The Colli Albani Bruno Martellotta Archeological Group was founded in the 1970’s on the initiative of a group of young people in Grottaferrata who shared a passion for archeology coupled with a similar interest in the area in which they lived. Bruno Martellotta, who possessed an exceptional gift for inspiring enthusiasm for his subject, while losing nothing of the scientific aspects, inspired in each and every one of these young people a desire to care for their surroundings, enriching at the same time their own personal formation. This formation was not to remain an end in itself but extended to inspire feeling for the beauty of the places and buildings of interest and for the traditions and stories which animate the area known as the “Castelli Romani”.
Bruno’s aims, laid down in the statute of the Group, were to protect and increase appreciation of the rich historic, anthropologic and artistic inheritance of Grottaferrata and its surroundings. In practice these aims are fulfilled through a number of activities – formative, free and open to all, which include leading guided visits by qualified members to those places of interest supervised by the Group in accordance with agreements with State and religious authorities Notable among these are the Ad Decimum catacomb and the Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata (also known as the Abbey of San Nilo). The Abbey is the only surviving monastic church of the once numerous Italo-Greek monasteries.
The Association also possesses a library which, like the rooms which provide its headquarters, was part of the inheritance from its founder, Martellotta. At present the library contains about 1,200 books, on subjects concerning linguistics, art, archeology and history with particular reference to the local territory of the “Castelli Romani” and Lazio (Latium). It forms part of the official chain of libraries of the Castelli Romani.
Formative courses are organized every year regarding the historical and artistic sites for which the Group is responsible which help to place them in their historical and cultural contexts.
Since 2006 the Group has edited the “Bollettino dell’Unione Storia ed Arte” – USEA – a magazine founded in 1908 by the archeologist Romolo Artioli and which still today offers an important forum for academic debates, giving particular space to young researchers.
In collaboration with other associations, our Group organizes conferences, lectures, seminars and book presentations which actively contribute to the cultural life of the area.
The abbey of Santa Maria, Grottaferrata
As mentioned above, the Group is at present operative in two important sites: the Ad Decimum catacomb and the Abbey of Santa Maria (San Nilo) with its adjacent museum.
The Abbey of San Nilo is situated on the southern slopes of the Alban Hills, not far from Rome. It is a large, monumental complex, enclosed by massive protective walls the construction of which began around the year 1000 and concluded with the building of an additional protection during the renaissance period.
The Abbey, which holds many priceless works of art, was founded by San Nilo (Saint Nilus) from the city of Rossano in Calabria. At that time Calabria was part of the Byzantine empire and here the Greek tradition survives, services being officiated in Greek, while at the same time the monastic community is incorporated into the Church of Rome, under the Pope.
Artistically, the present day church has a predominantly baroque aspect: however, a study of the church itself and of the annexed buildings will reveal many traces of other historical and artistic periods, thus offering the visitor a fascinating journey through over a thousand years of history which have left their mark on this place where faith and culture, worship and beauty have lived, and live, together in harmony.
This aspect of the Abbey contributes to its further function as a centre where the Western and the Eastern churches meet, having been founded before the Great Schism” of 1054 which originally separated them.
Also of great interest is a visit to the museum where a collection of archeological and artistic treasures bears witness to over 2000 years of local history. The collection includes, among other, sarcophagi, sculptures and ancient statues as well as pieces of mediaeval, renaissance and baroque furnishings from the Abbey church.
Ad Decimum Catacomb
Ad Decimum is one of the best preserved early Christian cemeteries in the suburbs of ancient Rome. It is thus named because of its position at the tenth Roman mile of the ancient Via Latina. Close by was a staging post. The catacomb consists of many layers of construction. The burials within are of varying types, as are the funeral epigraphs, according to the diverse social levels of the deceased. The catacomb is dateable to between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD and is now under the custody of the “Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra” (Papal Commission of Sacred Archeology”).
Our Group aims, through its multiple activities, to spread our belief that a shared culture is a richer culture.
Traduzione Inglese a cura di Anna Harding
