Castro dei Volsci, the “Balcony of Ciociaria”, with its breathtaking view over the Valle del Sacco, obtained the Orange Flag from the Italian Touring Club and is considered one of Borghi più Belli d’Italia.
Castro dei Volsci, the Balcony of Ciociaria
Here and there in the village, we come across mysterious symbols engraved in thestones, such as the triple boundary walls or the Golgothas, which testify the passage of the Knights Templar. The main pointed arch door in via Porta della Valle leads into the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The Church of San Nicola, founded around the year 1000, preserves remains of impressive medieval frescoes, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. No less interesting is the Church of Sant’Oliva, which, with its beautiful bell tower, soars on the highest neighbourhood, next to the Rocca.
Mamma Ciociara
At the foot of the Rocca, we spot the Monument to Mamma Ciociara, erected in memory of the women raped during the Second World War, and inspired by a mother from the village, who protected her daughters at the cost of her life. Just as noteworthy is the Monumental Fountain.
Archaeological area of Castro dei Volsci
The archaeological area of Casale Madonna del Piano and the Civic Museum of Santa Maria del Piano collect from prehistoric to the early medieval findings. Among them, a Roman Villa dating back to the first century B.C., an Imperial Villa, an early Christian Basilica, and a Necropolis from the 6th – 7th century A.D.
Paolo Panelli, Delia Scala and Nino Manfredi at Canzonissima 1959
“Fusse che fusse la vorta bbona!”
(If only it were the right time!) …
Was the exclamation uttered by Nino Manfredi (1921 – 2004), the world-famous director, actor, and singer, in the role of Bastiano, the bartender from Ceccano, the protagonist of a sketch recited during the song contest “Canzonissima 1959”. Born in Castro dei Volsci, he shot “Per Grazia ricevuta” (by grace received) (1971), his first film as a director, mainly in his homeland, Ciociaria. A permanent exhibition dedicated to the great performer can be visited at the “Centro Culturale Polifunzionale Nino Manfred“, inside the Clock Tower. In 2021, Umberto Cufrini created a bas-relief, in Castro dei Volsci, with the image of the unforgettable artist, on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Castro dei Volsci lies in the Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Ausoni e Lago di Fondi. The park includes several natural monuments and a rich natural heritage in the provinces of Latina and Frosinone.
In 2023, the Cammino della Regina Camilla was inaugurated, a 185 km circular route from Priverno, through twelve villages in the Amaseno Valley, and back. Camilla, the Queen of the Volsci, was the fearless woman warrior narrated by Virgilio in the Aeneid.
The typical alleys of the village
To the Queen of the Volsci, the “Botteghe della Regina Camilla”, the Sunday medieval workshops, are also dedicated.
The traditional Ciociarian cuisine from Castro dei Volsci offers exquisite specialities, such as fettuccine with tomato sauce and rolling pinned lakena, accompanied by the renowned local sausage.