The municipality of Aquino is in Ciociaria, between the lower valley of the Liri river and the slopes of Mount Cairo.
The ancient village of Aquino was the most important city between Rome and Capua, being the site of a Volscian settlement that became a Roman colony in 39 BC. Today, it enchants us with evidence of its illustrious past, starting with the remains of the Roman walls and the Ancient Theatre of Aquinum, and ending with the Terme (baths), the Capitolium and the Porta Romana di San Lorenzo (Roman Door of San Lorenzo).
The 9th century Church of Santa Maria della Libera is a national monument. The church is Romanesque in style and was built on the ruins of the ancient temple of Hercules the Liberator. The garden houses the 1st century AD Arc of Marcantonio, one of the oldest arches in Italy.
Aquino was the birthplace of Decimo Giulio Giovenale, the satirical poet of Ancient Rome, and San Tommaso dei Conti D’Aquino, one of the Fathers of the Church. Stroll through the Parco del Vallone until you reach the ancient village of Aquino to visit the House of San Tommaso d’Aquino with its large tower. Visit the Museo della Città di Aquino e del Territorio (Museum of the City of Aquino and the Territory) and the imposing Basilica Concattedrale dei Santi Costanzo Vescovo e Tommaso d’Aquino (Co-Cathedral Basilica of Saints Constantius Bishop and Tommaso d’Aquino), which houses the famous ‘Costola del cuore’ (Heart Rib) and the great ‘Mosaico del Centenario’ (Centenary Mosaic).
On the last step of the staircase of the Church of Santa Maria della Libera you will find the tabulae lusoriae engraved on marble. This is a curious chessboard used by the Romans for a game very similar to ‘filetto’.
Taste the traditional abbottapezzent, a typical fresh pasta with beans enriched with pork rinds and cheese. Also not to be missed are the typical patan’ agl ‘ort, a dish made with potatoes and liver sausage. Among desserts, try the Pigna, a leavened cake similar to a ‘panettone’, made with sultanas, candied fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, aniseed and a little liqueur.