The Treasures of Ciociaria

Today your private driver will wait for you at the airport to lead you to your hotel in Veroli. This morning you will reach Veroli, a beautiful medieval village in the province of Frosinone. Veroli has been a perfect fit for the Romans since the days of Tarquinio the Superbo. This coalition is evidenced by the Latin inscription "verulana civitas almae urbi Confederate" present on the ancient walls of the city. Free afternoon. Overnight at your accommodation

This morning you will meet your private guide to enjoy e visit of Veroli. The historical center of Veroli is characterized by medieval buildings and many interesting churches such as the Church of Sant'Erasmo. The most important is the Basilica of Santa Sàlome inside which the relics of Sàlome, protector of the city, are preserved. The uniqueness of the basilica is the Holy Stair (Scala Santa) made up of 12 marble steps, built between 1715 and 1740. The penultimate step is partially made up of the wood of the Cross of Jesus. Among the civil architectures, you will admire, however, the remains of the Rocca of San Leucio, dating back to the ninth century, which rises in the highest part of the city. Surrounded by the evocative and naturalistic landscape of Mount Ernici stands the huge Certosa di Trisulti. It is a monastic complex dating back to 1204 and is a paradise for herbalists because about 2,500 species of wild herbs can be found on these mountains. Since the Middle Ages, Carthusian monks prepared liqueurs and medicines such as Sambuca, a tradition so long and important that one of the best European monastic pharmacies is found here. It was totally frescoed between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the eighteenth century the Carthusians decorated the Church, the Cloister with the cells, the Refectory, the Cemetery of the Monks with classicist decorations, Since 1947 the Carthusians were replaced by a new Order, that of the Cistercians of the Casamari Abbey who lived here until to 2017. Since 2018 the monastic complex has been privately managed by the Dignitatis Humanae Institute. Optional tour (not included): Collepardo Caves and Pozzo d' Antullo private guided tour Overnight at your accommodation

This morning you will meet your guide for a visit of Casamari Abbey, built in 1203 and consecrated in 1217. The name derives from a historical and important figure of Ancient Rome: Caio Mario. After the defeat of the Roman Empire, the Benedictine monks came and founded the Abbey. The maximum splendour of the Abbey dates back to the period of Pope Celestine IX and the Trappist monks up to the Empire of Napoleon. Since 1929 the Abbey was elected a monastic congregation and slowly returned to show its beauty and majesty. In June 1957 Pope Pius XII elevated the abbey church to the dignity of a minor basilica. The plan of the basilica is very similar to that of French monasteries. Inside the monastery you can admire a beautiful garden and quadrangular cloister. The cloister leads to the church with its three naves. The windows of the church have alabaster plates instead of glass. The Abbey, in addition to being a place of worship, has also become a place of teaching at the San Bernardo Institute, founded inside the abbey in 1898. Since around 1760, the Abbey also features a pharmacy and liquor store where the monks produced bottles of medicinal herbs and spirits. More recent is the printing house, established in 1954 and where school texts are also printed. After a few kilometers you will reach Boville Ernica, another medieval village surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. You will admire its medieval walls with 18 towers, Renaissance palaces, churches and squares. You will enter into San Pietro Ispano and here you will discover Giotto's Angel and the marble bas-relief of the Madonna del Sansovino. In the beautiful medieval village of Boville Ernica you will enjoy the visit of an oil mill followed by the extra virgin olive oil tasting. Overnight at your accommodation

This morning you will reach Anagni. This fascinating city is also called the "city of the Popes" because 4 popes were born here: Innocent III, Alexander IV, Gregory IX and Boniface VIII. Anagni was also the papal residence and seat for a long time. Here you will meet your guide for a private tour of the historical center and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata. The real jewel of the Cathedral is the Crypt of San Magno with a pictorial cycle of exceptional beauty. Thanks to the richness of the frescoes, which depict scenes from the Old and New Testament, it is also called the "Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages". You will also visit the Pope's Palace where the famous Anagni slap took place in 1303. Sciarra Colonna slapped the Pope and this moment also inspired Dante Alighieri in his masterpiece "Divine Comedy". Before returning to Veroli, you will visit Fumone, a pretty medieval town with its castle. Longhi De Paolis Castle was built between the 9th and 10th centuries and then used as a prison for the State of the Church. Pope Celestine V was also imprisoned here, where he died on May 19, 1296, making his first miracle in death in the place where he lived 10 months. Since then the castle, which had always had characteristics of a military nature, also became a spiritually important place. The castle is also famous for its hanging garden which, with its 800 meters of height, is the highest garden in Europe and is a real terrace on the Ciociaria ". Walking through the alleys of the historic center of Fumone you get in contact with splendid panoramic views and "medieval corner". Optional tour (not included) Piglio – Vineyard and cellar visit with wine tasting Overnight at your accommodation

This morning you will reach the Abbey of Monte Cassino. The Abbey of Montecassino is one of the most famous Abbeys in the world. In 529 St. Benedict chose this mountain to build a monastery that would house him and those monks who followed him from Subiaco. From the cloisters, through the grand staircase to the Basilica, you reach the tomb of St. Benedict and St. Scolastica. Then there is the crypt, below, to be discovered with the beautiful golden mosaics. But it is in the museum that visitors can see magnificent paintings, wonderful manuscripts and ancient books; they can retrace the history of the Abbey from its beginnings to the present day and understand why Montecassino is known as the "Faro of Western Civilization". Today you will reach the charming town Arpino, the birthplace of Marco Tullio Cicerone on 106 a. C. Cicerone was one of biggest lawyer and writer during Roman period. Every year, Arpino pays its tribute to Cicerone with an international competition of latin translation, the Certamen Ciceronianum Arpinas. Students worldwide arrives here and try to win the competition and put leaurel on their head, the symbol of glory. In Arpino your guide will retrace the history of the town and you will visit San Michele Arcangelo Church where admire masterpiece of Cavalier d'Arpino, Caravaggio and Tuscany School. You will also admire Palazzo del “Tulliano”, Palazzo Quadrini e il Palazzo Sangermano. In the main square you will see a portion of the old roman street with stones. Only the winner of the Certamen Ciceronianum Arpinas has the honor to walk along this historical and priceless find. After the visit of the village, your guide will show you the oldest part of Arpino where history mets legends, Civitavecchia di Arpino or Civitas Vetus. Here you will admire the old door of the Acropolis, the pointed arch (4.20 meters high) consisting of overlapping blocks that narrow upwards, cut obliquely inside. In the Middle Ages it was closed in a semicircular bastion,

Transfer from the hotel to the airport to catch your flight to back home.