Terracina Alta - Old Town
The Old Town, in the upper part of the city of Terracina, preserves extraordinary monumental and artistic testimonies that interest all the periods of the long existence of the city. The memories of the ancient city, although partly destroyed or transformed into public or private structures, allow us to immerse ourselves in the beauty of a rich cultural and artistic heritage that characterizes the city.
Walking through the typical alleys it is possible to admire testimonies of the Ancient Roman Age, memories of the Medieval Age and wonders of the Modern Age.
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Ancient Age
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Quadrifonte arch
Roman theatre
Capitolium
Emilian Forum
Via Appia
Temple of Jupiter Anxur
Medieval Age
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Cathedral of San Cesareo
Torre Frumentaria (of the Rosa)
Frangipane Castle
Church of San Francesco
Church of San Domenico
Church of San Giovanni
Church of the Annunziata
Modern Age
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Braschi Palace
Church of the Purgatory
Pio Capponi Civic Museum
Torre degli Acso House
Pontine Bonification Palace
San Cesareo Cathedral
The cathedral was built between the 5th and 6th centuries using the remains of an ancient five-nave Roman temple in the city forum. The Cathedral was dedicated to San Cesareo deacon, martyr of the city of Terracina in the second century. The building underwent several interventions and restorations, including that of the 11th century (with the consecration to the patron of the city of San Cesareo in 1074), that of the 13th century and above all the eighteenth-century restoration that transformed the church from five to three naves with the construction of side chapels and barrel roofing of the ceiling in place of the Romanesque trusses.
Of particular artistic interest is the portico that precedes the church, raised on a flight of 30 steps. It consists of six bare columns, interrupted in the center by a triumphal arch, which support an ancient entablature with mosaic decorations on its right side. They consist of images depicting a winged monster, an eagle, palms, deer, birds and bulls and other figures. Under the portico there is a funeral tank from Roman times and couples of animals crouching on the sides of the columns. Another 7 steps lead to the two entrances of the church, the main one of which is decorated with marble friezes from the Augustan age
Of artistic interest are: the flooring of the central nave in cosmatesque style (XII-XIII century); the medieval pulpit (first half of the thirteenth century), supported by five columns; the twisted column, used to support the Easter candle, also from the Middle Ages; a marble inscription shows the author and date of the column: "Cruel, 31 October 1245"; the eighteenth-century frescoes in the presbytery and choir, with the depiction of episodes related to the election of Pope Urban II; the pipe organ.