Zagarolo is a Renaissance village nestled on wooded hills, just 36 km from Rome. During the Roman period it was one of the fortified cities to defend the ancient town Praeneste. The city was inhabited by the "sagarii" whose name came from the typical cloak worn by Caesar’s troops called "sagum". The oldest urban settlement in Zagarolo was composed of exiles fleeing the barbaric invasion of the nearby ancient city Gabi. The most important historical asset of the city is the central Palazzo Rospigliosi, home of the Toy Museum since 1998 and which promotes inclusion, in particular of youth, through its many activities.

The demographic situation of the city of Zagarolo, located within the Metropolitan City of Rome, remained stable and diverse. As at 31 December 2022, it was composed of 18 653 inhabitants, of which 2.708 were foreign-born representing 81 countries.

Having in mind the diversity of its population and benefitting from its membership in the National Intercultural Cities Network - Italy (Città del Dialogo), Zagarolo aims to achieve the following objectives :

  • to prevent any form of discrimination against residents of other nationalities by encouraging initiatives of dialogue and encounter. For instance, through the event “Nati per Unire" (Born to Unite), an award ceremony for the first babies born each year to Italian, EU and non-EU families, and through the possible election of a Council for immigrants.
  • to promote the cultural characteristics of the nationalities represented in the municipality through the intercultural transformation of its “Toy Museum” and the organisation of an intercultural contest on cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO as world heritage.
  • To foster opportunities of cultural diffusion through the creation of stable structures, such as an Intercultural Children’s Choir, which would allow mixing and valuing of the diversity coexisting on the territory.


Emanuela PANZIRONI