GALLINARO

Surrounded by hills on which it is peacefully nestled, the old medieval town of Gallinaro is mentioned in historical chronicles since 1023: just like other villages in the Comino Valley it was a castrum, with houses developed around the castle, whose ownership was passed onto the Counts of Aquino in 1067.

When entering Gallinaro from via Maggiore Galliano, which runs through the town, just at the entrance of the town you’ll find the main church, named after the patron saint, the Shrine of Saint Gerardo the Confessor.

Built in the first half of the 12th century in the exact place where Gerardo and his companions Stephen and Peter were buried after they had died on their journey to the Holy Land, the building underwent many restorations that deeply changed its original appearance. The interiors feature intense decorations consisting of paintings and frescoes, among which the one on the dome is worth of note, made by an artist from the Neapolitan art school in 18th century. The bones of the pilgrim saints were found in 1685 during the repair works of the altar and moved to the Church of San Giovanni where they are kept in three niches behind the main altar.

Keeping walking up along via Maggiore Galliano you can reach the location where the castle once stood and where today is the church of the Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist: the castle was donated to the town by the prince of Conca, Matteo di Capua, owner of the Duchy of Alvito from 1592 to 1595, in order to build a church, which had already been completed in November 1596 according to the chronicles.

When first built, the building was very simple, as witnessed by a stucco representing Gallinaro and displayed in the villa of the Duke Gallio on the banks of the Fibreno river: the Church’s modern appearance is actually due to the restorations commissioned by the priest Saba Bevilacqua, after whom the alley that runs along the church is named.

Leaving the church, you can reach Parco Leonardo, a panoramic viewpoint and the location of Gallinarock festival, a music festival that make this small village come to a new life every time, together with Wine Festival in August, when winemakers gathers for tasting sessions.