Pontecorvo, in the “Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Aurunci”, is the kingdom of the Carnival and the Pontecorvo DOP Pepper.
Pontecorvo
The town was so important that, already in the nineth century, its Castle dominated the Liri River.
It dates back to around 860 A.D., when Rodoaldo, King of the Lombards, erected the castle and the tower near the bridge over the Liri. The village, which probably arose on the remains of a previous settlement, was surrounded by high walls, still visible for about three-hundred metres. Porta Santo Stefano, in the district of the same name, was one of the entrances to the medieval fortress.
The name Pontecorvo originated from the site where the castle was built, Pons curvus, of much earlier construction, but
could also refer to the raven bird, the Benedictine symbol on the village coat of arms, traced back to the Cassino hegemony. Since 1463, for four-hundred years, Pontecorvo has been an enclave of the Papal State in the Kingdom of Naples.
Basilica of San Bartolomeo, photo from Facebook @basilicasanbartolomeo
In the eleventh century, on the ruins of the castle, the Basilica of San Bartolomeo and the adjacent Torre di Rodoaldo, later turned into a belfry, were built.
The Basilica preserved important frescoes attributed to the Cavalier d’Arpino and Baciccia, but, during the Second World War, the building was completely razed to the ground, and then rebuilt in Romanesque style, just like the nearby tower. In the crypt, it is possible to visit the Cathedral Museum and the treasure of San Bartolomeo.
Also worth a visit is the “Museo delle Battaglie” among the greenery of Monte Leuci. Established in 2004, the exhibit is dedicated to the events of the Second World War and displays war relics, photos, old newspapers and other documents concerning those years in which the village suffered heavy attacks.
The ” Museo della Cultura Agricola e Popolare del Tabacco “, photo from Facebook @museodeltabaccodipontecorvo
Pontecorvo is also renowned for the production of tobacco, the flagship of local economy until the end of the last century. The ” Museo della Cultura Agricola e Popolare del Tabacco “ was therefore created in the village. Divided into five parts, it illustrates the cultivation, processing and production of tobacco, as well as the festivals and religious cults related to this product.
A section of the Museum “Pontecorvo e la storia” tells about the tobacco women workers, the tabacchine, and the events that occurred at the time of the smugglers.
The Pontecorvo Historical Carnival – www.comunepontecorvo.fr.it
The unmissable Historical Carnival of Pontecorvo, among the most famous Historical Carnivals of Lazio, was established in 1952. It recalls the ascent of the Liri River by the Saracens and the local crowd shouting, “Let’s kill the Moors”, the encouragement from which the character of Mazzamavere derives. The tradition has been enriched with new figures, such as the Princess, in memory of the gorgeous dancing evenings of the past, that usually ended with the election of a king and a queen.
But the official mask of the Carnival is Burlicchio, a sort of Harlequin with a Pinocchio’s nose and a truncheon in his hand. The beautiful allegorical floats, covered in multicoloured layers of paper, parade accompanied by cheerful masks.
Also worth mentioning is the Feast of the Patron Saint Giovanni Battista, whose very ancient cult is deeply rooted in the tradition of Pontecorvo. In the year 1137, the Saint miraculously saved a farmer, Giovanni Mele, who had been tempted by the devil who promised him a bag full of gold coins, if he had succeeded in crossing the swollen Liri River. San Giovanni Battista asked the farmer to report the event to the Archpriest Grimoaldo, who built a sanctuary on the bank where the Saint had appeared, today’s Cappella di San Giovanni Appare.
The Sanctuary of the Apparizione San Giovanni Battista in Melfi, photo from Facebook @santuarioapparizionesangiovannibattistamelfi
Since 1137, on every second Sunday of May, a pilgrimage is held, starting from the Cathedral of San Bartolomeo and arriving at the Sanctuary.
The religious cult is preceded, the day before, by a pagan ritual, in which a float with the papier-mâché puppets of the devil and the farmer is carried around as a reminder of human fragility and the temptations we can be exposed to.
The Pontecorvo Pepper, a typical DOP product from lower Ciociaria, is particularly appreciated for its thin skin, intense flavour and high digestibility. It is also called Cornetto for its elongated, pointed shape and intense red colour. Raw peppers are suitable for salads, whereas the cooked version is a delicious side dish for cold cuts, meats and cheeses. The Pontecorvo DOP Pepper Festival is held every year in September, during the harvest celebrations.
Pontecorvo is also famous for the cannate, the typical terracotta amphorae with two handles and a drinking spout. These artefacts are baked in the sun according to a technique unique in Italy.
The local coat of arms bears, since 1400, the acronym S.P.Q.F. (Senatus Populusque Fregellanus), being Pontecorvo called Fregellae in ancient Roman times. According to coeval historians such as Livio and Strabone and, later, Volterrano and Sigonio, the town was erected on the ruins of a Roman colony, destroyed by the Romans themselves in 125 BC.
Subsequently, the inhabitants of Fregellae may have moved mostly southwards, settling on a rocky spur overlooking the Liri. In the early Middle Ages, Pontecorvo was much larger than today, reaching up the village of San Giovanni Incarico, much further north.
According to historical documents, a dispute between the villages of Arce and Ceprano to conquer the territory of Fregellae is therefore highly unlikely.
The Big Bench n. 261 in Pontecorvo – Instagram photo @bigbenchcommunityproject
From the Big Bench 261, located within the Monte Menola Park, it is possible to admire the magnificent Montecassino Abbey. The panoramic view extends over the lower Liri Valley, the area of Cassino and the whole southern Lazio.