Perched on a hill dominated by Mount Asprano, in the Parco Naturale Regionale Monti Ausoni e Lago di Fondi, the gateway to the splendid Gole del Melfa, Roccasecca, owes its fame to many illustrious figures.
Today, the village is divided into four districts: Centro, Castello, Caprile, and Roccasecca Scalo. In the hamlet of Caprile, on the slopes of Mount Asprano, stand the rock Church of San Michele Arcangelo and the Hermitage of Sant’Angelo in Asprano, at the foot of the cliff where the Castle of the Counts of Aquino once stood.
A panoramic view of Roccasecca
From the ruins of the Castle on a rocky ridge of Mount Asprano, it is possible to enjoy a 360-degree view of the Liri Valley and the woods of the Ciociaria. The castle from the tenth century was founded in 994 by the Abbot of Montecassino as a defensive bastion against the Lombards. According to a centuries-old tradition, Saint Thomas was born in the castle, known today as Saint Thomas’ House.
Roccasecca, the birthplace of Saint Thomas
The building, located in the medieval district of Castello, boasts a monumental pointed arch bearing the inscription THO(mas), a trefoil mullioned window and a single lancet window with pointed arches.
The Church of Saint Thomas Aquinas – Photo by Stefano di Stefano
Roccasecca lies on both St. Benedict’s Way and the Southern Via Francigena. Its ancient historic centre hosts the Church of St Thomas, with its frescoes from the 1400s, and the three-naves Church of Santa Maria.
The Castle of the Counts d’Aquino and the Torre del Cannone – www.roccaseccaturismo.it
It is said that Saint Thomas Aquinas was imprisoned in the watchtower, or the Torre del Cannone. Other noteworthy monuments are the Church and Convent of San Francesco, Palazzo Boncompagni, and the Church of Santa Margherita.
The Gole del Melfa
Not to be missed are the Gole del Melfa, whose rushing waters create the small river between Casalvieri and Roccasecca, descended by the most daring canoeists.
The Big Bench No. 408 in Roccasecca – photo IG bigbenchcommunityproject
The Big Bench No. 408 offers one of the most impressive 360° panoramic views from Mount Camarda, which embraces, in addition to the Liri Valley, the Castle of Saint Thomas, Colle San Magno, and even the Island of Ischia.
A square and a statue at the entrance of the train station are dedicated to the illustrious figure of Totò, the great Neapolitan actor, particularly tied to the town. Unforgettable is his speech as the mayor of Roccasecca in the movie “Il Medico dei Pazzi” from 1957, and his role as the parliamentary candidate Antonio La Trippa, a local native, in Sergio Corbucci’s film “Gli Onorevoli”.
Another prominent figure from Roccasecca is the great maestro and composer Severino Gazzelloni, an internationally renowned flautist nicknamed “The Golden Flute”. Every year, throughout August and September an important international Festival is held in his honour and the winners are awarded in November with the prizes “Giambattista Creati” and “Terra di Severino”.
The Frionza, a typical dish
Among the gastronomic specialities, the traditional Frionza soup with broccoletti stands out. This renowned vegetable is celebrated with a Festival held in early December. A famous local product is the PDO bell pepper, or Cornetto, from Pontecorvo in Lower Ciociaria. At the end of October, the district of Borgo Castello hosts the event “Le Cantine de ‘na Vota”, a journey in the past in with tastings of local wines and traditional recipes.