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The Village

In the heart of the medieval village of San Donato Val di Comino, amidst stone alleys and mountain silence.
Here the light slowly slides over the ancient houses and opens onto the landscapes of the Comino Valley, on the edge of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.

San Donato Val di Comino is a charming town located in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region, with a population of 2,107. This town has an ancient and rich cultural history, dating back to the Samnite period, and today it is an important tourist destination, classified among the most beautiful villages in Italy.

In 2004, San Donato Val di Comino received the prestigious "Orange Flag" from the Touring Club Italiano for its hospitality and the quality of its events. The official citation for this award is its compact and well-preserved urban layout, the historical and cultural itineraries in the historic center, the attention paid to street furniture and public greenery, and the variety of accommodation and restaurant facilities available.

San Donato Val di Comino is located within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, and is one of the main crossing points from the Lazio to the Abruzzo side, thanks to the Forca d'Acero pass, an Apennine pass located at 1,538 meters above sea level.

According to some sources, the origins of San Donato Val di Comino can be traced back to the history of Cominium, a Samnite outpost destroyed in 293 BC by Roman armies. The presence of an initial sanctuary dedicated to San Donato dates back to 304 AD, the year of the martyrdom of the then bishop of Arezzo. The territory was subsequently ruled by the Lombards, and the first document recording the presence of the town's toponym dates back to 778 AD.

In the local dialect, San Donato Val di Comino is called "Sande Renàte" or "Sandrënnàte," while in neighboring towns it is known as "Sandënàtë." The history and culture of this place are a treasure waiting to be discovered, and San Donato Val di Comino offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience of history, nature, and local traditions.

What to visit

Discover the timeless beauty of San Donato Val di Comino through two incredible itineraries that will lead you to discover the historical, architectural, and cultural riches of this enchanting village.

Explore the Ancient Village

The first itinerary immerses you in the magic of the ancient village of San Donato Val di Comino. A labyrinth of cobbled streets and picturesque squares that retain the beauty of a bygone era. Admire the ancient churches, stone buildings, and fountains, which bear witness to the millennia-old history of this enchanting place. A journey through time that will make you feel as if you've been catapulted back to the Middle Ages.

Historical-Cultural Itinerary: An Immersion in History

The second itinerary is a true immersion in the history of San Donato Val di Comino. Along this route, you'll find informational panels that will guide you through the centuries of events and transformations that have shaped this village. You'll discover the legends, traditions, and hidden secrets that make San Donato such a unique place. This itinerary is ideal for those who want to delve deeply into the history and culture of this fascinating village.

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Ancient Village Route

1 - Porta a Greco
2 - Plague Spuort'
3 - Colle Square
4 - Spuort' of the Origins
5 - Sanctuary of San Donato
6 - Medieval Tower of the Counts of Aquino
7 - Arch of San Donato
8 - Cathedral
9 - Quadrari Palace
10 - Annunziata Street
11 -Largo Lago
12 - Via Belfiore
13 - Spuort' dell'Alluvione
14 - Carlo Coletti Square
15 - Spuort' by Fra Tommaso
16 - Stone of San Bernardino
17 - Via Maggiore
18 - Convent
19 - Piazza IV Novembre
20 - Villa Grancassa
21 - Liberty Square
22 - Bourbon Mines of King Ferdinand
23 - German Rock
24 - Forca d'Acero Pass
25 - San Fedele Fountain and Megalithic Walls

Twentieth Century Route

1 - House of the Fascist Party
2 - Stories from the Civil War
3 - House of Cesidio Perruzza
4 - Mazzola Workshop
5 - Sanctuary of San Donato
6 - Medieval Tower of the Counts of Aquino
7 - English Tower
8 - Set of the Film Carmen
9 - Essex Road
10 - Air raid shelters
11 - Gentile Inn
12 - Residence of the Levi Family
13 - Rectory
14 - Via Duomo
15 - Gaudiello Hotel
16 - Old Town Hall
17 - Via Maggiore
18 - Shoah
19 - Museum of the 20th Century and the Shoah
20 - Vincenzo Piselli's House
21 - Liberty Square
22 - House of Giuseppe Coletti
23 - School Building
24 - Cellucci Palace
25 - Piazza IV Novembre
26 - Sipari Palace - Massa
27 - Tenenbaum family residence
28 - Residence of Geltrude and Osvald Adler
29 - Tempesta Palace
30 - Carlo Coletti Square

Not to be missed

22

Bourbon Mines of King Ferdinand

The Royal Mines of King Ferdinand are a site of historical, industrial, and geological importance located in the mountains surrounding the town of San Donato.

23

German Rock

During the Second World War, the Comino Valley was located directly behind the Gustav Line, a band of elastic defenses that ran from Monte Cassino to Monte Cairo and the Mainarde.
5

Sanctuary of San Donato

Initially built as a small abbey dependent on the Abbey of Montecassino, the Sanctuary was first mentioned in 778 AD by the Duke of Spoleto.
16

San Bernardino Stone

The Pietra di San Bernardino, also known as the Pietra dello Scandalo, is an important historical site located in the town of San Donato Val di Comino.
4

Spuort' of the Origins

The Spuort' delle Origini is a unique historical and cultural attraction. The alley below, with its well-preserved wooden beams, offers a charming atmosphere for visitors.

