The municipality of Capranica Prenestina is located at about 1,000 metres above sea level, nestled in the Prenestini Mountains. The village is rich in history and art, with alleys, streets, stairways, and small houses huddled together in the typical manner of a medieval fortified castle. The views from the quiet little squares are highly suggestive.
The Sanctuary of the Mentorella is the oldest in Italy dedicated to the Madonna. The Sanctuary is a pilgrimage destination often visited by Pope John Paul II to pray.
A visit to the Natural History Museum of the Prenestini Mountains, housed in the Palazzo Capranica – Barberini, is very interesting. The palace is Renaissance and was built in various stages from the Middle Ages onwards. The Church of Santa Maria Maddalena overlooks a delightful small square with an ancient well made of local stone. The Church’s original ‘cupolino’ (small dome) is the work of the Bramante School. Among the religious buildings, the 16th-century church of Santa Maria delle Fratte is an object of great devotion.
Guadagnolo is a hamlet of Capranica at an altitude of 1218 metres and is ‘the highest village in Lazio’. The rock walls are frequented by sportsmen for climbing. The ‘casette’ are small buildings scattered in the centuries-old chestnut groves where chestnuts, already known to the Romans for their exceptional quality, are dried and smoked. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste all the preparations with the ‘Mosciarelle di Capranica Prenestina PAT’, the local dried chestnuts with a sweet and slightly aromatic flavour. The ‘mosciarella’ festival is in November.
Among the typical Capranica Prenestina culinary specialities, try ‘lane pelose’, fettuccine with bran in mutton sauce.