| Probably it stands on the ruins of
the ancient Labicum, mentioned also in the works of Virgil. In
the Chronicon sublacense of the year 1090 it is stated that it
belonged to Agapito Conte di Tuscolo and in this document for
the first time it is mentioned its name: “Castrum Montis
Compatris”. This name probably was derived from ‘compitum'
meaning crossroads, and actually there is a crossroads at the
beginning of the hill's slope. In the 12th century, when
Tuscolo was destroyed, the survivors took refuge in this town
causing an increase in the number of the inhabitants.
According to the tradition, in 1222 San Francesco staid here
in a nearby grotto, where years later was built the hermitage,
and probably some monks which accompanied San Francesco built
the convent of San Silvestro. In the 14th century it was owned
by the family Annibaldi, and Liccardo Imprennente Annibaldi,
master of Montecompatri, was named by Cola di Rienzo “Capitano
del Popolo di Roma” in 1347. In 1430 it was owned by the
Colonna Family; they sold it because of the family's debts
to the Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps in 1575 at the price of
34,000 scudi. The Altemps Family in 1613, sold it to the Cardinal
Scipione Borghese.
Montecompatri was declared a municipality at the beginning
of the 19th century when the Prince Borghese renounced to the
feudal rights.
In its surroundings there are several important ruins of Roman
villas. Among which the water tanks built for the water-supply.
The most important ruins are at ‘la Casaccia' and
on the hill ‘Colle dei Pollastri'.
It is worth visiting the historical centre built following
the configuration of the territory, and according to the medieval
building criteria, standing on an isolated hill.
The streets crossing the town follow this particular orography,
like a ring around the hill, creating a spiral structure from
which a series of other narrow streets and steps link the different
heights of this hill. The houses are built rectilinearly to
the streets, because of the constrictions imposed by the town's
structure.
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