| The cathedral consecrated
to San Antonino and San Gregorio Magno stands on the highest
place of the town, with its façade in spur stone, towering
over the surroundings. The façade, very imposing if compared
with the two lateral belfries, is characterized by a severe
division of pilaster strips, with Doric and Ionic capitals and
framing brick sections. It is surmounted by a triangular pediment
with a coat of arms at its centre. The portal, in turn, is surmounted
by a rounded impediment and a window.
The cathedral took the place of the old parish church built
following the design of Martino Longhi and according to the
wish of Gregorio XIII (1572-1585), who used to sojourn in Villa
Mondragone. The previous church was towards a more northern
position than the present church, its entrance being identifiable
with the court entrance. Because of its modest size, the Borghese
commissioned in 1666 Girolamo Rainaldi, who in that period worked
in Marino for the Colonna Family, to design a new project, approved
only in a later period. The work encountered the favour of the
Milizia, who defined it gracious and without the imperfections
characterizing other Rainaldi's works.
The interior, a Greek cross, preserves paintings of the seventeenth
century by G. Brandi, G. Courtois, and C. Ferri. In its basement
there are ruins of one of the numerous Roman villas of this
zone.
|
