A short history of Ferentino

Horace, famous roman poet in the Augusta age, invited your friends to go on holiday in Ferentino: “Si te grata quies et primam somnus in horam delectat, si te pulvis strepitusque rotarum, si laedit caupona, Ferentinum ire iubebo; nam neque diitibus contingunt gaudia solis, nec vixit male, qui natus moriensque fefellit”(Horace, Epist. I, 17, 6-10)

Ferentino,  View – photo by Pietro Scerrato

On your hill Ferentino looks at the Valley where flows Sacco river.

Romans conquered on 361 BC the Town to control Via Latina (now: Via Casilina). Ferentino was loyal ally of the Romans always.

In the Middle Age was into the Patrimonium Sancti Petri and became diocese immediately subject to the Holy See. During this period many Popes visited the Town: Pasquale II, Eugenio III, Alessandro III, Innocenzo III; also Kings and Emperors, because Ferentino was an important and strategic nod to dominate a large portion of southern Latium and through its control it was possible to rule the circulation of men and goods.

Illustration of Via Latina in Tabula Peutingeriana (12th AD) Ferentino in the image is indicates by two small houses

In 1144 Ferentino suffered from Norman sacking. Henry Hohenstaufen in 1186 besieged the city; but in 1197 spent seven days at this city peacefully.  

In the Middle Age were built many wonderful churches and palaces in Cistercian style.