On a panoramic hill in the centre of the Valle di Comino, 30 km from Montecassino, the village od Gallinaro benefits from a climate and terrain that, together, determine excellent cultivations and productions.
An agronomist noticed this in the mid-1800s and introduced noble French grape varieties to the Valle di Comino, which adapted perfectly. From these grapes, the Atina DOC is produced today, a red wine of exceptional quality, with a rich and persistent taste.
The same excellence applies to the Cannellini bean of Atina, a PDO product cultivated with passion and expertise, using techniques passed down through generations, and to the Pizzutello plum of Picinisco, known for its sweetness, delicious when freshly picked and used in all classic preparations, but traditionally dried and preserved.
At the highest point of the ancient centre lies the church of San Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista, built into the castle walls. First mentioned in the early 1300s among the nine churches of the village, it was likely just a chapel inside the castle.
In the very late 1500s, the owner of the town donated the castle to the population to build a new church, established as a parish church in 1596. The current structure is from the 18th century and very adorned, boasts a splendid organ with a wooden choir loft, a baroque pulpit and confessional of excellent craftsmanship.
Also highly venerated is the church of San Gerardo, dedicated to the English pilgrim who died in 639 and is the protector of the town.
The typical dishes of the flavourful Ciociara cuisine use local products, PDO such as the Cannellini bean of Atina and the Pecorino cheese of Picinisco, with distinct aromas of mountain pasture grass, sometimes spicy, accompanied by the excellent Atina DOC wine.”