Fiuggi, Province of Frosinone, Lazio

The town is situated in a green area of majestic chestnut woods, and was called until 1911 Anticoli di Campagna; the new name was taken by the area of the springs, called in local dialect frugi for ferns, a plant which grows in great abundance in the area.

The present town is made up of two separate settlements: Fiuggi Città on a higher position at 747 m a.s.l., which is the more ancient center, and the newer town, Fiuggi Fonte at 621 a.s.l. in the area of the spas, where most hotels and establishments are located.

Info

Altitude: 747 m a.s.l
Population: about 8000 inhabitants
Zip/postal code: 03014
Dialing Area Code: +39 0775
Patron Saint: St Blaise, celebrated on 3 February
Frazioni & Localities: Cimetta, Fonte

History - Antiquity

The ancient name of Anticoli has two different etymologies: the former from Antiquae incolae (in Latin, ancient inhabitants) the latter from Ante Colles (in Latin, before the hills). In the 11th century was mentioned in documents as a possession of the Pope as Anticoli in Campanea (at the time the Church State included two regions, Campagna and Marittima.

Surely the area was inhabited since very early prehistoric times, as shown by remains of stilt huts in nearby lake Canterno. In the 6th century AD there is mention of Felcia, a small mountain center on a natural rock between the ditches called Diluvio and Diavolo. It is still possible to see an ancient door called Portella that led into the citadel, and the street plan reminds of the perpendicular structure of a Roman town.

History - the Middle Ages

From the 12th to the 16th century it was a possession of the Church, and was granted as a fiefdom to a number of different lords, among them Lucrezia, Cesare and Giovanni Borgia until 1503. In 1517 its lord was Pietro Morgani, a captain of Pope Giulio II, who was an unruly, cruel lord finally killed by the population.

A legend tells that he requested the love of young girls of the village, and in case he discovered a poor girl was not a virgin he would throw the unfortunate down a well - the well still exists today, and is called Pozzo della vergine. The legend goes that a widow of the place, Maria Terrinoni, to spare her daughter engaged to Elvezio Maggi killed the lord.

What to see

The "Porta della Portella", leading into the ancient citadel, and, as in Alatri, Ferentino and Veroli, probably was the most ancient entrance into the pre-Roman acropolis.
The Sanctuary of Madonna della Stella, in the area of the marshy Canterno lake, built on the spot where in April 1690 Felicia Colarossi saw the virgin Mary. In the same place a local peasant, Antonio da Alatri, while his cow loaded with pots was drowning in the lake heard a voice and asked for help in mary's name, and the cow was saved; the same voice was heard by a shepherd, Sebastiano Ambrosi, who went into the forest where the voice had come from and saw on a rock an image of the Virgin Mary with the words "Ave Maris Stella".
The Grand Hotel, built in 1910 in the liberty style, which marked the beginning of Fiuggi as a spa resort. Today is a museum and exhibition center.
The church of Santo Stefano, of the 12th century, originally Gothic but renovated in the Baroque style, built according to the tradition over an ancient pagan temple.

Where to stay

Hotels: 5-stars | 4-star | 3-stars | 2-stars | 1-stars
Agritourisms | Campsites.

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Provinces of Lazio

Frosinone | Latina | Rieti | Roma | Viterbo

Surnames in the Provinces of Lazio

Frosinone | Latina | Rieti | Roma | Viterbo

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