Ferentino lying on the top of a hill in the Ernici Mountains, in the province of Frosinone, boasts a panoramic view of the Valle del Sacco. The small town is known for its rich springs, from which splendid thermal baths originate, and for its noteworthy, perfectly preserved archaeological remains, such as the imposing polygonal city walls.
Ferentino, overlooking the Valle del Sacco
Of particular interest are the extraordinary Cyclopean Walls, enormous defensive bastions built with colossal dry-stone blocks, an unusual, astonishing technique.
The large stone blocks of Ferentino city walls
The megalithic walls of Ferentino, remained intact after over two thousand years, gave birth to several myths and legends. Among these, the construction of the mighty walls by gigantic creatures, the Cyclopes, hence the name Cyclopean Walls.
The ancient city walls of Ferentino – Photo by FB Pro Loco Ferentino
In addition to the well-preserved city walls, we can visit the Acropolis, with its imposing forepart, and the Porta Sanguinaria, a gate through which those condemned to death accessed to reach the execution site below, as well as the double-arched Porta Casamari.
Ferentino, rich in art and history, also boasts numerous monuments and churches. In the Imperial era, the town was a favourite destination for nobles, attracted by its exceptional location, cool climate, splendid villas, water springs, and the fifty-four-metre-diameter Roman Theatre, which could host up to 3,500 people.
The testament of Aulus Quintilius Priscus @ FB City of Ferentino
Among the most important testimonies of the ancient splendour are the Covered Market, the Roman Theatre, and the Testament of Aulus Quintilius Priscus, an important citizen of Ferentino, carved into the rock.
The Cathedral of Saints John and Paul
On the top of the historic Acropolis, stands the Cathedral of Saints John and Paul, with its adjoining garden and seminary. The interior is decorated with thirteenth-century mosaics by the Roman Cosmati masters and houses a Ciborium from the same period and the Paschal Candle.
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore
The thirteenth century Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, founded by Cistercian monks, is, along with the Church of Saints John and Paul, classified as national monument.
Also noteworthy is the Monastery of Sant’Antonio Abate, on the top of the Colle del Fico, founded in the mid-thirteenth century by Celestine V. His remains rested in the church for thirty years, before being transferred to the nearby Church of Sant’Agata, and later to the Abbey of Collemaggio in L’Aquila. In Ferentino, only Celestine’s heart remains, preserved in the Monastery of the Poor Clares. The traditional Palio, or joust of the ring, is celebrated every year in honour of the saint. Twelve knights, divided into teams of three, participate in the competition, representing the town’s four historic districts: Porta Montana, Porta del Borgo, Porta Sanguinaria, and Porta San Francesco.
Other highly anticipated events in Ferentino are the Procession in honour of the patron saint, Sant’Ambrogio, and the Infiorata del Corpus Christi.
The Lake Canterno
The Ferentino area also includes the Oasis of Lake Canterno and the ancient hamlet of Porciano.
The Pompeian Baths, located in a centuries-old park, have been known for its therapeutic waters since Roman times. To Flavia Domitilla, granddaughter of Emperor Vespasian and a native of Ferentino, is attributed the construction of the first spa, but it was in 1854, that the Ferentinian entrepreneur Ambrogio Pompeo conceived the idea of making the spa more accessible by channelling the waters from various springs.