Monte Compatri is one of the most popular locations in the Castelli Romani, a longtime destination for visitors and residents thanks to its cool climate, millennial culture, good wine and food specialties. The medieval village, with its characteristic alleys and small squares, overlooks the Prenestina valley from high in the lush Alban Hills. Surrounding it are the modern hamlets of Laghetto, Molara, Pantano, and Osa, which are constantly growing in population and housing and represent the perfect balance between the tranquility of the countryside and the vibrancy of the large metropolitan area of the Capital. Located just a stone's throw from Rome, in the heart of the green Castelli Romani, the town of Monte Compatri is an important tourist destination during the summer for those seeking a cool climate and a variety of summer events.
The town's cathedral, dedicated to Mary Assumed into Heaven, is an important symbol of Monte Compatri's history. Built in the early 1600s on a pre-existing small church dedicated to St. Brigid at the request of Cardinal Borghese, the cathedral stands in a small square where the Belvedere Fountain is also located. In the past, the women of the village would go here with the typical conga to collect water. At the entrance to the village, in Marco Mastrofini Square, stands the Fountain of the Angel, a bronze monument dating from the late 1800s and situated on a spur of tuff from the nearby Monte Salomone quarry. The Angel, also a symbol of Monte Compatri, represents the beating heart of town life. It is a tribute to those who worked tirelessly, sometimes even at the risk of their lives, to bring water from the Carpinello springs to the town in the late 19th century. Another important palace in the center of the medieval village is Palazzo Altemps, currently under renovation.
Situated high above dominating the town is the Monastery of San Silvestro, built in the mid-15th century and later enlarged in the late 17th century. The Convent's picture gallery displays works of art from the Mannerist and Caravaggio school of great value. Inside the church are the remains of Blessed John of Jesus Maria of Calhaorra, one of the founders of Italy's Congregation of Discalced Carmelites, as well as a renowned mystical writer and adviser to numerous popes.
Next to the religious complex is the striking church of Madonna del Castagno, which houses the ancient image of the saint, who has always been an object of devotion for the citizens of Monte Compatri thanks to the many miracles she has bestowed over the centuries. One of the most famous is her protection from the terrible cholera epidemic that, in 1867, decimated several towns in the Roman countryside, miraculously excluding the town of Monte Compatri. The venerated representation of the Child Mary, placed on a chestnut tree trunk, was originally protected by a wooden structure and then replaced in 1675 with a masonry chapel.
