Rocca di Papa
| Rocca di Papa | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Comune di Rocca di Papa | ||
View of Rocca di Papa.
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 Rocca di Papa
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| Coordinates: 41°45′40″N 12°42′33″E / 41.76111°N 12.70917°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Lazio | |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Rome | |
| Frazioni | Pratoni del Vivaro | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Emanuele Crestini | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 40 km2 (20 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 680 m (2,230 ft) | |
| Population (31 May 2015) | ||
| • Total | 16,949 | |
| • Density | 420/km2 (1,100/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Roccheggiani | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 00040 | |
| Dialing code | 06 | |
| Patron saint | St. Charles Borromeo | |
| Saint day | November 4 | |
| Website | Official website | |
Rocca di Papa is a small town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Rome on the Alban Hills. It is close to the other communes of Velletri, Rocca Priora, Monte Compatri, Grottaferrata, Albano and Marino. It is the center of the Regional Park known as the "Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani".
Documents from 12th century name Rocca di Papa as Castrum Rocce de Papa ("Rock Castle of the Pope"), because Pope Eugene III lived there. In 1541 Pier Luigi Farnese, with French troops, destroyed the castle. In 1855 the people proclaimed the "Rocca di Papa Republic" against prince Colonna and the Papal States government. In 1889 the "Royal Geodynamic Observatory" was built on the top of Rocca di Papa, near the little Church of the Crucified. Between 1922 and 1935 the scientist Guglielmo Marconi carried out several experiments from this building in radio-transmission, wireless transmission and broadcasting.
In 1944, during World War II, Rocca di Papa was bombed. The Center of the city was destroyed. Thirty four people died in that air strike and 35 died in a second air strike on 25 May. The city was liberated from the Nazi German occupation on 4 June 1944 by the 85th Infantry Division.
The economy of Rocca di Papa is mostly based on tourism and agriculture, the latter dominated by wine and vine production.
The most important festival held in Rocca di Papa is the Roast Chestnut Festival (3rd week-end of October), in which it is possible to eat the roast chestnut (the "Rocchicianelle") with wines of Castelli Romani pouring out by stands in the streets of the town.
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Wikipedia