Ausonia Among Churches, Marble and Monte Fammera
Accommodation in Ausonia
Ausonia combines medieval architecture, sacred art, marble tradition and a distinctive mountain landscape. The result is a destination where historic details are just as important as experiences in nature and regional specialities.
Churches and the Medieval Centre
The Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo is considered Ausonia’s oldest monument. It was built between the late 12th and early 13th centuries over an existing temple dedicated to the cult of Hercules. The church is a three-aisled basilica; pillars separate its aisles. Despite extensive destruction, the historic centre has also retained its medieval appearance.
The Santuario della Madonna del Piano, also known as Santuario delle Fratte, is a 15th-century building. Its crypt preserves a fresco cycle dating from the Benedictine period. The central chapel also houses the fresco “Miracolo di Remingarda”, based on a local legend, as well as a venerated polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna and Child.
Museum, Palazzi and Marble
Since 2004, the medieval castle of Ausonia has housed the Museo Demoantropologico e della Pietra. Its exhibition is divided into four sections: “Parole di Pietra”, covering human communication; social and political history; stone-working tools; and the apotropaic significance of stone.
The centre is also home to 18th-century palazzi with elaborately decorated portals, bifora windows, twisted columns and arabesque-style cornices. Ausonia is one of Italy’s most important centres for marble processing and produces Perlato Royal, a marble unique of its kind. In several places, “Triplici Cinte” can be seen on thresholds and walls near the oldest churches; they are regarded as a symbol traditionally attributed to the Templars for marking particularly sacred sites.
Nature and Hiking on Monte Fammera
For nature and outdoor activities, the Pineta di Selva Cava offers a different landscape: across approximately 27 hectares, heather and rockrose, typical shrubs of the Mediterranean maquis, shape the scenery. The pine forest lies at the foot of Monte Fammera in the Parco Naturale dei Monti Aurunci and has trails for hiking in nature. The Parete del Monte Fammera protected area features a vertical rock face and a karst landscape with sinkholes, clearings and forests.
The CAI 914 hiking trail leads from Selvacava in Ausonia to Monte Fammera. The route is 4.7 km long, takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, and is considered suitable for experienced hikers. The quarries of Ausonia are regarded as a cultural and scientific attraction. They reveal how the seabed transformed into mountains and how marine organisms remained preserved in fossilised rock.
A Regional Speciality
The regional culinary tradition includes Marzolina, a soft, seasoned goat’s cheese with a very intense flavour. It was traditionally produced in March; the milk comes from goats in the Monti Lepini, Monti Ausoni, Monti Aurunci and Valle di Comino. The name is also derived from March. When choosing a hotel for your stay in Ausonia, you can plan your days around the different highlights of culture, nature, geology and regional flavours.
More Destinations for Planning Your Trip to Italy
Gallinaro, Frosinone, Paliano, Fossò, Amaseno, Villa Santa Lucia, Atina and Sora
For the main travel overview: Frosinone.
