Genzano di Roma

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Comune di Genzano di Roma
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Rome
Mayor	Enzo Ercolani (since May 2006)

Elevation	435 m
Area	18 km²
Population
- Total (as of 2001)	21,564
- Density	1,203/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°42′N 12°41′E
Gentilic	Genzanesi
Dialing code	06
Postal code	00045
Frazioni	Landi, Muti
Patron	St. Thomas of Villanova

Website: [1]

Genzano di Roma is a town and commune in the province of Rome, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani, at a distance of 29 km from Rome, on the Alban Hills.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Feasts
4 Twin cities

The origin of the name Genzano is still disputed. According to a version, the hill overlooking the Lake of Nemi on which the city is situated was once devoted to the goddess Cynthia, whose cult was associated to that of Diana Nemorensis. Another version relates its origin to the Gentiani family.

In the 12th century a tower of the Gandolfi family, lord of Castel Gandolfo, existed in the site. In 1183 Pope Lucius III gave it to the Cistercian monks of St. Anastasius of Aquae Salviae in Rome. In 1235 they edificated a large castle around which the town later grew. In 1378 the Popes assigned it to Giordano Orsini. The Cistercians and the Colonna alternatively ruled Genzano until 1563, when the castle was ceded for 150,000 scudos to the Massimi, from which it was bought by Giuliano Cesarini.

Livia Cesarini, last exponent of the family and wife of Francesco II Sforza, edificated Genzano Nuova ("New Genzano") in 1708, according to the then most modern urban plannings. In the 19th and early 20th century it was seat of numerous peasant revolts; during World War II it suffered heavy damage under Allied bombings, with 90% of the edifices destroyed.

In June, a great folkloristic and religious exibition, the "Infiorata". A street of the old town is covered with allegorical carpets of flowers and a masked parade walk on these, with medieval and traditional clothes realized by town's women.