Hidden between the foothills of the Monti Lepini, is a town of medieval origin, modern-looking. The origins of Bassiano, are not much defined. The history of Bassiano begins around the tenth century and certainly starts from a small group of herders and farmers forced to seek refuge in this place completely obscured from the view of the plain, due to the continuous barbaric invasions. The earliest written news about Bassiano are dated to 1169. From a document found in the archives of the collegiate church of Santa Maria in Sermoneta refers to the recovery of the Castrum stolen by deception from a certain Gregory Leonis to a Lord of Bassiano. What to see in Bassiano: Palazzo Caetani - currently houses municipal Church Sant Erasmo, Church of St. Nicholas of Bari; Tower Acquapuzza; Sanctuary of SS. Trinity, Sanctuary of SS. Crucified with rock paintings, SS. Crucified.
Bassiano is famous for its ham.
Here was born the great publisher-printer Aldo Manuzio.
medieval Centre staggered pyramid, with its two centres of High Cori and Cori Valley, on the mountain slopes Lepine: of ancient origin, from the fourth century BC, belonged to Rome. The Collegiate late Renaissance, with a big candle of the fourteenth century candlestick Easter, stands in the ancient village, with medieval houses and typical streets, including the Via del Porticato completely covered. Going up to Cori High, you meet various sections of polygonal walls, the remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux (first century BC.), The singular S. Oliva, formed by a church of thirteenth century building with paintings of the sixteenth century, and the so-called Temple of Hercules, of the first century BC Also worthy the church of the Annunciation, with votive paintings (XV-XVI sec.) inspired to Masolino.
In June helds the historic “Carousel of the Districts”; in which shall, in costumes of the 600', the most qualified representatives of the three districts corresponding to the Porte Signina, Ninfina and Romanic. Also known the “Folk Group of the flag wavers”, that often performs abroad.
The origins of Itri are very ancient. The city was inhabitated since prehistory and subsequenbtly was part of Ausoni territory. It was collocated in Appia road and it was a forced passage for all people going from Rome to South. Since roman age, it was scarcely populated this is why it was considered only a refreshment-room for anyone who was travelling with horses and needed for some rest. Only in medieval age there was an in increment of population and a quick urban development. The city centre was built around the castle and the whole village was sourrounded by three town walls interrupted by tower and doors.
Itri first was part of Gaeta duchy, of Aquila then. Before of Italy unification it was kingdom of two Sicily, land of work.
Near the Garigliano river, that divides the Lazio from Campania, there are the remains of the ancient Minturnae. In 296 a.C. were repopulated like a roman colony. The archeological area includes the Roman Theatre, built in I century d.C. divided into three characteristic sectors (scaena, orchestra, cavea) and it receives four thousand spectators. In the area you can see an original tract of Via Appia (Decumanus Maximus), the remains of Foro Repubblicano (II century a.C.), of Capitolium (dedicate to Giove, Giunone and Minerva), of Foro Imperiale, of Macellum (market), of Tabernae. The modern road Appia crosses with Acquedotto Romano 11 km long. Near the Garigliano mouth there are the ruins of Ninfa Marica’s temple, water divinity.
Founded in 529 by S. Benedetto da Norcia, (509 mt. s.l.m.), Montecassino has passed a series of distructions, sacks and earthquakes. In the whole medieval age Montecassino was a cultural centre, with its abbots, libraries, archives and schools of writing, where there are preserved many ancient works. The main part of decoration of church and monastery is formed by paintings, nowadays lost. The abbey was destroyed by an earthquake in 1349 and rebuilt in 1366, in XVII it assumed a typical aspect of a Neapolitan and baroque monument. During the second world war the abbey was destroyed again and the rebuilding started after the end of the war.
attractive and tourist Agricultural centre, perched on a limestone hill that descends vertically on the Pontine plain. In classic Age the Latin Norba;, then Volsca and finally Roman, it had splendor as was proved by the numerous remains of polygonal walls of two Acropolis and the Temple of Diana. In medieval Norma remained a long in the orbit of the Church that gave it in fief to the Caetani and middle class. At its feet Lake of Ninfa. At the end of the fifteenth century, while raged for its possession bloody strife between the families of the Caetani and Frangipane, the persistent malaria, completely decimated the population: the few survivors run away leaving Ninfa.
Each year in autumn, we celebrate the Festival of roast chestnuts; chestnuts are roasted with a technique and a particular rite, covered with ferns and twigs that burn, just cooked they are put in the “manicuti” (wicker baskets) and then distributed to gourmets.
Above a calcareous high on the Caiano mountain, Priverno rises, in suggestive panoramic position on the valley of the Amaseno. Fierce center of the civilization volsca, "Privernum" according to an ancient legend, was founded by Metabo father of Camilla. With rising and developing of Roman power, Priverno suffered the destiny of all the surrounding centre and was subdued after a sour war in 349 B.C. In the Middle Age it was the centre of intense commercial traffics. In the XVI century the Saracen pirate Ariadeno Barbarossa brought her to the ground massacring inhabitants. Reconstructed more beautiful than before continued to bloom.
In the central Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II stands the Cathedral, Gothic-Cistercian of the thirteenth century, remodeled in the '700, preceded by a large porch. Remarkable also the Gothic Palazzo Comunale (XIII-XIV sec.) And the church of St. John the Evangelist that preserves votive paintings from various periods.
At 6 kilometers stands majestically, the Abbey of Fossanova first Cistercian monastery in Italy, founded in 1135, has rich Gothic porch and simple interior, it has three naves with high transept topped by an octagonal lantern. The cloister (1280-1300) in double columns leads to the refectory and the chapter house, rebuilt in 1250 in flamboyant Gothic style, with tall clustered pillars. In 1274 died, St. Thomas Aquinas.
The city administration has been particularly careful to preserve the historical heritage of this old medieval city. Sermoneta is a small town that stands on a hill 257 m.Visiting this town is like going back a thousand years, a plunge back in time to the Middle Ages to breath the ancient atmosphere of those times. Characterized by a village surrounded by walls and protected by a powerful Caetani castle, built by the family of the Roman barons, one of many places to visit in Sermoneta.
Sermoneta is very famous for “Gardens of Ninfa”, a beautiful garden with plants of all types and origins crossed by a river and a lake. Ninfa was an ancient medieval town abandoned in the fourteenth century.
Volsca ”Setia”, also called “Suessa”, on a high hill opened to plains and sea. Many and interesting the remains of Roman splendor, the ruins of villas and temples, incorporated them in the ancient Christian churches. Noteworthy also, the remains of polygonal walls with precious prehistoric wall paintings (Yolande Cave and Cave of the Buffaloes Arnaldo). Sezze in the Middle Ages was tied to the Church which was granted in fief to various noble families and among them, the Frangipane. Corradini road runs through the village and takes to the Cathedral, characteristic house rebuilt several times and changed in orientation. Very impressive the Capuchin Walk from which you can enjoy a relaxing view on the mountains and on the valley of Suso. In a large outdoor amphitheater, built with a few adjustments to the feet of Monte del Gallo, there is the Italian sacred theater, where it represents the “Passion of Jesus” with a crowd of actors, all coming from Sezze, and the to presence of a very big public always admired, always excited.
