| Artena | |||
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| — Comune — | |||
| Comune di Artena | |||
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  Artena
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| Coordinates: 41°44′N 12°55′E / 41.733°N 12.917°E | |||
| Country | Italy | ||
| Region | Lazio | ||
| Province | Rome (RM) | ||
| Frazioni | Colubro, Macere, Maiotini, Abbazia, Selvatico, Valli | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Maria Luisa Pecorari | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 54 km2 (20.8 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 420 m (1,378 ft) | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| - Total | 14,154 | ||
| - Density | 262.1/km2 (678.9/sq mi) | ||
| - Demonym | Artenesi | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 00031 | ||
| Dialing code | 06 | ||
| Patron saint | Mary Magdalene | ||
| Saint day | 22 July | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Artena is a village and comune in the province of Rome, Italy. It is situated in the northwest of Monti Lepini, in the upper valley of the Sacco River. It is approximately 40 km southeast by rail, and 30 km direct from Rome.
Economy is based on agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism.
History
The name of the original village of the Volsci is uncertain; Ecetra or Fortinum are possible suggestions.
In the Middle Ages it was a fief of various Roman baronal families, such as the Colonna, the Orsini and the Borghese.
The modern village was called Monte Fortino until 1873. It owes its present name to an unproven identification of the site with the ancient Volscian Artena, destroyed in 404 BC. Another Artena, which belonged to the district of Caere, and lay between it and Veii, was destroyed in the period of the kings, and its site is unknown.
Main sights
On the mountain (600 km) above the village are the fine remains of the fortifications of a city built in a very primitive style, in cyclopean blocks of local limestone. Within the walls are traces of buildings, and a massive terrace which supported some edifice of importance.
Other sights include the Palazzo Borghese (17th century), and the churches of Santa Maria delle Letizie, Santa Croce, Santo Stefano Protomartire and San Francesco.
Notes and references
- T. Ashby and G. J. Pfeiffer in Supplementary Papers of the American School in Rome, i. (transcribed at LacusCurtius)
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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