A wonderful day tour just South of Rome

Anagni is one of Italy’s most important hidden jewels, unknown by the majority of mass tourists. The city lies just a short distance south of Rome, however it is a city with very long history, excluding prehistoric settlements that date back hundreds of thousands of years, the first pre-Roman era tribe known to inhabit the “Acropolis” of “Anagni” were the “Hernici” a tribe formed by other nearby tribes that migrated and settled there.

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From the beginning of the known history of “Anagni” the area was considered by the ancient inhabitants, to be one of the “Saturnias” founded by the god “Saturn”.  The city remained a prominent religious center throughout its history, from the conquest of the city by the Romans following the battle with the “Hernici” in 306 B.C. throughout medieval times.

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In Roman times “Anagni” maintained its status as an important religious center and was a popular resort area for several Roman emperors.  Following the Roman empire came the church,  where “Anagni” was the birthplace of four popes and had become a center of Papal power outside of Rome, particular historic events made “Anagni’s” mark on history as pope “Boniface VII” had quite a spat with the King of France “Philip IV” regarding the king’s order to tax the church provoking a strong reaction by the pope that declared supreme power over and above all, including the king of France, obviously the king did not take this siting down and organized and expedition to have the pope removed, as a consequence “Anagni” was attacked and the pope was held prisoner for 3 days but released afterwards, during the siege it is know that the famous “Slap of Anagni” occurred, when one of the King’s men “Sciarra Colonna” slapped the pope in the face with his “Gauntlet” which is the glove of an armoured suit.

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Today “Anagni” is a well conserved medieval center with important structures such as the Cathedral of “ Santa Maria Annunziata” and its frescoed crypt, better known as the “Sistine chapel of Anagni” along with other important medieval structures the city has a unique charm and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside were they produce some of Italy’s best wines the “Cesanese del Piglio DOCG” which is a wine lover’s treasure.