COMUNE DI ROCCAGORGA
Abounding with olive groves and alternating bare and wooden stretches, Roccagorga has conserved certain ancient traditions virtually unchanged, such as that of the large bonfire lit on the night of Good Friday for the procession of Christ. It stands on a small hill at a height of 289 m., a spur of Mt. Nero (548 m.), and is surrounded by Mt. Castellone (1018 m.) Mt. Difesa (923 m.) and Mt. Sentinella (1100 m.). The origins of Roccagorga date from the 9th century, following the destruction of Privernum by Saracens, but it really developed in the late Middle Ages, under the domain of the Counts of Ceccano. The town’s urban structure is fairly linear, along the main thoroughfare which leads to the oldest and highest district. The great Piazza VI Gennaio dates from the 18th century and leads on one side to the Palazzo Baronale, which houses the Etnomuseo dei Monti Lepini; on the other side is the church of SS. Erasmo and Leonardo, built in the 13th cen-tury but altered completely between the 17th and 18th centuries. Also of interest is the ba-roque church of St. Antonio and the hermitage of St.Erasmo, a small chapel situated at a height of more than 900 m. on the site of a spring. The small museum Assi dell’Aeronautica is worth a short visit. The main events include the “Uva Fragola” grape festival and the original “Cornuti” festival with a parade through the streets and tasting of the characteristic “rappaga-cornuti” soup.
www.comuneroccagorga.lt.it
