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Ardea (RM) |
| Comune di Ardea | |
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 Municipal coat of arms |
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Lazio |
| Province | Rome |
| Elevation | 37 m (121 ft) |
| Area | 50 km² (19.3 sq mi) |
| Population (as of February 26, 2007) | |
| - Total | 40,010 |
| - Density | 800/km² (2,072/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Ardeatini |
| Dialing code | 06 |
| Postal code | 00040 |
| Frazioni | Banditella, Nuova Florida, Castagnetta, Castagnola, Centro Regina, Nuova California, Colle Romito, Lido dei Pini, Marina di Ardea, Rio Verde, Tor San Lorenzo, Tor San Lorenzo Lido, Montagnano. |
| Patron | St. Peter the Apostle |
| - Day | June 29 |
| Website: www.comune.ladispoli.roma.it | |
Ardea, an ancient town and comune in the province of Rome, 35 km south of Rome and about 4 km from today's Mediterranean coast.
The economy is mostly based on agriculture, although, starting from the 1970s, industry has had an increasingly important role.
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In Antiquity, Aredea was most often mentioned in connection with the Via Ardeatina, one of the consular roads, to which it gave its name. Columella owned a farm there.
Ardea was the capital of the Rutuli, mentioned in the Aeneid. The town was captured by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the Etruscan king of Rome. In 509 BC it is mentioned as a Roman ally. In 443 BC the Volscians laid siege to Ardea. The siege was soon broken by Roman troops under the leadership of Geganius.
During the Second Punic War, it was one of the few cities that refused military support to Rome, and, after the Roman victory, was deprived of its autonomy. In the 3rd-2nd centuries BC it decayed until, in the Imperial Age, it was scarcely populated at all.
It returned to growth only after the ninth century AD. Its castle in 1118 housed Pope Gelasius II and was later contended among various feudal barons of the area. In 1419 Pope Martin V assigned it to his kinsmen, the Colonna family, who sold it in 1564 to the Cesarini.
In 1816 it became a frazione of Genzano. Starting from 1932, the surrounding area was drained and Ardea began to flourish again, becoming an independent municipality in 1970.
Remains of the ancient city include the old defensive agger, dating to the 7th century BC and later (4th century BC) updated to larger walls. Archaeological excavations have brought to light four temples, of unknown dedication. Part of the pavement of a basilica (c. 100 BC) have also been found in the area of the ancient Forum. Other sights include:
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