Velletri (Italy)

Velletri, a town of 45,000 inhabitants, boasts a greater age than Rome, 35 kilometers away. It lies on the Roman Via Appia, probably the most important road in the empire. Only around 50 kilometers separate it from the coast. Lake Albano and Castelgandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope, are within easy reach.

Hills, mountains rising up to 1200 meters and a fertile plain characterize the landscape. Velletri is agriculturally oriented. Wine, fruit and olives are grown here. A viticulture institute carries out research and breeding for the whole country. But food and clothing production, wood and metal processing are also worth mentioning.

The Romanesque-Gothic Torre del Trivio, the bell tower of the church of St. Maria del Trivio, towers over the heart of the hilly urban area. The remains of a temple date back to pre-Roman times. Also worth seeing is the Cathedral of St. Clemente with a crypt from the early days of Christianity. The core of the cathedral dates back to the 4th century. Art treasures in its interior are works from the 13th and 14th centuries. A remarkable archaeological collection is on display in a museum set up in the basement of the town hall, the Palazzo Comunale. It is a Renaissance building from the 16th century. One of the most valuable archaeological exhibits is a Roman sarcophagus from the first century AD. It is decorated with depictions of the adventures of Hercules.

The partnership with Velletri, which was established in 1957, has been kept very much alive.