| The first certain news relating to
a castle built on the same place of the palace can be dated back
to the 1100, when Zagarolo was destroyed by the soldiers of Pasquale
II (1099-1118), to suppress the rebellion of Pietro Colonna. The
powerful family possessed again this castle, but the struggles
with the Papacy were not ended, and the fortress was destroyed
twice: one in 1297 from Boniface VIII (1294-1303) and in 1400
during the struggle against Boniface IX (1389-1404). In 1503,
thanks to Giulio della Rovere (1503-1513), the Colonna possessed
again the town; in 1586 Sisto V (1585-1590) was hosted in Zagarolo.
In this period the palace was restored and were added the two
wings towering over the square. One of the guests of Marzio
Colonna was the painter Caravaggio in 1606. In 1622 the town
was bought by the Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, who enriched the
palace with a picture gallery. In 1670 the new owner was G.
Battista Rospigliosi. This family transformed Zagarolo in an
important international centre, hosting nobles and artists,
among which Vittorio Alfieri. During the 19th century began
the decline of the palace, and during the second world war it
was transformed in a military hospital and in a refuge for the
evacuees.
Many rooms at the ground floor and at the main floor are still
characterized by the original decorations, frescoes representing
allegoric figures, important events of the Lepanto's Battle,
landscapes and coats of arms.
At present the palace is owned by the Town Hall and is being
restored. The rear door is very interesting: it was built by
Marzio Colonna in 1600 to celebrate Lepanto's Battle victory.
It is decorated with roman friezes and marble busts projecting
on the local stone.
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