Genazzano entry point

In a strategic position, Genazzano rises, immersed in a landscape characterized by chestnut and olive groves. The town's name probably derives from the gens Genucia, owner of a fundus Genucianus on the territory, a place chosen by many Romans of the patrician families for their holiday (Claudio Tiberio). Since the tenth century (document of 1022) the existence of a small residential area is testified: the construction of the first churches of Saints Stephen and Lawrence (today Santa Croce) and Santa Maria dates back to this period. In 1151 Pope Eugene III ceded the fief of Genazzano to the Colonna until the beginning of the nineteenth century. The period of greatest prestige was reached by the country following the election as Pontiff of Oddone Colonna, who took the name of Pope Martin V (1417-1431) and who, according to tradition, was born in the ancient castle Colonna. In 1503, he ennobled the name of Genazzano: during the Spanish-French war, in which the troops of the Colonna also participated, in Barletta, 13 Italians fought against as many French in the famous "challenge", caused by the offenses brought by the French captain Charles de Torgues, called La Motte, to the Italian knights in a cellar of the town. Among the Italians was distinguished for his courage Giovanni Brancalone de Carlonibus, called Brancaleone, who lived and died in Genazzano. The Italians defeated the French soldiers easily.