Santi Cosma e Damiano: History between Sanctuary and the Monti Aurunci

Santi Cosma e Damiano reveals its historical character particularly clearly in the centre: the Santi Cosma e Damiano Sanctuary dominates the historic centre and Piazza Tommaso Rossi. Its present-day façade is based on a design by the architect L. Bruzio and differs markedly from the 17th-century façade destroyed during the Second World War. The architecture itself also offers a detail worth a closer look: its elements refer to the number three and may symbolically allude to the Holy Trinity.

Sanctuary and Church Art

The Sanctuary contains statues of the saints made of poplar wood in the late 18th century. They were created by an unknown artist from the Campanian school. The baptistery of the Santi Cosma e Damiano Sanctuary also frames an oil painting by the local painter Gianni Espositore (1950–1992), depicting the Baptism of Jesus.

The older church history includes the Chiesa di San Martino. Around the 10th century, the dukes of Gaeta built a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist on the site of the present-day church. Its history is intertwined with numerous properties belonging to the Abbey of Montecassino; in later centuries, it became a Benedictine cell. The historic artworks of the Chiesa di San Martino were destroyed during the Second World War. They were replaced by a painting created in 1952 by G. Quadroni depicting Saint Martin, as well as a dramatic fresco of the Crucifixion in the apse created by Aldo Falso.

Just outside the historic centre lie the ruins of the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso along the old mule track.

Torre Ventosa and the History of Ventosa

The Torre Ventosa stands on the hill of Ventosa, a medieval Romanesque-style tower with a square ground plan. It was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The tower is 24 metres high and made of limestone. Its function is not explained by a walled fortress complex: the Torre Ventosa was not protected by walls, as it mainly served to monitor the northern area and observe possible dangers from Coreno, Cardito and Aurito.

It contains a cistern supplied with rainwater through a brick rainwater drain, which served the locality as an important water resource for a long time. The structure therefore represents not only observation and defence, but also a practical historical solution for managing water.

Ventosa is also associated with the history of Stramma processing. This craft was the oldest and most important occupational activity in the village of Ventosa and for a long time represented a distinctive local characteristic. Stramma grows wild in the Monti Aurunci and is collected in winter, from November to the end of May. Traditionally, Stramma threads made from seven Stramma meshes were used to stuff chairs, demijohns and other objects. The regional term thus remains connected with the landscape, the season and its craft use.

River Landscape, Route and Festival Culture

Santi Cosma e Damiano is touched by the waters of the Garigliano River. At the same time, the town lies on the Appia-Pedemontana-Direttice route in the southern section of the Via Francigena.

A distinctive festive tradition is the Carnevale Campagnolo, the official carnival of the municipality of Santi Cosma e Damiano in the province of Latina. During the Carnevale Campagnolo, festively decorated floats travel along Via Francesco Baracca to the award ceremony in Piazza Campomaggiore.

For access by people with disabilities, the Santi Cosma e Damiano Sanctuary has a lift.

More Destinations

If you would like to extend your trip to Italy beyond Santi Cosma e Damiano, you can also find Foce Verde, Borgo Bainsizza, Castellonorato, Pulcherini, Norma, Latina, Tre Colli and Sperlonga.

For the higher-level travel overview: Latina.