Editing Alatri (section)

===Ancient remains===
Alatri has well-preserved [[Polygonal masonry|polygonal]] fortifications constructed from well jointed local [[limestone]]. It is almost entirely an embanking wall, as is the rule in the cities of this part of Italy, with a maximum height, probably, of about {{convert|9|m|ft|0}}. Two of the gates (of the perhaps five once existing) are still to some extent preserved, and three [[postern]]s are to be found.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Aletrium|volume=1|page=543|first=Thomas|last=Ashby|authorlink=Thomas Ashby (archaeologist)}}</ref>

In the centre of the city rises a hill which was adopted as the citadel. Remains of the fortifications of three successive periods can be traced, of which the last, perhaps a little more recent than that of the city wall, is the best preserved. In the first two periods the construction is rough, while in the third the blocks are very well jointed, and the faces smoothed; they are mostly polygonal in form and are much larger (the maximum about 3 by 2 m) than those of the city wall. A flat surface was formed partly by smoothing off the rock and partly by the erection of huge terrace walls which rise to a height of over {{convert|15|m|ft|0}}, enclosing a roughly rectangular area of {{convert|220|by|100|m|ft}}. Two approaches to the citadel were constructed, both passing through the wall; the openings of both are rectangular. The [[architrave]] of the larger, known as ''Porta Maggiore'', measures about {{convert|5|m|ft}} in length, {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} in height, {{convert|1.8|m|ft}} in thickness; while that of the smaller is decorated with three ''[[phallus|phalli]]'' in relief. Later, though probably in ancient times, a ramp was added on the northern side. In the centre of the ''arx'' was a building on the site of the present cathedral, of which only a small portion is preserved. Remains of a high-pressure [[aqueduct (watercourse)|aqueduct]], which supplied the town with water and was constructed with other public buildings by [[L. Betilienus Varus]], may still be traced. A temple was excavated in 1889 about a half-mile north of the town, and many fragments of the painted [[terracottas]] with which it was decorated were found. A reconstruction of it has been erected in the [[National Etruscan Museum]] at Rome.<ref name="EB1911"/>
[[File:Santa Maria Maggiore Alatri.jpg|thumb|250px|Church of ''Santa Maria Maggiore'' and ''Fontana Pia''.]]
[[File:Chiesa di San Silvestro.jpg|thumb|250px|The ancient church of St. Sylvester.]]
[[File:Palazzo Gottifredo alatri.jpg|thumb|250px|''Palazzo Gottifredo''.]]