Fiano Romano is a town and comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy, approximately north of the city.
Fiano Romano borders the following municipalities: Capena, Civitella San Paolo, Montelibretti, Montopoli di Sabina, Nazzano.
Etymology There are multiple hypotheses about the origin of the name Fiano: According to some, the toponym could originally be derived from both the root of the Latin word Flavus (yellow, blond), with evident reference to the production of cereals grown or visible in the place; both from the reference to the possessions that the gens Flavia had in the area (from Flaiano, composed of the Latin personal name Flavius and the suffix "anus" which indicates belonging).Cfr. i flavis arvis in Verg. g. l. 316 and flava rura in Claud. 18, 112; cfr. Th. l. L. VI, 1, s.v. flavus, coll. 887-889, in detail 889, E 2 In Virgil's descriptions of the people who inhabited the Faliscan Capenate territory in prehistoric times, the reference to the Flavini fields appears; while in the texts of Silio Italico reference is made to Flavina or "of the Flavini fields" to describe the area where the sanctuary of Feronia was located and where the Capenas river (today's Gramiccia) flowed.Loc. Saint Martin ditch The term also returns in Servius's commentary on the Aeneid where there is a reference to the inhabited center of Flavinium. A further hypothesis would be that according to which the name of the city derives from Fanum Feroniae, that is the temple of Feronia. It is also possible that the name Fiano, already known in the Middle Ages as Flavianum or Flaianum, is the toponym of a landholding dating back to those of the imperial funds of the Constantinian age (the Nomen of Flavus had in fact been assumed by the Emperor Constantine).
In 1872, following a request made by the City Council, the name officially changed in Fiano Romano through a royal decree by Victor Emmanuel II.Decreto Regio n. 974, August, 18th 1872 edited on September, 20th 1872 on the official laws gazette (in italian)
History The territory of Fiano Romano, due to its position close to the Tiber river, has been inhabited since the archaic ages: in fact, ceramics from the 8th century BC have been found, which show the cultural influence in the area of Faliscans, Sabines, Etruscans and Latins.
Between the 7th and 5th centuries BC the area was under the control of the ancient city of Capena, ally of Veii: in this period was the foundation of the nearby sacred grove of Lucus Feroniae.
At the beginning of the 4th century BC Rome completed the conquest of the entire area which passed under its control. Lucus Feroniae remained the main attraction: Hannibal, in 211 BC, went there to plunder the sanctuary,TItus Livius (Livy), Ad urbe condita, book XXVI, 7 while in 70 BC many lands around the sanctuary were expropriated and awarded to the legionaries of Caesar by Antonio and Octavian (the future Augustus). The construction of the Villa dei Volusii also dates from this period. For the whole Roman imperial period the area was very active in the production of cereals, wine and olive oil.
In the Middle Ages the territory of Fiano passed under the control of the various religious centers and monasteries in the area (a 1081 bull of Pope Gregory VII assigns the possession of the Flaiano fund (Castellum Flaianum) to the Monastery of San Paolo fuori le mure).
In the Renaissance period it was a fief of the Orsini, a powerful noble family, who in 1489, with Niccolò III Orsini, built the castle there. Fiano then passed to the Sforza family who made Fiano as a Duchy (bull of Pope Pius V in 1608), then to the Ludovisi-Ottoboni-Boncompagni family.
In 1897 the last Duke of Fiano Marco Boncompagni Ludovisi Ottoboni sold the entire property to Carlo Menotti, a construction contractors, building contractor, land speculator and politician.
After the Fascist era the lands were entrusted directly to the peasants while part of the castle was donated by Menotti family to a religious order.
In 1993 the Municipality of Fiano Romano bought the entire Ducal Castle.
Geography
Location Fiano Romano rises on the right bank of the Tiber river, which separates it from the Sabina. The territory is mostly hilly but there are large flat areas alongside the river. Average height is about above sea level, with a minimum height of and a maximum of .ISTAT (Italian Statistic Agency), Statistiche geografiche sui comuni - Altitudine dei comuni tramite DEM (modello digitale del terreno) - Year 2011 (in italian)
Climate The climate is temperate with long, dry summers and generally mild but rainy winters, making Fiano Romano part of the Csa group according to the Köppen climate classification. The proximity of the Tiber is felt, which increases the humidity rate.
The average annual temperature is with August being the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of while the coldest month is January with an average temperature of .
During summer, from June to the end of September, daytime temperatures can reach and night temperatures are around , while during heat waves the daytime temperatures can reach even .
The average annual rainfall is , with July the driest month () and November the wettest ().
Demographics
Main signs Orsini Ducal Castle
It is a renaissance castle committed by Nicola III Orsini in 1489 and terminated in 1493.It became a Ducal castle in 1609 when the Sforza family make Fiano as a Duchy. The castle has a rectangular plan with two defense towers and crenellated walls. The smaller tower is quadrangular with a slope in the lower part. The largest tower, called mastio, is placed in the keep, is circular and is high with walls wide. The castle, set in the medieval village, has its entrance on the main square of Fiano in front of the Church of Santo Stefano Nuovo. Inside there is a courtyard with a staircase leading to the main floor and from the terrace, adorned with guelph battlements, you have a view of the surrounding lands that belonged to the fief.
