Upper Ciociaria, the magic of a land summed up in its name

Upper Ciociaria, the magic of a land summed up in its name

Upper Ciociaria - Alta Ciociaria: in philosophy it is said that you have to give a name to things so that they exist, so this magical territory south of Rome and north of Frosinone, rich in charm and with a magical past, for years did not have its own identity until someone named it: Upper Ciociaria - Alta Ciociaria.

Upper Ciociaria - Alta Ciociaria: in philosophy it is said that you have to give a name to things so that they exist, so this magical territory south of Rome and north of Frosinone, rich in charm and with a magical past, for years did not have its own identity until someone named it: Upper Ciociaria - Alta Ciociaria. I love it, this is my home. This is where my family, which arrived years ago from the north, has taken root. Here we have planted the vineyard for the Cesanese del Piglio DOCG wine and new olive groves of the delicate and precious rosciola olive. Here is home. Alta Ciociaria was the center of life in the Western world in the Middle Ages until the slap of Anagni, when France snatched the papacy from us for a few years. And if we want to close our eyes and find ourselves in the Middle Ages, just walk through Anagni or go to Vico nel Lazio, still surrounded by a perfect wall with 24 towers where poetry can be read in the murals of the historic center and modern sculptures are inserted into history. No, Alta Ciociaria did not stop at the past but the contaminations between modern and history are alive and make it even more intriguing. But even earlier, this is the land chosen by the God Saturn to found his cities with cyclopean walls that compete in beauty with those of Peru. Alatri, Ferentino, Segni, Arpino leave you speechless for their charm and mystery. Who was able to create these walls by moving boulders of a few tons?   And we lived between history and mythology, immersed in magical tales such as the one that the great herbal tradition of the Carthusians of the magnificent Trisulti of Collepardo, and of historical enterprises like that of Sarandrea, derives directly from the teachings of the centaur Chiron. And perhaps the centaur is still hiding in the famous caves or in the mysterious Well of Antullo, one of the geological and naturalistic surprises to visit absolutely. Words are not enough to explain what the eyes and the senses perceive in an instant. Try to see how many experiences you can have in nature by going to Bosco di Paliano where music and contemporary art blend with traditional outdoor activities for children. And then comes the history of Rome. Retracing the ancient Casilina Way that led to Capua (Casilinum) we find the remains of villas on the left and right of its path and examples of very particular architecture such as the Ferentino old roman market. And then the Upper Ciociara is also the well-being of the body. The thermal baths of Ferentino today are the place where traditional and naturalistic medicine meet to restore balance to the body, while the spas of Fiuggi are in the wishes of all young couples. Do we want to talk about sport? For partisan spirit I would start from equestrian sports: in the Arcinazzo highlands international competitions are held and training between these routes is a real luxury. It is useless to tell the passion for horses that has its maximum expression in our Horse Museum - Horse Museum which in Paliano (www.horsemuseumfoundation.org) collects over 1,500 objects relating to horses and which we exhibits at major international events. And in addition to climbing on Monte Scalambra and paragliding descents, as well as trekking and biking on historical paths and ways, Fiuggi was the home of golf in Italy with its course born in the 1920s that today hosts players from all over the world. Try the clubhouse cuisine to find out what deep roots and innovation means. Sustainable cuisine: a concept but also a taste experience that for over 30 years has promoted one of the greatest Italian chef-philosophers, Salvatore Tassa, awarded a Michelin star. E se andate a fare questa unica esperienza gustativa nella sua Colline Ciociare ad Acuto, chiedete a Salvatore di parlarvi del Cesanese del Piglio DOCG. Nella sua cantina li ha tutti ed è diventato vicepresidente della Strada del Cesanese. Ma siate sicuri di dedicargli qualche minuto perché le sue parole entrano direttamente nel cuore: parole di amore per questa terra e per le infinite sfumature di sapori che vi farà scoprire. Questa è l’Alta Ciociaria e per fortuna faccio parte del progetto della DMO che la sta raccontando. Non potevo essere nel posto migliore per valorizzare e far conoscere questa terra che è anche la mia. Abbiamo presentato la DMO Alta Ciociaria (https://www.altaciociaria.it) il 3 ottobre a Fiuggi nei suggestivi locali della Fonte Bonifacio (solo per ricordare che papa Bonifacio e Michelangelo si venivano a curare i calcoli con la miracolosa acqua di Fiuggi). Seguiteci sui social per rimanere incantati. And if you go to have this unique taste experience in his Colline Ciociare in Acuto, ask Salvatore to tell you about the Cesanese del Piglio DOCG wine. He has all the brands in his cellar and has become vice president of Strada del Cesanese Association. But be sure to dedicate a few minutes to him because his words enter directly into your heart: words of love for this land and for the infinite nuances of flavors that he will help you discover. This is Upper Ciociaria - Alta Ciociaria and luckily I am part of the DMO project that is telling it. I could not have been in the best place to enhance and make known this land which is also mine. We presented the DMO Alta Ciociaria (https://www.altaciociaria.it) on October 3 in Fiuggi in the suggestive rooms of the Fonte Bonifacio (just to remember that Pope Bonifacio and Michelangelo came to cure the stones with the miraculous water of Fiuggi). Follow us on social networks to be enchanted. And don't worry if you have some sin to pay for: just go to Veroli and go to the Holy Stairs to cleanse your soul. Then you will be free to participate in the Fasti Verolani, one of the most animated and special festivals in the Upper Ciociaria and in Italy!


Written by:
Claudia Bettiol

Engineeer, futurist, joint founder of Energitismo and founder of Discoverplaces. Consultant for the development and promotion of the Touristic Development of Territories specialising in...

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