Ciociaria, Italy: Montecassino, Anagni, Alatri, Fiuggi and Isola del Liri (2026)

Ciociaria, Italy, is the hilly land southeast of Rome that roughly matches the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio. It has a great Benedictine abbey and a medieval city of popes. It also has pre-Roman walls and a waterfall in the middle of a town. However, few international travelers find it, so you will share it mostly with Italians.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Ciociaria at a glance

What and where is Ciociaria?

Ciociaria is not an official region. Instead, it is a traditional name. It covers the land between the Ernici and Lepini mountains and the Sacco and Liri valleys. According to VisitLazio, the official tourism site of the Lazio Region (checked September 2026), the name comes from the ciocie. These were the simple leather sandals, tied with straps, that local shepherds wore. The same source places Frosinone about 80 kilometers from Rome.

Today, most Italians use Ciociaria to mean the province of Frosinone. For the wider picture, see our Ciociaria travel guide and our Lazio guide.

The Abbey of Montecassino

Saint Benedict founded Montecassino around 529 on a mountain above the town of Cassino. Later, it became one of the great centers of learning in medieval Europe. Then, on February 15, 1944, Allied bombers destroyed it during the battles of the Gustav Line. After the war, the monks rebuilt it “where it was and as it was”. Today, the abbey again crowns the mountain.

According to the official abbey site (checked September 2026), the abbey opens daily from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm from April to October. Winter hours are shorter. Also, on Sundays the monks sing a Mass in Gregorian chant. Below the abbey, the Polish War Cemetery remembers the soldiers who fell in the final assault. As a result, a visit here is as much about the 20th century as the Middle Ages.

Anagni, the city of the popes

Anagni was a favorite residence of the medieval popes, and Boniface VIII was born here. In 1303, envoys of the French king attacked the pope in his palace here. Italians still call it the schiaffo di Anagni, “the slap of Anagni”. Today, you can visit the palace.

Above all, do not miss the crypt of the cathedral. Frescoes from the 13th century cover its walls and vaults. For this reason, locals call it the “Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages”. However, opening times for the cathedral museum and crypt vary, so check them before you go. Anagni is also one of the easiest places in Ciociaria, Italy, to reach from Rome.

Alatri and the hill towns

Alatri sits inside a double ring of walls built from huge, irregular blocks fitted without mortar. At the top, these polygonal walls ring the acropolis. The Porta Maggiore is its main gate, and the cathedral stands on the summit. As a result, it is a striking sight even if you know little about ancient history.

Nearby, Veroli is also a quiet hill town with fine views. In addition, the Cistercian Abbey of Casamari, still home to a community of monks, lies in the valley below. Further south, Arpino is the hometown of the Roman orator Cicero.

Fiuggi and its spring water

Fiuggi is a spa town known across Italy for its bottled water. According to Acqua Fiuggi (checked September 2026), the town has two thermal parks. The Fonte Bonifacio VIII park sits in town, in a modern building by the architect Luigi Moretti. Meanwhile, the Fonte Anticolana park has woods, ponds and play areas. At both, you can also drink the water straight from the fountains.

For other spa towns, see our guides to hot springs in Italy and thermal and wellness breaks.

Isola del Liri, the town with a waterfall

At Isola del Liri, the river Liri splits around a rocky island and drops straight into the historic center. According to Italia.it, Italy’s official tourism portal (checked September 2026), the Cascata Grande falls 27 meters. Right above it stands the castle of the Boncompagni Viscogliosi family, which is private. Later, the river powered paper mills, and you can still see old factory buildings around town.

Planning your trip to Ciociaria, Italy

Trains on the Rome–Cassino line stop in the valley below several towns. So you can reach Anagni and Cassino without a car. However, the hill towns, abbeys and waterfalls are spread out, and local buses are slow. So rent a car for a full tour; our guide to driving in Italy explains the rules. For food, look for Cesanese, the local red wine, and homemade pasta in family trattorie, simple local restaurants.

For more castles and small towns nearby, see castles in Lazio and our hidden villages and towns. Finally, if you stay in the capital, compare our day trips from Rome.

Ciociaria, Italy: frequently asked questions

Where is Ciociaria?

It is the traditional name for the area southeast of Rome. Today, it roughly matches the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio.

Why is it called Ciociaria?

The name comes from the ciocie, the simple strapped leather sandals that local shepherds once wore.

Is Montecassino worth visiting?

Yes. Saint Benedict founded the abbey, bombing destroyed it in 1944, and the monks rebuilt it after the war. It combines medieval and World War II history.

Can you visit Ciociaria from Rome in a day?

Yes, for one or two places. Anagni, Fiuggi or Montecassino each work as a day trip. However, a wider tour needs two or three days and a car.

What is special about Isola del Liri?

A 27-meter waterfall, the Cascata Grande, drops right into its historic center, below a castle.