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The Monastery of Palazzolo in Rocca di Papa: Antoniazzo Romano and the tomb with the fasces
Looking down on Lake Albano, from the Via dei Laghi, the Convento di Palazzolo stands on top of Roman remains along the ancient Via Sacra. The panoramic view from the clearing, with Lake Albano in the foreground and the Castelli Romani in the distance, is one of the most famous in the region.
The panel painting by Antoniazzo Romano and the English College
The Church of Santa Maria was under the control of San Saba Abbey until the 13th century, before being elevated to the status of an Abbey in 1244. Following a long period of neglect, the monastery was rebuilt in 1740 by the Bishop of Oporto, José de Fonseca. The church features a single nave and houses a panel painting (on the altarpiece) by Antoniazzo Romano, an influential 15th-century Roman painter active across Rome and Umbria. Today, the Venerable English College manages the monastery, using it as a summer residence for its seminarians.
The tomb with the fasces
Along the access road is a Roman rock-cut tomb carved into peperino stone, whose façade is decorated with twelve fasces. This archaeological element inspired architect and archaeologist Giacomo Boni in 1903 to propose what would later become the symbol of Italian Fascism.
