Monte Porzio Catone

Monte Porzio Catone
—  Comune  —
Comune di Monte Porzio Catone
Coat of arms
Monte Porzio Catone Location of Monte Porzio Catone in Italy
Coordinates: 41°49′N 12°43′E / 41.817°N 12.717°E / 41.817; 12.717Coordinates: 41°49′N 12°43′E / 41.817°N 12.717°E / 41.817; 12.717
Country	Italy
Region	Latium
Province	Rome (RM)
Frazioni	Armetta, Camaldoli, Fontana Candida, Massarosa, Monte Ciuffo, Pilozzo, Pratone - Belvedere, San Marco, Selve di Mondragone, Suore Domenicane di Betania, Villa Vecchia
Government
- Mayor	Luciano Gori
Area
- Total	9.4 km2 (3.6 sq mi)
Elevation	451 m (1,480 ft)
Population (30 April 2009[1])
- Total	8,960
- Density	953.2/km2 (2,468.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Monteporziani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	00040
Dialing code	06
Website	Official website

Monte Porzio Catone is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 20 km southeast of Rome, on the Alban Hills.

Monte Porzio Catone borders the following municipalities: Frascati, Grottaferrata, Monte Compatri, Rome.

Tusculan Hermitage of Camaldoli.

Main sights

• The Astronomical Rome Observatory is located 2 km out of city centre. It was built starting from 1939, being finished in 1965. It rises above the remains of a Roman villa, the "Matidia's Villa", from the first century AD. The imposing construction is rationalist in style and was used for preserving the equipment of the National Observatory in Rome; subsequently it became a structure to promote the astronomic and scientific studies. Currently the observatory is endowed with the Astrolab and other didactic resources for initiatives to schools, university, associative and private groups.

• The Hermitage Tusculan Monastirian was founded in 1607 by Camaldolese Monks of Monte Corona. In 1613 the building was completed. The convent's church is devoted to Saint Romuald. The hospitality to male pilgrims by the hermits is guaranteed. Women are forbidden entry to the Hermitage.

• Other sights include the church of St. Gregory the Great, erected in 1666 by Carlo Rainaldi for the Borghese family, and the remains of the ancient Tusculum.

Twin towns

• Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, France

References

1. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links

• Official website
• Official website of the Rome Astronomical Observatory