The renaissance wing on the main floor is divided into nine rooms, connected to each other by doors whose jambs bear the inscription Nicolaus Tirtius Ursinus 1493, that is the date on which the works were carried out and, probably, when the frescoes were completed:
Montefeltro room: decorated with inlaid and carved friezes in wood, it seems like the study of Guido da Montefeltro; Orsini Study room: there are frescoes with coats of arms of Niccolò III Orsini, a reliquary where the holy oil was kept and with images of four saints (Saint Jerome, Saint John the Batist, Saint Roch and Saint Catherine of Alexandria); Hall of the Guard: in this room, on December 19, 1493 Pope Alexander VI granted indulgences, and a plaque on a staircase commemorate the event; Choir room: small frescoed room decorated with architraves; Hall of the Zodiac: there are 12 frescoes of the 12 constellations and the coats of arms of families related to the Orsini; Room of the Virgins or blue room: have lunettes with four women announcing the birth of Christ; Hall of Christ: in the center of the room there is the Sacred Heart; Room of Ubaldini: here are presented coats of arms related to Orsini family; Pomegranate room: there are floral frescoes with pomegranate and a fireplace dated 1493.
Villa dei Volusii
It is a Roman campaign's manor built around the middle of the 1st century BC form the senatorial family of the Volusii Saturnini (well known by Cicero) and used until the 5th century AD. It is a perfect example of villas build in the Roman Republican age by the senatorial families not far from Rome, in a fertile and highly disputed territory from the point of view of the real estate market of the time, being not only a country residence (i.e. villa d'otium) but also headquarters of production facilities (villa rustica).
The villa was built on an embankment that offers a panoramic view of the lower Tiber Valley, extends over two levels with the upper one that housed the noble residence with a polystyle atrium, rooms on the left side, cubicles and triclinium on the right, tablinum on the bottom. The peristyle with the lararium stands on the right side of the elegant district.
The complex was further enlarged during ages of emperors Hadrian and Traian, it underwent restorations in the 3rd-4th century AD and was frequented until the 5th century AD when a small cemetery was set up in the residential part. Then, starting from the early Middle Ages, a religious building was first built and then a small fortified center with towers and, finally, a rustic farmhouse.
It was discovered in 1962 during works for A1 highway construction and it is actually completely bring to light. It features splendid mosaics and the remains of a series of rooms and other spaces.
The villa can be accessed through Lucus Feronia.
Mausoleum of Fiano Romano
It is composed by thirteen blocks of marble finely decorated in relief with scenes of gladiator fights.
Dating back to the 1st century BC blocks originally adorned the tower tomb of a Roman magistrate.
Discovered by Carabinieri Art Squad in 2007 hidden under a thin layer of topsoil in field at Fiano Romano, blocks are exposed in the antiquarium of Lucus Feroniae.
Medieval bell
In the side aisle of the Church of Santo Stefano Nuovo in Fiano Romano there is a medieval bell, built in 1278 for the Church of San Biagio, a church that no longer exists and whose exact location is not known today. The bell, made of bronze, is about high with a circumference at the base of about and a diameter of . It was made by Guidotto Pisano, a very famous bell caster of the 13th century. Guidotto made, for example, about in 1280 the Campana della Rota bell in Vatican Saint Peter's Basilica and in 1288 one for Santa Maria Maggiore Church. These bells are still currently used.
Monument to the Fallen of the Two World Wars It is a monument dedicated to the citizens of Fiano Romano, military and civilians, who fell in the two World Wars. Located just outside the medieval village in the Parco delle Rimembranze, it is a travertine pillar which appears, in the front part, in the shape of an altar with a bronze laurel wreath at the top, at the bottom a festoon also in bronze and at its sides two lion protomes and weapons, also in bronze. In the rear part there is the coat of arms of the Municipality of Fiano Romano and below is the basin of a small fountain. In the center of the pillar are engraved the names of the citizens who fell in the First World War, while on the two tombstones, added later, placed in front and on the sides of the pillar, those of the fallen and missing in the Second World War . The monument was designed and built between 1919 and 1924 by the architect Edgardo Negri and the sculptor Enrico Brai, whose names are engraved on it.
Statue of Enrico Berlinguer
The bronze statue of Enrico Berlinguer was commissioned by the Municipality of Fiano Romano and built by the Iranian sculptor Reza Olia after the death of the communist politician, which took place on June 11, 1984. In previous years Berlinguer had visited Fiano Romano many times for his political role but he also had established friendly relationships. The statue, inaugurated on June 15, 1985, is located in the plaza at the entrance of the medieval village.
PortaRoma
it is an arch-sculpture composed of two marble monoliths of each which oppose each other and self-sustain without keystone for only mutual contrast of thrust discharged on the two shoulders, made with superimposed blocks of travertine and assembled only in contact with cuttings. The arch-sculpture measures are length, depth and height and a total weight of . Made by Claudio Capotondi on the occasion of the Great Jubilee, it was inaugurated on October, 29th 2000. It is located next A1 motorway Roma Nord entrance at Fiano Romano.