Broccostella

The whole area was known by the Romans, but the village of Broctus, now known as Broccostella, dates back to the Middle Ages with the first reports from 702, when it was conquered by Gisulfo, Duke of Benevento. In 1062 it was occupied by the Normans and its location at the border between the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples gave it a strategic role such that in 1230 it was devastated by the troops of Frederick II of Swabia.

After being governed directly by the Holy See, in 1445 it came under the rule of Cantelmos, then the Della Rovere and Boncompagni-Ludovisi that bought in 1579 and held it until the eighteenth century. In 1798 it was sacked by the French troops.

The current name was adopted in 1954 and combines two villages, Brocco and Madonna della Stella along the road Sferracavalli to Sora and Cassino.  Pignataro, a local district is known for a clay quarry called Cretaro, which enabled terracotta potmaking to be established. Works from the Cretaro artisans can be found in the Museo delle Tradizioni Popolari in Rome. Of interest is that Broccostella gave birth to a famous tenor, Evan Gorga who sang the role of Rodolfo in the premiere of Puccini's 'La Bohème', directed by Arturo Toscanini.