History
Documents from 12th century name Rocca di Papa as Castrum Rocce de Papa ("Rock Castle of the Pope"), because Pope Eugene III lived there.
In 1541 Pier Luigi Farnese, with French troops, destroyed the castle.
In 1855 the people proclaimed the "Rocca di Papa Republic" against prince Colonna and the Papal States government.
In 1889 the "Royal Geodynamic Observatory" was built on the top of Rocca di Papa, near the little Church of the Crucified. Between 1922 and 1935 the scientist Guglielmo Marconi carried out several experiments from this building in radio-transmission, wireless transmission and broadcasting.
In 1944, during World War II, Rocca di Papa was bombed. The Centre of the city was destroyed. Thirty four people died in that air strike and 35 died in a second air strike on May 25. The city was liberated from the Nazi German occupation on June 4, 1944 by the 85th Infantry Division.
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