Arpino, one of the oldest villages in the province of Frosinone, is the birthplace of Cicerone, Caio Marius, Vipsanio Agrippa and the painter Giuseppe Cesari, master of Caravaggio, whose artworks can be admired in the local churches.
It is dominated by the Acropolis, the fortified Civita Vecchia, with megalithic defensive walls, called cyclopean because of their huge size.
Ogival door with pointed arch leading to the Acropolis
The Acropolis is still accessible through an impressive four metres high ogival door with pointed arch, unique in Italy, and built by the Volsci seven centuries before Christ.
The Tower of Cicerone
Do not forget to visit the Tower of Cicerone, from where you can contemplate the enchanting view of the surrounding area.
The defensive burg of Arpino boasts a glorious past. The stronghold belonged to the Volsci, the Samnites, the Romans, and also held out throughout the Middle Ages.
Noteworthy are precious eighteenth-century testimonies, such as the Collegiate Church of San Michele Arcangelo and Palazzo Boncompagni, today’s Town Hall.
Culture and traditions are also promoted by the Certamen Ciceronianum Arpinas, the famous competition in Latin language established in 1980, reserved to high school European students, attending the final year.
Walking through the streets of Arpino, we often come across some pages of the Book of Stone, verses dedicated to the town, carved into stone by famous artists.
The Cannata Race
The Gonfalone di Arpino, a tournament in which all districts take part, takes place in late August. In 2023, the Corsa con la Cannata (clay pot), one of the races held during the Gonfalone days, was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Presepe nella Cannata ad Arpino
Today, the Cannata is considered one of the most characteristic symbols of the Ciociaria region and is also much loved by all communities. The nativity scene maker from Arpino, Gino Palma, even used it to house the Nativity. The artwork is on display, along with other nativity scenes by the artist, in the Church of Santa Maria di Civita during the Christmas period.
Arpino has conquered the Orange Flag, a prestigious recognition awarded by the Italian Touring Club for the quality of tourism-environmental development.