A Jacobite Gazetteer - Lazio

Frascati - Convento dei Cappuccini

Cappuccini Interior
Interior

The Capuchin monastery is located at Via Cardinal Massaia 26, just outside Frascati at the top of a very steep hill. As one approaches the top of the hill there is a small shrine at the left with a ramp leading to a staircase; one can take this ramp and staircase or continue along the road which curves round to the monastery.

King Henry IX and I visited the monastery on a number of occasions while he was staying at the neighbouring Villa Rufinella (now Villa Tuscolana). 1

On the inside of the facade, to the left of the main doorway, is the following Latin inscription:
 
CELSITVDINI · REGIAE · EMINENTISSIMAE
HENRICI · DVCIS · EBORACENSIS · NVNCVPATI ·
S · R · E · CARDINALIS · ET · VICE · CANCELLARII ·
NEC · NON · TVSCVLANI · ANTISTITIS ·
VNIVERSAE · MINORVM · CAPVCCINORVM · FAMILIAE ·
PARENTIS · AMANTISSIMI · AC · PATRONI · BENEFICENTISSIMI ·
QVOD ·
ANNO · MDCCXCVI · VI · IDVS · QVINTILIS ·
F · ANGELICVM · BENINCASA · MVTINENSEM ·
MAGNVM · OLIM · EJVSDEM · FAMILIAE · PRAESIDEM ·
OPTIME · QUE · A · PIO · VI · PONT· OPT · MAX ·
SVPREMO · REI · CHRISTIANAE · ADSERTORE ·
OB · EXIMIAM · RELIGIONIS · AC · DOCTRINAE · LAVDEM · SPECTATVM ·
IN · HOC · D · FRANCISCI · TEMPLO ·
PIENTISSIMO · IN · REM· SANCTAM · STVDIO ·
SACRIS · ARCHIEPISCOPATVS · CAMERTIS · INSIGNIBVS ·
AD · NOVAM· REI · MEMORIAM · INAVGVRAVERIT ·
F · FIDELIS · A · FLORENTIA · EX · DEFINIT · GEN · COENOBII · HETAERIARCHIA ·
PERENNE · MONVMENTVM · POSVIT
D · N · R · Q · E · C ·

On the inside of the facade, to the right of the main doorway, is the following Latin inscription:

MARIA · ANNA · VICTORIS · AMADEI · REGIS · SARDINIAE · F
CHABALLICENSIVM · DVX
TRIVM · REGVM · SOROR
EMPTO · VIRIDARIO
IN · QVO · PINVS · ET · CVPRESSVS · FORMA· ET · VETVSTATE · PRAESTANTES
ILLVD · FRATRIBVS · HVIVS· COENOBII
AD · QVOS· OLIM · PERTINVERAT
DONO · DEDIT · A · M · DCCCXXIV
CVIVS · BENEFICI · MEMORIAM
LVDOVICVS · MICARA · S · R · E · CARDINALIS
SVMMVS · MAGISTER
FRATRUM · FRANSISCALIVM · CAPPVLATORVM
HOC · LAPIDE · PERPETVANDAM · PVTAVIT
A · M · DCCCXXIX
Maria Anna was the fourth daughter of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia; she was the sister of King Charles IV (King Charles Emanuel IV of Sardinia), King Victor (King Victor Emanuel I of Sardinia), and King Charles Felix of Sardinia.
Henry IX and I inscription
Henry IX and I inscription
Maria Anna di Savoia inscription
Maria Anna di Savoia inscription

Notes

1 Diario per l'Anno MDCCLXXXVIII di Enrico Benedetto Cardinale Duca di Yorck (London: Chiswick Press, 1876), 25, 73. On July 7, 1788, he said mass in the church at the altar of Saint Francis and then spent some time with the friars. On August 2, 1788, he visited the church in order to gain the Porziuncula indulgence. I presume that he visited on other occasions as well.

Image 1 (Interior): © Noel S. McFerran 2001.

Image 2 (Henry IX and I inscription): © Noel S. McFerran 2001.

Image 3 (Maria Anna di Savoia inscription): © Noel S. McFerran 2001.

This page is maintained by Noel S. McFerran (noel.mcferran@rogers.com) and was last updated July 17, 2005.
© Noel S. McFerran 2000-2005.