THE HISTORIC CENTER
Il Duomo di San Pietro
A visit to the ancient heart of Fondi will hold certain surprises for the tourist who, in his wanderings through the streets will discover the Cathedral of St. Peter built in the 12th century on ancient pre-Roman structures. Upon entering its interior we might admire the tomb of Cristoforo Caetani inside the “chapel of the cross,” a marble bishop’s chair and a splendid pulpit decorated with cosmatesque mosaics dating back to the 13th century. Other works kept in the church are a Triptych of the Annunciation by Cristoforo Scacco and a painting of the Majesty with St. Peter and St. Paul by Antoniazzo Romano.
The churches of Fondi
The tour among Fondi’s places of worship continues with a visit to the collegiate church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Sanctuary Madonna del Cielo built at the end of the 14th century at the behest of Onorato II Caetani. With a square plan and 3 naves, it has a facade adorned with 3 portals; the central one is decorated with a splendid lunette, where there are three statues, and is surmounted by a rose window. The charming interior preserves the sacred statue of Our Lady of Heaven, a ciborium from 1491, and several Renaissance altars.
Characteristic is the Church of Our Lady of Relief, whose rural Romanesque appearance features a facade with 2 ogival arches supported by a pillar in the center. The interior has a single nave with round arches, while one of the church’s most remarkable paintings is the fresco in the sacristy dating from the 17th century.
Also worth a look is the Church of St. Dominic in which we find a beautiful square cloister consisting of 22 pillars and two columns supporting as many ogival arches. Noteworthy are the entrance portal to the chapter house and two mullioned windows, one with Gothic tracery and the other with lancet windows. The Church of St. Francis and the convent were built in 1363, and the inner hall has 2 naves. The church has a painting of Our Lady of the Rosary dating from the 16th century probably made by a Dominican. Other places of worship in Fondi include the Church of San Martino dating from the 13th century in medieval style and the Church of San Paolo.
Maggiori info: https://www.lazionascosto.it/citta-piu-belle-del-lazio/fondi/
THE CASTLE
The Caetani Castle and the Prince’s Palace
Entering the town’s main square, our gaze will be caught by the monumental, as well as the symbol of the town of Fondi, Caetani Baronial Castle built between the 13th and 15th centuries. We immediately notice the cylindrical tower, with a peculiar crenellation, rising from a square tower. The other parts of the castle were built during the same period, including the other corner towers. To the visitor, the castle looks really majestic, but fascinating at the same time, and thanks to its good state of preservation, it is possible to visit it.
Next to the castle we find the Prince’s Palace, reopened after a long restoration. The building dates back to the 15th century and is embellished with magnificent Gothic-Catalan decorations, since it was the Catalan Matteo Forcimanya commissioned by Onorato II Caetani who built it. The establishment of the museum makes it possible to visit the stately and fascinating interiors.
More info: https://www.lazionascosto.it/citta-piu-belle-del-lazio/fondi/
