It is a major town located in the Castelli Romani area, in the province of Rome. Inhabited since Prehistoric times by Latin populations, that settled here about 3000 years ago between the lake and hill area of the Albani Mounts. There is no certainty on the origins of the town's name: according to some, in fact, it derives from the presence of a Roman villa, that probably belonged to Gaius Marius; while according to others, it is attributed to a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and, according to a third hypothesis, it was named after a landowner of which, unfortunately, there are no official traces.
The current urban core of Marino was also one of the fortified centres of the Silla, known as Castrimoenium. In the Republican era, several noble villas were built here, including those of Valeri Messala and Vacaria Pollione. Following the destruction of Bovillae in 846 A.D. (an ancient Latin city, commonly identified with Frattocchie, today suburb of Marino), the population abandoned the centre due to its over exposition to the Saracen invasions and preferred to shelter in the inner regions, giving life to the main centre of Marino. Till 1090 the area was subject to the domain of the Counts of Tusculum, later the fief was ceded to the Frangipani, the Orsini and the Caetani, ultimately, assigned to the Colonna.
Sites of Interest:
- the remains of a hut built in the Neolithic period and found in the district of Cava di Piperino;
- the Pre-Roman Necropolis;
- a Roman cistern traced under the former church of Saint Lucia;
- the Mitreo, built on the remains of an existing water cistern, which today houses a famous painting of "Mithras killing the white bull";
- the remains of the ancient site of Bovillae (the circus, the theater, the Temple of Veiovis and the Shrine of the gens Iulia);
- the XVII century Collegiate Church of St. Barnabas, with its façade in piperino stone. The interior is in Baroque style and behind the main altar stands a valuable painting by Bartolomeo Gennari depicting the martyrdom of St. Barnabas;
- the XVII century Holy Trinity Church, which features a single nave with side chapels and a barrel vault. Inside is preserved the Holy Cross of Marino and behind the altar there is a masterpiece that depicts the Trinity attributed to Guido Reni;
- the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (XIV-XV centuries);
- the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell' Acqua Santa, famous for the venerable image of Our Lady on show inside;
- the numerous noble palaces, among which Palazzo Colonna, built, on the pre-existing structure of Rocca Orsini, by Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane. Rebuilt after World War II, after being destroyed by the bombings, is now seat of the Council offices;
-the various defense turrets, scattered around the countryside around Marino.