The municipality of Casalattico is in Ciociaria, located about 400 metres above sea level on Mount Cairo and nestled in the Comino Valley.
In Roman times, the area was already populated, as evidenced by the Roman bridge and road connecting Casalattico with the other side of the Melfa river. It took its toponym from the illustrious citizen Pomponius Atticus, Cicero’s brother-in-law, who owned a villa in today’s hamlet of Montattico.
The small village of Casalattico is divided into two parts: the lower part encloses the old village, the upper part is more modern.
Visit the Parrocchiale with some valuable paintings by the Polish painter Taddeo Kuntz and the Neapolitan School of Santafede, the 16th-century artists who had their workrooms in Casalattico. From the hamlet of Montattico, evocative walking routes lead to the Obachelle and Marro massifs.
Casalattico – foto www.comunedicasalattico.it
Casalattico has experienced strong emigration, mainly to England, Ireland, France, Germany and Latin America. On 15 August, the Festa dell’Emigrante (Emigrant’s Festival) is celebrated in Casalattico, a chance to come back to life in the village. Among the most famous emigrants is Carmine Forte, or Lord Charles Forte, who lived in Great Britain and became the owner of a well-known chain of hotels and restaurants. Charles was awarded the title of baronet by Queen Elizabeth.
A visit to the Museum of Rural Civilisation and Milling is an opportunity to rediscover the rural life of local ancestors.
The local gastronomic tradition sees the primacy of ‘abbuot’, roast lamb rolls with giblets, and the handmade Sagne with beans cannellini beans from Ciociaria.