The small burg of Cave, at an altitude of 900 metres, is surrounded by the chestnut groves of the Prenestini Mountains. Once a fiefdom of the Colonna Family, today it preserves the remains of one of the oldest medieval castles in Lazio.
Monumental Nativity Scene in Cave, Madonna with Child – www.museolorenzoferricave.eu
In Cave, the Village of Cribs, the event “Presepi Aperti” takes place around December 8. We are talking about a long weekend of shows, concerts, artistic and gastronomic experiences. The Village of Cribs hosts a Monumental Nativity Scene by Lorenzo Ferri from 1100 in the basement of the former Convento degli Agostiniani, part of the Museo Civico Lorenzo Ferri. This artistic nativity scene, with its nine imposing statues over four metres high, is the tallest one in the world. The artwork can be visited all year.
Inside the former Convento degli Agostiniani, we can also pay a visit to the Museo della Civiltà Contadina, which displays 1300 objects and tools testifying the everyday life of the farmers.
Church of San Carlo Borromeo, Caffè Corretto Literary Prize – Facebook @premioletterariocaffecorrettocittadicave
Cave is located on the Prenestina – Casilina Route of the Southern Via Francigena.
In June, in the Church Closter of San Carlo Borromeo, the literary contest “Premio Letterario Caffè Corretto” is organised.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Campo is a single nave absidated church standing in the Campo area. The site takes its name from the battlefield, in which the Romans and the Prenestini fought against the Volsci and the Ernici in 267 B.C. The Church, which once housed the Byzantine fresco of the Enthroned Madonna with Child and Saints Peter and Paul, was abandoned due to barbarian invasions, and the fresco was only recovered on April 27, 1655.
Hit by terrible misfortunes, such as plague, earthquakes and cholera, the inhabitants of Cave and the pilgrims relied on the Virgin, still celebrated today on April 27. In 1880, the Madonna del Campo was proclaimed Patroness of Cave, together with San Lorenzo, to whom another church is entitled. The fresco of the Enthroned Madonna with Child is now preserved in the crypt of the Sanctuary, reachable by a staircase halfway up the nave.
Gnocchi a co’ de Soreca – Massimo Pichi @ Hotel Institute Rosario Livatino di Cave
In Cave, we can appreciate typical dishes from the peasant tradition, such as wild boar ham, gnocchi a co’ de soreca (long dumplings), and hand-whipped walnut meringues.
Villa Clementi in Cave
The name of the village comes from the tuff and breccia quarries already existing in the ancient times of the Prenestini and the Romans. The site was a summer holiday destination for the Romans, because of its healthy water sources, such as the ancient spring of Santo Stefano in the Parco Naturale Villa Clementi. These beneficial waters favoured the growth of chestnut, walnut, and hazelnut trees. In the early twentieth century, Cave chestnuts were exported to France, the country of the renowned marron glaçes.
Chestnut Festival and Typical Cave Products – Facebook @SagraDellaCastagnaCave
In Cave, the Festival of Chestnuts and Local Products is celebrated on two weekends, at the end of October. For almost 100 years, people in the old village have been tasting the Marrone (Chestnut) PAT di Cave, the typical gnocchetti a sassetto (small pebble-shaped dumplings), and the Serpetta, the “S” shaped biscuit. The festivities continue with two peculiar races in honour of the Chestnut, the Bicicastagnata, a 45 km cycling race, and the Corricastagna, a running competition. Finally, the cooking contest “Castagna d’Oro – Cantina d’Oro – Kilo d’Oro” is held.