Falerii

Falerii, also known as Falerii Veteres, was the principal city of the Falisci people in the Roman region of Latium. The town was situated on a plateau between the Aurelian Hills and the basin of the Alban Hills, overlooking the western side of the Tiber valley. Its strategic position made it a focal point for conflict between Rome and neighbouring Latin communities in the early centuries of the first millennium BC.

Ancient historians such as Livy and Diodorus Siculus describe Falerii as a walled city with a mix of Ionic and local architectural elements. The city was first mentioned in the context of the Second Latin War (340–338 BC) when the Falisci were allied with Roman forces against neighboring tribes. This collaboration is credited with granting the Falisci a degree of autonomy within the Roman sphere of influence.

In 287 BC Falerii fell to the Romans after a series of skirmishes, but it remained an autonomous enclave until a revolt in 102–101 BC, which involved a coalition of other Latin cities. Roman forces suppressed the uprising, and the city was subsequently razed. After destruction, Roman troops fortified the site, establishing the Rostra or forum over the former civic center. A new community, Falerii Novi, was settled to the south of the ruins and eventually developed into the medieval town of Capo di Bove.

The archaeological site of Falerii contains remnants of the ancient walls, a Republican period forum, and a large theatre that could accommodate several thousand spectators. Excavations carried out in the 20th century revealed a mosaic of Greek- and Roman-style buildings, public baths, and civic structures. The site is currently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Candidate and is a subject of ongoing research regarding the interaction between indigenous Italic cultures and the expanding Roman state.

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