series of sections that, through a historic excursus, crosses the fundamental periods of the XX century.The comunal council decided to create the museum in 1998, it was inaugurated in 2005 with a positive response from the critics and the public. It holds over 800 examples of italian and european toys of the XX century. [Zagarolo Toy Museum site (in italian) http://www.museogiocattolo.it]
Touro College
The Touro College, thanks to an agreement with the Province of Rome and the City of Zagarolo, has started preparations to open a new branch at the Rospigliosi Palace. As an integral part of its project and a prelude to the opening of its new branch, Touro University, Rome, in collaboration with the City of Zagarolo, will be organizing, starting in Fall 2008, independent, not-for-credit English courses for the population of Zagarolo and the surrounding area. [Touro University in Rome: english courses in Zagarolo http://www.touro.edu/Italy/ESL/]
Notes
External links
* [http://www.comunedizagarolo.it Official site of Zagarolo (in italian)]
* [http://www.museogiocattolo.it Site of Zagarolo Toy Museum (in italian)]
* [http://www.stradarolo.it Art on the road Festival (in italian)]
