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• Title of the Guide to the Monuments published by the Archeoclub D'Italia: author Antonio Ribezzo, President of the Ferentino branch

  The town of Ferentino (Lazio) is spearheading an ambitious project to promote tourism to the area, centred around the excavation and restoration of the 2^nd century AD Roman Theatre, which lies in the heart of the citadel near the Casamari Gate in the old city walls. Mayor Antonio Pompeo has announced with satisfaction that the Ferentino project has been selected against stiff competition to receive a 1.5 million euro grant from the Italian Ministry of Culture in order to carry out the necessary work. At the moment, the theatre is only partially visible. When it was first discovered a century ago, it lay buried under an orchard and a house had been constructed over the stage and backstage area. Archeologists and restorers estimate that it will take a couple of years to give the fully restored 54m-diameter theatre back to the town, transformed into a safe and suitable venue for theatrical and musical events.

Ferentino has a very ancient history, dating back to pre-Roman times, and is one of the five so-called “Cities of Saturn” that dominate the region known as “Ciociaria” after the typical footwear once worn by the population.

Saturn, originally under the form of Cronos, was the god of agriculture and according to legend the period of his reign was the mythical “Golden Age” before the domineering Jove/Jupiter took over.

Like its sister cities - Anagni, Alatri, Arpino and Atina – all beginning with an “A” (Ferentino's original name was Antino) in the cluster of Saturn, Ferentino was originally built by an ancient population known as the Hernicians, constructors of the massive “Cyclopic” walls that stretch for 2.50 km and encircle the entire historic centre.

These walls are built of colossal stone blocks, so enormous that it was originally believed they were constructed by giants, or Cyclops, rather than men. Seven monumental gates give access into the town, with the Porta Casamari opening onto the old consular road towards the south. On the hillside under the gate there is a unique funeral monument dating from the 2^nd century AD. It is inscribed with the last will and testament of the Roman dignitary Aulus Quintillius Prisco, and states that he bequeaths his lands and property to the citizens of Ferentino, with the specification that every five year, on his birthday, the 9^th May, a portion of the income derived, divided between cash, mead, bread and nuts, should be bestowed on the townspeople. Apparently his wishes were followed up till recent times.

Ferentino boasts the largest number of monuments and Roman epigraphs of the area, with a collection of over 150 Latin inscriptions relating to eminent citizens of the Roman era. A living town, it has evolved over the centuries, without losing its original imprint within the city walls. Some urbanistic disasters have been avoided, such as the replacement of the Romanic 11^th century Cathedral on the Acropolis dedicated to the martyred brothers saints John and Paul, which is one of the town's most fascinating medieval churches, with a beautiful 12^th -13^th century cosmatesque pavement in coloured marbles set in intricate mosaic patterns. During the 19^th century the local bishop, Bernardo Maria Tirabassi, decided to do away with the “old” church and build a bigger and more prestigious one on the site. Fate, however, intervened. The bishop died in 1865, funds ran out and Rome was conquered by Garibaldi in 1870, greatly reducing the power of the Popes. All that Bishop Tirabassi managed to do was build the monumental porch that was to have been the entrance to the grand new church. The columns and the empty arch have been left, towering like follies on the western side of the Duomo Square.

Text & Photos by MARGARET STENHOUSE

Info: www.archeoclubitalia.org ufficiosindaco@comune.ferentino.fr.it