25

San Fedele Fountain and Megalithic Walls

The San Fedele area in San Donato Val di Comino is home to the fascinating polygonal walls, a historical site of great value.

3

Castle Gate

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1

Clock Holder

The Porta Orologio, located at the entrance to the medieval village, is a historical monument dating back to 1200 and represents an important example of fortified architecture. 

7

Arch of San Donato

The Arch of San Donato is one of the most important attractions of the medieval village of San Donato.

Museum of the Twentieth Century and the Shoah

The Museum of the Twentieth Century and the Shoah offers visitors a fascinating interactive journey through the history of the Second World War.
15

Spuort' by Fra Tommaso

The Spuort is a fascinating attraction that tells the story of Thomas of San Donato, a 16th-century Capuchin friar considered “in the odor of sanctity.”.
6

Medieval Tower

The Medieval Tower, located in the highest village, is a unique attraction for tourists seeking a spectacular view of the Comino Valley.

Cathedral of San Donato

The Cathedral of San Donato, dedicated to Santa Maria and San Marcello Papa, is a wonderful attraction located in the heart of the city.

Spuort' of the flood

The “Spuort' dell allluvione’ is a historical attraction that tells the story of the devastating flood that occurred in 1798.

Marozzi Alley

Vicolo Marozzi is a place steeped in history and tradition, named after one of the first families to populate this village.

Giustino Quadrari Square (formerly Tolosa Square)

Piazza Giustino Quadrari, located near the Duomo, was originally known as Piazza Tolosa and later named after the scholar Giustino Quadrari two years after his death in 1871.

Arch of the French

The Arch of the French in San Donato Val di Comino is a monument that evokes the history of the past. In 1799, the French garrison established itself in the alley called Rua and controlled the entrance to the town.

Other attractions nearby

Melfa Gorges

Lake Posta Fibreno is a natural wonder located on the southwestern slope of the Marsica Mountains, bordering Abruzzo.

John Paul II Waterfall

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People's Field

Exploring the stunning mountainous region of Casalattico, adventurers and nature lovers will find themselves immersed in a land rich in history and natural resources.

Lake Posta Fibreno

Lake Posta Fibreno is a natural wonder located on the southwestern slope of the Marsica Mountains, bordering Abruzzo.

Cantelmo Castle

Cantelmo Castle in Alvito is an old fortress located on top of a hill overlooking the Alvito plain.

Forca d'Acero Wilderness Area

Forca d'Acero is a mountain pass located in the Abruzzo Apennines, at an altitude of 1,538 meters above sea level.

Vicalvi Castle

The Lombard Castle of Vicalvi, located on the top of the hill overlooking the Abruzzo Apennines, is a historic tourist attraction in the Comino Valley.

Academie Vitti Museum

This museum was created to preserve and transmit the historical-cultural heritage and materials of the private atelier of the same name in Paris, which was one of the liveliest art studios in Paris from 1889 to 1914.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Canneto

This religious building has a long history, dating back according to tradition to 293 BC. It features a mixture of architectural elements dating back to different eras.

Prati di Mezzo Wilderness Area

This plateau, located at the base of the evocative Cime delle Mainarde, represents the natural border between Lazio and Molise, and is located on the Lazio side of the Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise National Park.

Ducal Palace Cantelmo

Built in 1350, the Palace has a quadrangular plan in Gothic style with two towers on the corners of the eastern side and a 5-meter high façade, adorned with a large pointed arch door and elegant mullioned windows on the main floor.

Bagpipe Museum

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Boncompagni Castle

Boncompagni Castle is an imposing architectural complex that is currently a well-preserved national monument.

Big Waterfall

The Cascata Grande of Isola del Liri is one of the few waterfalls located in the historic center of a city, unique in Italy and Europe.

Cicero's Tower

The Tower of Cicero is an ancient building located on the Acropolis of Arpino, also known as Civitas Ciceroniana.

Abbey of Montecassino

Its foundation dates back to 529 by Saint Benedict of Norcia, who settled in that remote place with other monks from Subiaco.

Casamari Abbey

The history of the Casamari Abbey begins in the 10th century, when a group of Benedictine monks, followers of Domenico da Foligno, settled near Arpino.

Museum and Crypt of the Cathedral of Anagni

The Anagni Cathedral Museum is a place with an ancient history and rich in material legacies of human history dating back at least to the 11th century.

Falvaterra Caves and Rio Obaco

The Falvaterra and Rio Obaco Caves Natural Monument is an area of great speleological and geological interest, located in the municipality of Falvaterra.

Lake Cardito

Lake Cardito, also known as Lake Selva, is located in the Ciociaria region, between the municipalities of Vallerotonda and San Biagio Saracinisco.

Charterhouse of Trisulti

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Fumone Castle

Fumone Castle is a historic jewel located on an 800-meter hill, offering a privileged view of the Sacco Valley and the majestic Via Latina, the ancient road that connected Rome and Naples.

Acropolis of Alatri

The Acropolis of Alatri, an imposing cyclopean construction dating back to pre-Roman times, stands majestically as the city's oldest and most revered monument.

Campoli Meadow

The enchanting Prato di Campoli, located in a picturesque valley between the Ernici Mountains, appears as a vast, flat meadow surrounded by one of the largest beech forests in Europe.

Are you thinking of visiting San Donato Val di Comino?

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San Donato Val di Comino, Italy