Audio Guide — Monuments Tour
The MuDi offers a journey through the millennia-long history of Castel San Pietro Romano, a village perched on the summit of Monte Ginestro. Inhabited since the late Bronze Age, the site became in ancient times the acropolis of Praeneste, a centre of worship dedicated to Jupiter Arkanus and important religious rites.
The area is surrounded by ancient polygonal walls dating back to the 6th century BC, part of a vast defensive system that also encompassed Palestrina. During the Early Middle Ages, it housed a Benedictine monastery also frequented by Pope Gregory the Great.
From the 12th century onwards, it came under the control of the Colonna family, who built a strategic fortress there. Following two destructions caused by conflicts between the Colonna family and the papacy (1298 and 1436-37), the site was rebuilt in 1482, fostering the growth of the village.
In the 17th century, with the transfer of the feudal estate to the Barberini family, the town underwent urban renewal with new squares and streets. During the same period, the church of Sant Pietro Apostolo was rebuilt on the main square, where in the following century the Mocci family constructed their own palazzo.
Audioguide — Akropolis Trail
A fascinating itinerary that leads to the discovery of the ancient acropolis of Praeneste, through history, archaeology, and breathtaking panoramas. From the Museo Diffuso to the polygonal walls, from the Rocca dei Colonna to the places of medieval spirituality, the route spans centuries of human and architectural history, recounting the origins of Castel San Pietro Romano and its strategic role in the territory of Lazio. An immersive journey through millenary testimonies, nature, and memory, in the heart of one of the most evocative villages of Lazio.
Audio Guide — Cinema Trail
In the 1950s, Castel San Pietro Romano gained great fame thanks to the cinema. A decisive role was played by the mayor Adolfo Porry Pastorel, founder of the VEDO agency and considered the father of Italian photojournalism, who established relationships with important figures of post-war cinema.
Thanks to his friendship with Vittorio De Sica, the village was proposed as an ideal film set because it retained an authentic appearance, not yet affected by building and economic development. From that moment on, Castel San Pietro Romano became the backdrop for numerous film productions.
The filming also involved the village's inhabitants, who were often employed as extras: the fees they received allowed many families to renovate their homes, thus contributing to the improvement of the village and its economic and social renaissance.
