Affile is one of the oldest villages overlooking the gorgeous hills of the Aniene Valley.
The Aniene Valley
Already inhabited in pre-Roman times by the Ernici people and then colonized by the Romans, it boasts a well-preserved Roman and Medieval historic centre.
Porta della Valle in Affile – Photo IG visita.affile
Among the most interesting local attractions are the ruins of the ancient polygonal walls, an ancient Roman water cistern, and Porta della Valle, the entrance to the medieval village.
Frescoes in the Church of San Pietro in Affile – Photo: fondoambiente.it
After leaving Rome in 497 AD, Benedict of Nursia spent some time here in search of solitude and spirituality. Near the village cemetery stands the Early Christian Church of San Pietro, which has undergone various restoration works over the years. It still preserves faded frescoes depicting scenes from the Saint’s life, included the first miracle he performed in the village. The church has been recognized as one of the Luoghi del Cuore by the FAI.
Interiors of the Church of Santa Maria – Photo: diocesitivolipalestrina.it
The Church of Santa Maria, built after the Church of San Pietro, features a rectangular plan with a single nave. This evocative place of cult, enhanced through lighting and audio systems, is currently used for religious services, wedding ceremonies, and, due to its extraordinary acoustics, for classical and polyphonic music concerts. A stroll through the narrow alleys of Affile, flanked by charming stone houses, immerses visitors in the atmosphere of this ancient village. The surrounding areas offer many opportunities to high-altitude hiking lovers, such as a trekking experience along the Sentiero della Croce, which leads to the 1,150-metre-high Monte della Croce.
The Pertuso Tunnel – Photo: comune.affile.rm.it
Not to be missed in Affile are the Grotte del Pertuso, a natural underground tunnel carved by the Carpine Stream.
The Cesanese Grape
The unique microclimate of the area made possible the cultivation of the Cesanese di Affile red grapes, which produce the high-quality Cesanese di Affile DOC Wine, already appreciated by the Romans, and later by nobles and high priests. This grape variety has been spreading through the neighbouring territories over the centuries.
Cesanese di Affile vineyards – Photo: comune.affile.rm.it
Affile is the first municipality on the Cesanese Wine Route, which stretches from the province of Rome to the one of Frosinone. Its ancient viticulture tradition is even represented on its coat of arms, bearing a red grape vine and an asp snake coiled around its trunk.