One of the most significant medieval traces in the province of Latina, historically and artistically, but also for the religious and symbolic value, is definitely the Fossanova Abbey, not far from today’s city of Priverno.
Built in the early 12th century, it is the first Gothic-Cistercian abbey in Italy. The building, recently restored, is austere. It has a beautiful rose window, a cloister, a refectory and the tower with the room where Saint Thomas Aquinas lived and meditated, in the last years of his life, having chosen the abbey as a refuge from the travails of the world.
The other medieval traces are located on the coast or in the mountains of the interior: Terracina has wall fortifications, a castle, churches and the cathedral as well as the tower-houses of the upper town, Sperlonga, Gaeta, the district of Sant’Erasmo where the Angevin-Aragonese castle stands.
In the centres of all the hill villages, the original nuclei of the period are still perfectly preserved, including those of Sermoneta, Priverno, Cori, Sezze, Itri, Campodimele.
Rione Monti
In the ranking of coolest places, the first Italian district, in twenty-third place, is the Monti rione. A stone’s throw from the Coliseum, between Via dei Fori Imperiali and Termini station, this place, rich in ancient history and culture, is an indispensable meeting point for Roman nightlife, both for residents and tourists seeking a characteristic place in the city.
In the evening everyone meets in the “piazzetta”(Piazza della Madonna dei Monti), then goes to the most alternative places in the area to enjoy the most elaborate cocktails in the capital. The raw vegan specialties are worth tasting, or the alternative and exotic recipes all made with avocado.
The Capitoline district is also an unmissable destination for vintage enthusiasts, with shops specializing in used clothing and a proper market open every Sunday.