On the Lazio side of the National Park of Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise, on the borders with both Abruzzo and Molise, one of the only five municipalities of Lazio region presenting this feature, the little town of Picinisco gently lies on Mount Meta and its existence is already recorded in 1017: the town had probably been already inhabited by the Sannites and later conquered by the Romans, as evidenced by some inscriptions and remains of polygonal walls.
Walking through the alleys of the old town centre, developed within the city walls, you can recognize the fortified medieval layout, with the Castle, the most imposing building, dominating the highest part of it. The Castle, built in 1054 by the Counts of Marsi and later passed onto the Counts of Aquinas, the Counts of Cantelmo and finally to the Gallio family, is a rectangular building surrounded on one side by the houses of the village, with the streets and squares overlooking the valley. Porta Rione is the main and best-preserved access gates of the Castle, with the towers and a part of the ramparts almost intact.
Refurbished in the 13th century by the Counts of Cantelmo, it is a real fortress, with a large fortified tower and smaller towers on the corners, still visible today as originally built.
Going through the gate of Porta Rione, you can reach the square bearing the same name and cross it to walk into the street named after an illustrious citizen of Picinisco, the Italian writer Giustino Ferri; walking along this street, which crosses the entire town, head towards Piazza Fucina to pass by the writer's birthplace and stop in the enchanting little square where the Church of San Lorenzo Levita and Martyr is located: the building, dating back to 1305 but featuring an 11th-century bell tower, which probably was an old military watchtower, houses a pipe organ built by the famous Cesare Catarinozzi in 1739.
On the Lazio side of the National Park of Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise, on the borders with both Abruzzo and Molise, one of the only five municipalities of Lazio region presenting this feature, the little town of Picinisco gently lies on Mount Meta and its existence is already recorded in 1017: the town had probably been already inhabited by the Sannites and later conquered by the Romans, as evidenced by some inscriptions and remains of polygonal walls.
Walking through the alleys of the old town centre, developed within the city walls, you can recognize the fortified medieval layout, with the Castle, the most imposing building, dominating the highest part of it. The Castle, built in 1054 by the Counts of Marsi and later passed onto the Counts of Aquinas, the Counts of Cantelmo and finally to the Gallio family, is a rectangular building surrounded on one side by the houses of the village, with the streets and squares overlooking the valley. Porta Rione is the main and best-preserved access gates of the Castle, with the towers and a part of the ramparts almost intact.
Refurbished in the 13th century by the Counts of Cantelmo, it is a real fortress, with a large fortified tower and smaller towers on the corners, still visible today as originally built.
Going through the gate of Porta Rione, you can reach the square bearing the same name and cross it to walk into the street named after an illustrious citizen of Picinisco, the Italian writer Giustino Ferri; walking along this street, which crosses the entire town, head towards Piazza Fucina to pass by the writer's birthplace and stop in the enchanting little square where the Church of San Lorenzo Levita and Martyr is located: the building, dating back to 1305 but featuring an 11th-century bell tower, which probably was an old military watchtower, houses a pipe organ built by the famous Cesare Catarinozzi in 1739.
Walking past the stately buildings with charming facades and large stone-carved portals, reach Piazza Fucina, the square featuring a beautiful sundial and offering a tremendous view on the valley. Going back to Via Giustino Ferri, you can head towards the heart of the town, crossing what today is its main entrance gate, Porta degli Orologi, the Clocks Door. You will find yourself in Piazza Ernesto Capocci, the square looking like a large terrace overlooking the picturesque landscape of the Comino Valley, surrounded by Palazzo degli Orologi and the church of San Rocco, built in 1500 and initially dedicated to San Carlo Borromeo, later on to Madonna delle Grazie and, only in 1800, to San Rocco.
To visit the oldest religious building in town, leave the town centre and follow the directions for the cemetery, where the Church of Santa Maria is located: the building, whose construction was already recorded in 1110, was built following a very elegant Romanesque architecture and probably founded on the remains of an ancient necropolis and now treasures an interesting fresco dating back to the 14th century.
Having the old town centre as your starting point, you can explore the surrounding area and the small, charming hamlets that are part of the municipality and discover many little gems such as the pretty Victorian villa, featuring an Anglo-Saxon style not usually seen in the area, dating back to the early 20th century and still known today as Casa Lawrence, Lawrence House, as named after the English writer D. H. Lawrence who lived there in 1919. It is said that, inspired by the town and its charming landscapes, he there conceived and wrote his novel entitled The Lost Girl, published in 1921 and in whose pages, it is possible to recognize the landscape of Picinisco.
The building shows today its original style after the restoration works paid by the current owner, the Pacitti family: it is developed on two floors, with the ground floor used as a farm restaurant, and the upper floor featuring two bedrooms, a living room and a museum corner. Inside the dining rooms there is a small library where a collection of the works by Lawrence is displayed both in Italian and English.
Picinisco is not only an excellent destination to live the memory of historical events among the old parts of the town and on the hill where the castle sits, but offers many opportunities for outdoor activities in every season, such as hiking on the trails that wind through the National Park of Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise, in the woods and along the streams located nearby the town, rock climbing on the Morge del Corvo, a beautiful cliff surrounded by woods, and winter skiing in the ski area of Prati di Mezzo. Prati di Mezzo.
"Living Villages" chain of the Ciociaria-Valle di Comino DMO:
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