| The town of Genzano probably originates
from a built-up area near the Diana's Temple on the Nemi's
Lake shores. Later on Romans chose this place to build their villas
and as evidence of this there are the numerous ruins of the Quintili's
villa.
The Diana's Temple and the imperial villa, the Nemus
Aricinus and its surroundings were gathered under the power
of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Albano by Constantine. In
1183 the first historical news: a Bull of Pope Lucio III (1181-1185)
refers to a Gandolfi's 'Turris' and to a 'fundum
gentianum' given to the Cistercian monks belonging to
the Abbey of the “Tre Fontane” in Rome. During the
13th century the monks built a castle with a defensive enclosure
around which grew the town. Later on Genzano was object of struggles
among baronial families and between these and the papacy; thus
Genzano was first property of the Orsini, then of the Colonna
and later on of the Savelli.
In 1564 Giuliano Cesarini, Marchese di Civitanova, bought Genzano
and under his careful administration began a long period of
richness and peace. The Statute of Citizens were issued in 1564;
later on with the marriage between Livia Cesarini and Federico
Sforza the power of the family was further strengthened. The
Sforza-Cesarini made a great work to renew the centre, by building
a new baronial palace, restoring old religious buildings and
constructing new ones. With the Via Appia's reopening, commerce
flourished again, as it was strictly linked to this great road.
In 1828 Genzano was entitled 'town' by Leo XIII (1823-1829)
and in 1828 the new Italian Government changed its name in 'Genzano
di Roma'.
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