Ariccia - Main Sights

Main Sights

The most noteworthy sight in Ariccia is the northern entrance from the famous bridge which leads to Bernini's Baroque square. The main monuments include:

• The Palazzo Savelli Chigi, whose perfectly restored rooms are renowned as a location for Luchino Visconti's The Leopard and for other historical movies and television programs, was built by Prince Augusto Chigi in 1740.
• The domed circular church of the Assunta, by Bernini, inspired by his restoration of the Pantheon. In the interior the apse is a notable fresco by Borgognone.
• The Fontana delle Tre Cannelle ("Fountain of the three spouts"), once thought to contain the tomb of Simon Magus.

Other monuments include the Porta Romana, also by Bernini, and, two kilometres outside the city, the venerated Sanctuary of the Madonna del Galloro, with facade by Bernini. The latter is the final stop of a religious procession held on December 8 and called "Procession of the Lady", as a young woman is asked to lead it.

The area around Ariccia houses many interesting archaeological finds such as the Villa of the Roman Emperor Vitellius, the remains of the Via Appia Antica, as well as those of the ancient temples on Monte Cavo and in the Lake Nemi basin.