Santa Lucia
Welcome to Santa Lucia di Mentana
Hello everyone! Today we'll be talking about Santa Lucia di Mentana, or more specifically, the hamlet of Santa Lucia, which has been part of the municipality of Fonte Nuova in the province of Rome since 2001. With a population of 12,178 as of 2020, Santa Lucia is a typical village in the Rome countryside, stretching between the hills and the plains along Via Palombarese.
Let's discover the geography of Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia di Mentana features a predominantly hilly landscape, reaching a maximum altitude of 35 meters above sea level. The hamlet borders the municipality of Guidonia Montecelio, delimited by the Monte Gentile, Pratolungo, and Santa Lucia ditches, and the hamlet of Tor Lupara, which includes Quarto di Santa Lucia, Macchia Mancini, and the Bosco di Valle Cavallara.
The ancient and recent history of Santa Lucia
The Santa Lucia area witnessed numerous battles between Romans and Sabines from the late 6th to the early 5th century BC. In 1867, it was also the site of the unsuccessful attempt to take Rome by the Garibaldini in the famous Battle of Mentana. The history of the Santa Lucia hamlet is very recent, as until the 1950s, the area was uninhabited and constituted a fund of the municipality of Mentana. The first building in the area was a farmhouse dating back to the second half of the 16th century, demolished in 2008.
The area where the Santa Lucia settlement currently stands was swampy and inhospitable. Immigration in the 1950s, attracted by job opportunities offered by the brick factory and the low cost of land, led to the creation of the first scattered houses along Via Palombarese and especially in the area of Borgo Santa Lucia. The area includes the current Via Santa Lucia and is the first significant nucleus of the hamlet, due to its proximity to the furnace. Since then, more and more houses, buildings, villas, and commercial activities have sprung up along Via Palombarese, causing many problems for the local population.
The monuments and places of interest in Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia di Mentana features various ruins from Etruscan and Roman civilizations, as well as numerous springs scattered throughout the countryside. The Church of Santa Lucia, consecrated in 1972 and in a modern style, houses works by Agata Pistone Etna.
Conclusion
There you have it, an overview of the Santa Lucia di Mentana hamlet. Between ancient and recent history, geography, and monuments, Santa Lucia has a lot to offer. If you're ever in the area, don't hesitate to visit this beautiful village in the Rome countryside.
