Tivoli

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DIOCESE OF TIVOLI (TIBURTINA)

Diocese in the Province ofRome. The city in situated where the Anio, issuing from the Sabine hills, leaps down from a height of nearly 300 feet and enters the Roman Campagna. The water power of the beautiful falls, which attract many tourists to the city, is utilised in various industries and supplies the electric current that lightsRome. The slopes of the neighbouring hills are covered with olives, vineyards and gardens; the most important local industry is the manufacture of paper. The great cascade has existed only since 1835, when the Gregorian tunnel through Monte Catillo was completed, to give an outlet to the waters of the Anio sufficient to preserve the city from inundation. The "Grotto of Neptune" and the "Cascatelle" are ancient. There are ruins of two oldtemples, one of Hercules Saxanus, commonly called "of the Sybil", the other of Tibutus, both overlooking the great cascade. Near the Roman gate is the "Tempio della Tosse". Among the more important churches are thecathedral, the Ges(x), S. Maria Maggiore, and S. Maria degli Olivi, containing interesting fifteenth-century frescoes; also S. Maria di Quintiliolo, built on the ruins of the villa of Quintilius Varus. In the environs are many ruins of ancient villas, the largest being the famous construction of theEmperor Hadrian, which comprised a villa, portico, theatre, gardens, baths,library, etc., and covered 173 acres of ground. Many of the treasures of the Vatican Museum were discovered here. The most notable of the modern villas are the Villa d'Este (1549), and decorated with frescoes by Zuccaro; at present it belongs to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand ofAustria.

According to some of the ancient writers, Tivoli was founded by the Siculi; according to others, by a colony of Argives. It is first mentioned in Roman history in 493, as included in the alliance against the Volscians, but in 361 it sided with the Gauls againstRome; though twice conquered, it shortly afterwards (339) allied itself with Praeneste (Palestrina); for some time it was in the Confederation and in the Social War became amunicipium. It was strongly fortified by Belisarius in the Gothic War, but almost destroyed by Totila in A.D. 340. After the Lombard invasion it was in the power of theByzantines and formed part of thepatrimony of St. Peter. It had a count, representing the emperor. In 916Pope John X won a memorable victory there over theSaracens. In themiddle ages it rebelled at times against thepopes, underHenry IV and V, and againstInnocent II; at other times it fought against the Roman rebels, as underEugene III andAdrian IV. In the thirteenth century the Senate ofRome succeeded (underInnocent IV) in imposing a tribute on the city, and arrogated to itself the right of appointing a count to govern it in conjunction with the local consuls. In the fourteenth century it sided with theGuelphs and strongly supportedUrban VI againstClement VII. King Ladislaus was twice, and later Braccio da Montone once, repulsed from the city. But its strength was undermined by internal factions, in consequence of whichPius II constructed the fortress which still exists.Alexander VI withdrew it from thejurisdiction of the Roman Senate. In 1527 it was sacked by bands of the supporters of the emperor and the Colonna, important archives being destroyed during the attack. In 1547 it was again occupied by the Duke of Alba in awar againstPaul IV, and in 1744 by the Austrians.

Tivoli is the birthplace of St. Severinus (sixth century), of Popes St. Simplicius andJohn IX, also of thepainter and musician Golia. TheChurch of Tivoli counts manymartyrs, among them St. Getulius,St. Symphorosa with her seven sons,martyred in the days ofHadrian; at a later period abasilica was erected over the place of theirmartyrdom. Othermartyrs were Vincentius, Majorius and Generosus. Thedeacon St. Cletus was later confounded with thepope of that name, really St. Anacletus. The first knownbishop was Candidus (465); among his successors were: Gaulterus (1000), under whom the feast ofSt. Lawrence, patron of the city, was instituted; Otto (1148), during whoseepiscopacyEugene IV died at Tivoli; Giovanni da Gabenna O. P. (1337), who died in the odour ofsanctity; Filippo de' Rufini, O. P. (1367), sent by the Romans toGregory IX to induce him to return toRome; Fra Lorenzo, O. M. (1450), reformer of theclergy; Cardinal Giulio Roma (1634), restorer of thecathedral and founder of theseminary; Cardinal Marcello di Santacroce (1652), who completed the work of his predecessor; Gregorio Barnaba Chiaramonti (1782), afterwardsPius VII. Thediocese isimmediately subject to theHoly See. In the process of concentrating theItalianseminaries the course oftheology at Tivoli was suppressed. There are: 42parishes; 40,000 inhabitants; 69 secular and 35regular priests; 11convents of male religious and 6 of sisters; 1 college for boys, and 1 for girls.

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