Ariccia (Lazio): what to see


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What to see in Ariccia, an itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, Piazza di Corte, Palazzo Chigi, Santuario Galloro and Locanda Martorelli.


Tourist information

Located in the Castelli Romani area, between Lake Albano and Lake Nemi, both of volcanic origin, Ariccia occupies the crater of Vallericcia, corresponding to that of a volcano active in ancient times, for this reason the land is largely composed of lava material with traces of peperino and tuff.

A small town of ancient origin, Ariccia was a very popular holiday destination in Roman times, thanks to its excellent climatic and landscape characteristics.


Piazza di Corte is located in the historic center of Ariccia, dating back to 1661 and built on a project by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Carlo Fontana.

The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta and Palazzo Chigi overlook the sides of the square.

Among the main monuments and places to visit is Palazzo Chigi, built by the Savelli family around the end of the sixteenth century and subsequently enlarged and heavily modified, following the ideas of great artists, including Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Carlo Fontana.


In 1988 the palace and the adjacent park became municipal property, in which some famous film scenes were filmed, including the Leopard by Luchino Visconti.

Inside the Palazzo Chigi, the Museum of the Roman Baroque is currently housed.

The Chigi Park, which in the past was the hunting lodge of the family from which it takes its name, is the main green area of ​​the municipality, characterized by the presence of holm oaks and broad-leaved trees.


The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the second half of the seventeenth century and built following the project of Gianlorenzo Bernini, has an interior expertly decorated with stuccos made by Antonio Raggi and valuable paintings.

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Galloro, built between 1624 and 1633, was also built on a project by Bernini.

Recommended readings
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  • Ciociaria (Lazio): what to see in the historic region
  • Alatri (Lazio): what to see

What see

The former Collegio di San Nicola, which is located next to the deconsecrated church of San Nicola di Bari, is a complex of buildings located in a panoramic position and today the seat of the municipality.

The Locanda Martorelli, a historic building overlooking Piazza di Corte, is an important testimony of the period when there was an intense artistic coming and going that affected Ariccia in the nineteenth century.

Until 1880 it was frequented by many painters and writers of the time, attracted by the remarkable beauty of the town and the Chigi Park.

In a short time it became a kind of academy where famous artists stayed, including Turner, Corot and Ivanov.

Inside the room you can admire the frescoes of the Polish painter Taddeo Kuntze, depicting mythological scenes, including The temptation of Hippolytus, The death of Hippolytus, The chase of Diana, The sacrifice to Diana, The conspiracy against Turn Edornio, The death di Turno Edornio, The battle of Lake Regillo, The Nymph Egeria and Numa Pompilio.

In 1988 the Locanda Martorelli was purchased by the Municipality and became the seat of various artistic exhibitions.

The historic center was surrounded by defensive walls starting from the fifth century BC, with subsequent reconstruction in the third century BC.


The Porta Napoletana, which was the main entrance to the village until the eighteenth century, has a particularly well-kept appearance that highlights the project by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

The Roman gate for its small size is nicknamed Portella.

Along the paths of the Via Appia Antica, there is a door with a round arch, which was part of the walls of the second century BC.

Among the most important events that take place annually at Ariccia, the pork festival is famous, which takes place in September in Piazza di Corte.

Porchetta di Ariccia is a renowned gastronomic product typical of this area, prepared using rigorously cooked pork meat flavored with spices.

PALAZZO CHIGI ARICCIA (February 2024)


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