Discover Ferentino: Walls, Churches and Places of Remembrance

Ferentino combines a long history with impressive buildings, sacred art and places of remembrance. The polygonal walls are particularly characteristic: they form a ring of walls approximately 2.4 kilometres long and preserve construction phases from the 4th century BC, the 2nd century BC and the Middle Ages. Anyone wishing to plan a trip to Italy focused on culture, architecture and historical details will find numerous starting points here for their own exploration.

Ancient traces around the Acropolis

The Avancorpo is located on the Acropolis, a terrace approximately 170 by 80 metres in size, enclosed by polygonal masonry. The structure forms part of a Roman project from the time of Sulla, dated approximately to the years 100 to 80 BC. This makes it possible to see in one place how different eras stand side by side in Ferentino’s cityscape.

Other historical testimonies include the Testamento di Aulo Quintilio Prisco, a document carved into the natural rock in the 2nd century AD, and the covered Roman Market. It was built in the 2nd century BC and consists of a large elongated room with five square shops opening onto it. The Roman Theatre also dates from the 2nd century AD. The Acropolis Cryptoporticus complements the ensemble with a four-armed corridor and concrete barrel vaults. Its central area contains three rooms; it also houses the permanent exhibition “Il Valore della Memoria”.

Churches, Monasteries and Art

The Cathedral of Santi Giovanni e Paolo stands on the Acropolis and was consecrated in 1108. The Abbazia di Santa Maria Maggiore has a different architectural character and is considered Ferentino’s first cathedral. The Gothic Cistercian church has a rectangular ground plan with three naves and walls made of dressed travertine from Ferentino.

For a deeper exploration of the area’s religious art, the Diocesan Museum in the Bishop’s Palace is an excellent choice. Its collections include portraits of bishops, archival documents, maps, removed frescoes and paintings attributed to Cavalier D'Arpino. Medieval murals with figures of saints from the school of Pietro Cavallini have been preserved in the Monastery of Sant’Antonio. Today’s Santa Chiara Monastery was consecrated on 12 October 1760; its church has an elliptical interior. It also houses the relic of the heart of San Pietro Celestino.

Further sacred testimonies are spread throughout the city’s history: San Pancrazio was built before 1066 and has a fountain and an old access staircase in its exterior area. San Valentino preserves a bell created by Andreotto Pisano in 1298 and 16th-century frescoes removed from the former church of Sant’Andrea. The present-day church of Sant’Ippolito was built in 1780 with a single nave. Santa Lucia, an early Christian church built approximately in the 9th century on the remains of Roman houses or baths, contains a fresco from 1585.

Places of Remembrance and Special Excursion Interests

The Casa della Memoria is a memorial path between the remains of a building bombed during the Second World War. The path was inaugurated on 25 April 2003. Those interested in more recent history can mentally connect this place with the older walls, churches and Roman structures without conflating the different eras.

The surrounding area also opens up further topics. Ferentino is one of the municipalities within the Lago di Canterno Regional Nature Reserve. The historic Terme Pompeo complex is associated with the history of hot and cold baths, medical care, showers and a thermal pool; the therapeutic properties of its waters were already known in Roman times. On 30 April and 1 May, Ferentino celebrates the feast of its patron saint, Saint Ambrose, with cultural, musical, artistic and folkloric events.

Ferentino as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

When looking for accommodation, you may wish to consider Ferentino particularly if historic architecture, ecclesiastical art and ancient structures are the focus of your trip to Italy. Allow enough time for different themes: the polygonal walls and the Acropolis appeal to travellers interested in archaeology, while the Diocesan Museum and the churches offer a different way of approaching the city’s history.

If you would like to compare other places from the same broader selection, you can also look at Piglio, Giuliano Di Roma, Foresta, Castro Dei Volsci, Pico, Esperia, Fontechiari and Roselli.

For the broader travel overview: Frosinone.