Formello

Formello
Comune
Comune di Formello
Coat of arms
Location of Formello
Formello Location of Formello in Italy Show map of Italy Formello Formello (Lazio) Show map of Lazio
Coordinates: 42°5′N12°24′E / 42.083°N 12.400°E / 42.083; 12.400
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Metropolitan city	Rome (RM)
Frazioni	Le Rughe
Government
• Mayor	Gian Filippo Santi
Area [1]
• Total	31.15 km2 (12.03 sq mi)
Elevation	243 m (797 ft)
Population  (31 October 2017) [2]
• Total	13,113
• Density	420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Demonym	Formellesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	00060
Dialing code	06
Patron saint	Saint Lawrence
Saint day	August 10
Website	Official website

Formello is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. It is located southwest of the Monti Sabatini, within the Regional Park of Veii. The communal territory sits on large deposits of tuff, which is intensively mined in the area.

History

The area has been settled since prehistoric times. As an Italian comune, it includes some of the archaeological sites associated with the powerful former Etruscan city of Veii, which rivaled Rome for a time, north of the village of Isola Farnese, south of Formello. Settlement in the region declined after Veii's destruction in 396 BC.

In this area, about 780 AD, with peaceful conditions reestablished, Pope Adrian I assembled a great estate of which this territory formed part, his Domusculta Capracorum , in contrast with the power of the Abbey of Farfa, but it was destroyed by Saracen attacks in the ninth century. The domus' territories included a fundus Formellum, where a settlement developed that was first mentioned in 1027. ^[3]

In the 11th century it was a possession of the Roman Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura, and was probably fortified in the same period. In 1279 it became a fief of the Orsini family, who sold it to the Chigi in 1661.

Main sights

• Church of San Lorenzo, also known as Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire (10th-11th centuries). It received a bell tower in the fifteenth century, and was renovated in 1574 with the addition of the two aisles. The left one houses frescoes by Donato Palmieri. This is located adjacent to Palazzo Chigi. ^[4]
• Palazzo Chigi (c. 11th century). It was built by the Orsini, probably over the pre-existing castrum mentioned in the 11th century. It houses the Archaeological Museum of the Countryside of Veii.
• Church of San Michele Arcangelo, also known as Chiesa San Michele Arcangelo (c. 12th century). Romanesque church with a high bell tower and a single nave. This church is only open for special occasions. ^{[5] [4]}
• The ruins of Villa Chigi-Versaglia, built by cardinal Flavio Chigi in the 17th century.

Sport

Formello is home to the training grounds and base of Italian Serie A side S.S. Lazio: (Centro sportivo di Formello)

Photo gallery

• 
  Formello Storic Center
• 
  San Lorenzo Church (internal)
• 
  Painting by Domenico Palmieri (1570 approx.)
• 
  San Michele Arcangelo Church
• 
  San Michele Arcangelo Church
• 
  "Torre Colombaia", remaining building of villa Chigi-Versaglia
• 
  Façade of Palazzo Chigi.

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
3. J.B. Ward-Perkins, "Etruscan Towns, Roman Roads and Medieval Villages: The Historical Geography of Southern Etruria" The Geographical Journal128.4 (December 1962:389-404) p. 402
4. "Chiese". Parrocchia San Lorenzo Martire - Formello (in Italian). 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
5. "FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano". www.fondoambiente.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-02-22.