Bassano Romano is a town andcomune situated in the hills of Monti Sabatini in theprovince of Viterbo, in northernLazio (Italy).With its origins about 1000 as the agricultural hamlet ofBassano di Sutri[3] the village's future was founded in 1160 by the wealthy landowner Enotrio Serco, who initiated the construction at the top of the slope of a fortified residence that over the centuries became a princely dwelling, frescoed by famous artists. In 1482Pope Sixtus IV assigned theFoedus Bassani to theAnguillara,Roman patricians (patrizii di Roma). The growth of the comune redoubled after 1565, when the signory was reassigned byPope Clement VIII to theGiustiniani, merchants ofGenoese origin settled at Rome. In 1605 the signory was raised to amarquessate: ahunting lodge (casina di caccia) called "LaRocca", granaries, a stone bridge (theponte delle Vaschie) and the church dedicated toSan Vincenzo were all constructed. During the Giustiniani residence, artists were commissioned to carry out frescoes:Francesco Albani,Domenico Zampieri "Domenichino" andAntonio Tempesta are all represented. In 1644, abulla ofPope Innocent X made the marchese of Bassano a prince, and the flock of papal and noble visitors includedJames Stuart, pretender to the thrones of England and Scotland. In 1735, under Giustiniani patronage themaiolica manufactory of Bartolomeo Terchi was transferred here fromSiena.
Variousepidemics struck Bassano during the 18th century, in 1709, 1770 and 1786. In 1799, the French forces ofNapoleon attacked Bassano no less than four times.
In 1854 the fief passed from the Giustiniani to theOdescalchi. DuringWorld War II Bassano was the site of several conflicts. In 1964 the commune's name was changed to Bassano Romano.
