Anguillara Sabazia
Welcome to Anguillara Sabazia: a tourist center
Anguillara Sabazia is a hidden gem northwest of Rome, situated on the southeastern shore of Lake Bracciano. With a population of almost 19,000 inhabitants, it was awarded the title of Italian city in 2001. The city is located on a promontory on the hills of the Monti Sabatini and extends to the shores of Lake Martignano shared with the municipalities of Rome and Campagnano di Roma. This strategic location has made the city an important tourist and seaside resort. Thanks to its mild climate, with frequent winter rains and hot and muggy summers, Anguillara Sabazia is the ideal tourist destination for travelers seeking relaxation and adventure. In this article, we will talk about the history, monuments, and points of interest of this wonderful city.
Physical geography
Territory
Anguillara Sabazia extends on a promontory on the southeastern shore of Lake Bracciano, the third largest lake in central Italy, after Lake Trasimeno and Lake Bolsena. This makes it a strength point for tourism, with the possibility of practicing water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, and swimming during the summer. The city offers a panoramic view of the lake, which houses the Orsini-Odescalchi Castle, one of the main tourist attractions. In the municipal territory are also the shores of Lake Martignano, the ideal destination for a walk in nature.
Climate
The climate of Anguillara Sabazia is mild thanks to its proximity to Lake Sabatino, with frequent winter rains and hot and muggy summers. Average summer temperatures are about 25 degrees Celsius, while winter temperatures are about 6 degrees Celsius.
History
The city has a rich history dating back to the Neolithic period, at the locality La Marmotta, where a village dated to about 8,000 years ago was found, among the oldest in the Mediterranean. The lake, before being called "di Bracciano", was called "di Anguillara" and then, even before, "di Tarquinia". During the Roman era, a rich patrician woman from Gens Rutilia owned a villa on the shores of the lake, just below the Collegiate, and bred lake fish to supply the market in Rome. The villa had a corner shape and was called ''Angularia''; from here, the name Anguillara would have derived. In 1019, there was certain news of the existence of a fortified village (''castrum''), which became a county with the Orsini family in the fifteenth century. In 1560, it was incorporated into the Duchy of Bracciano, always ruled by the Orsini, who were extinct at the death of the last duke Flavio Orsini (aristocrat). The city was sold by the Congregation of the barons of the ecclesiastical state for 275,000 scudi to the Marquis Grillo in 1693. In 1790, it became an autonomous municipality by detachment from Rome.
Monuments and Places of interest
Religious architecture
Anguillara Sabazia is rich in religious architectures, including the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, located on the highest point of the promontory, where the old village is located. The houses of the village were completely rebuilt in the sixteenth century and still maintain the medieval structure of overlaid, non-partitioned environments, connected to each other by a central staircase that leads to the upper environment's floor. The church of San Francesco, with its frescoes, dates back to the fifteenth century, while the medieval church of Madonna delle Grazie, on the lakeshore, is adorned with the fresco of the Madonna with Child (then became a sanctuary due to a miracle). The church of San Biagio, from the sixteenth century, is famous for its paintings, while the eighteenth-century church of the SS. Crocifisso, with its exposed brick façade, has recently been restored and represents one of the city's reference points.
Civil architecture
The Orsini-Odescalchi Castle is one of the main tourist attractions of Anguillara Sabazia and was built starting from the fifteenth century. The Castle offers a spectacular view of Lake Bracciano and has been the site of weddings celebrated by VIPs from all over the world. The Tower of Casale dates back to the sixteenth century and is part of the ancient walls that once surrounded the city. Today it is used for events and art exhibitions. The municipal palace is located in the historic center of the city and was built in 1825. The Villa Comunale is a beautiful green space that offers the best view of Lake Bracciano.
Museums
The "Museum of World Cultures" is an ethnographic museum that exhibits the traditions and cultures of the whole world and is located inside the Orsini-Odescalchi Castle. The "Water Museum" is a visitor center recently opened at the Roman Aqueduct of Anguillara Sabazia, where visitors can learn about the history and technology of ancient Rome's water system.
Conclusions
In general, Anguillara Sabazia is the perfect destination for holidays, with its mild climate, crystal clear waters of Lake Bracciano, and ancient history rich in culture. From religious buildings to civil architecture and museums, the city offers visitors many things to see and do. If you are planning a quiet lake vacation in Italy, Anguillara Sabazia is ideal for you.
