Visit Alatri
Alatri is best known because of the massive walls that surround the town and include five gates to the upper town. It is here that you can visit the Civita, surely the most powerful example of the Pelasgian acropolis. Surrounded by strong walls, the Acropolis (called the Civita) has two gates, the Porta Maggiore, with a monolithic lintel, and the Lower Gate, from which we arrive at Alatri Cathedral.
The Old Town of Alatri, contained within the megalithic walls, is rich in valuable churches and ancient architectural structures. The Gottifredo Palace, a Romanesque building is interesting and now houses the Civic Archaeological Museum. Of particular interest in the museum are the “Dedication to the ‘Penati’”, discovered in Rose Square in 1921, from the end of the first century BC; the ancient 'Inscription of Alatri', which describes the work done by the Censor Lucius Betilienus Varus (about 130-120 BC), discovered in Piazza S. Maria Maggiore and dating from the II-I century BC; and the polychrome mosaic floor decorated with a geometric style (90-80 BC).
In the square opposite the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is the Church of the Scolopi. Built between 1734 and 1745 as a project by Benedetto Margariti da Manduria, it is dedicated to the "Marriage of the Virgin". The façade of travertine is designed to reinterpret the style of Borromini (1599-1667) - it is characterized by a double row of pilasters that frame the only portal of entry, with the central window above. The facade ends with a vertical sequence of windows; the original project, not completed, was to be terminated with twin bell towers. The interior takes the form of a Greek cross and is dominated by towering Corinthian pilasters on which are set great round arches which support the dome. Note particularly the stucco decoration of wall surfaces and the contrasting large 18th century paintings. In the church altar there is the 'Marriage of the Virgin, painted in 1731 by Carmine Spinetti, while on two side altars are a "Crucifixion", by the Venetian painter Benedetto Mora and an unsigned work depicting “Saint Giuseppe Calasanzio ", painted in the late eighteenth century to honor the founding father of the Order of “Scolopi”.
A truly spectacular site in Alatri is the Pia Fountain, inaugurated in 1870 and dedicated to Pope Pius IX in gratitude for the substantial contribution of money bestowed to the city in 1863 for the construction of a new aqueduct. It is the work by Giuseppe Olivieri.
The Conti-Gentili Palace is a building dating from the 13th century. Only the great arched portal entrance and porch remains of the 13th century structure. The current building dates from 1532. The Library of the Palace preserves local history books and ancient scrolls, including a copy of the Alatri Statutes of 1582.
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which dominates the square, was built in the fifth century on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Venus. The exterior facade features a valuable canopy made in the early 14th century while the bell tower was added in 1394. The interior is divided into three aisles by massive pillars upon which the round arches rest. Some valuable works of art are kept in the church: worthy of special mention is the 13th century wooden group of the“Madonna of Constantinople; the triptych of 'Redeemer' by Antonio da Alatri (14th -15th century); the "Virgin and Child with St. Saviour", from the first half of the 15th century; and the 13th century font.
Not far away there is the church of San Francesco. Built between the second half of the 13th century and the first half of the 14th, it has a compact design, in a Gothic style. The façade has a pointed arch portal and a rose in radial columns. The adjacent cloister of San Francesco has a fresco depicting "Christ in Glory," at the center of a labyrinth of twelve concentric circles. The fresco is mysterious, but acts as evidence of the presence of the Templars in Latium. Other monuments with symbols of the Templars are the church of Saint Lucia and St. Paul's Cathedral, which rises above a wide staircase in the esplanade of the Acropolis. Its origins date from the tenth century. One reason for interest in the Cathedral is the presence of the so-called “Consacrated Host”, connected to a legend that tells of a a young woman who stole a consecrated host during a Mass.
Around Alatri, and the local cuisine
Finally, we can enjoy Alatri not only walking through its streets, but also in its surrounding rural landscapes. The “Ciociaria” is also a land where we can enjoy a popular cuisine characterized by a strong link with ancient traditions. The pasta (mostly eggs) is excellent, and also very good are the bread and cakes. Poultry and rabbits are popular meats, although the queen of the table remains the sheep derived meat and milk. Particularly popular in the area is the 'broccoli of Alatri.
See also history of Alatri