This little town has a place in the history: in 1867, in the Agro Romano Campaign for the liberation of Rome, supporters of Garibaldi for the unification of Italy passed through it. We are in Vallinfreda, a small municipality close to the capital.
Artistic and religious treasures are the main tourist attraction here. The Parish Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, built in the 16th century, houses an altarpiece painted by Romanino (15th-16th centuries). Also worth visiting is the house where the Blessed Diego Oddi, was born. He lived at the beginning of the last century in the Convent of the Friars Minor of Bellegra and was Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1999 in a solemn ceremony in the Basilica of St Peter’s. There is a War Memorial erected by the “National Association of Families of Casualties of War” in the town cemetery, which marks the end point of a path dotted with little inscriptions of the names of citizens who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and the places where they fell. In the Oratory of the Santissimo Crocefisso, frescoes dating from the 15th century can still be seen.
Those who love excursions amid green natural beauty will find, in Vallinfreda, Le Aie, a natural phenomenon at the highest point of the village, with seven levels of terracing. This is the starting point of various footpaths that allow one to discover the forest of the Grotta del Re Pipino, which, on account of its excellent position and full view of the Cavaliere plain, is said to have been used by King Pepin, son of Charlemagne, when he passed through Vallinfreda. It is also possible to ascend Mount Aguzzo and follow the nature trail La Tiglia, featuring a pleasant walk along a mountain path, affording the most stunning views.
Not-to-be-missed local specialities: Doughnuts made with wine, amaretti biscuits, tisichelle [savoury doughnuts] and the cioncone bean.