PALESTRVNA, the ancient Pramede, a town in the Campagna. 20 miles E. from Rome, built on the south-west elope of a high hill, which is an offset of the Apennine ridge that skirts the valley of the Tiber on the east, and divides it from the high land of Abruzzo. It is naturally a strong position, and has been fortified from the oldest times. The ancient Prseneste extended above the site of the present town, its citadel crowning the summit of the hill. There are remains of the ancient walls, built in the Cyclopean or polygonal style, of large irregular blocks of atone. A church, dedicated to St. Peter, has been raised on the site of the citadel. The modern town is half-way up the slope of the bill, on the site of the ancient Temple of Fortune, and about 700 feet above the sea. It is a bishop'e see, and has about 5000 inhabitants, who manufacture coarse woollen cloth. The palace, belonging to the family of Barberini, contains the celebrated mosaic found among the ruins of the Temple of Fortune. Many statues and other remains of antiquity have been found at Palestrina.
Prseneste was a town of the Latina, and of older date than Rome. In the war of the Latina against Rome after the expulsion of Tarquinius, Przoneste allied itself to Rome. (Leiry, ii. 19.) More than a century later it Bided with the Volsci against the Romans; but after the victory of Cincinnatus on the banks of the Allin, A.U.O. 375, it sub
mitted to Rome by capitulation. (Livy, vi. 23, 29.) Thirty years later Prmneste was included in the great Latin league against Rome, which was defeated by L. F. Camillus; the territory of the Prmnestini was confiscated (Livy, viii. 12.14), and their town became subject to Roma like the rest of Latium. The younger Marks, being defeated by Sulla, took refuge in Praineste, where, after an unsuccessful attempt to escape, be ordered a slave to run him through the body. The town then surrendered, when Sulla ordered an indiscriminate slaughter of the inhabitants. Octavianns Crater sent a colony of veterans to Pimueste. The Temple of Fortune was the great attraction of the place, and people repaired from all parts of Italy to consult the oracle. The temple was built on a magnificent scale, and richly adorned. Prneneste was a favourite residence of the wealthy Romans during the eummer heats.
In the middle ages Paleetrina became the chief stronghold of the powerful baronial family of Coleant', who often disputed with the popes the possession of the Campagna and of Rome itself. Boniface VIIL took Palestrina and destroyed it, but after his death the Colonna recovered and fortified it again. Eugeniue IV. in 1437 retook it from them. At last Urban VIII. gave it to his relatives the Barberini.