Fondi - Duomo di San Pietro

The first historical reference to Fondi dates to 338 BC, at the time of the Latin War when its inhabitants gained minor Roman citizenship status. The importance of Fondi lay in its position across the old Via Appia, the main roadway from Rome to southern Italy.

In the 6th century, Fondi was devastated by the Lombards but remained a dominion of the Eastern Roman Empire. Later a part of the Papal States, in 846 it was burnt out by the Saracens they settled there until they were defeated in the naval battle of Circeo of 877.

In 1140 Fondi passed to the Dell'Aquila family, of Norman heritage, and then, in 1299, to the powerful Caetani barons, who for two centuries made Fondi the center of their power.

According to tradition, the Church of San Pietro was founded on a temple of Jupiter by believers who converted from paganism through evangelization around Saints Peter and Paul. Later destroyed, it was rebuilt and consecrated in 1138. It was rebuilt and remodeled over the next few centuries and was consecrated a second time in 1638.