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Torre di Cicerone (Cicero’s Tower) in Arpino: the Middle Ages guarding the Cyclopean walls
Cicero’s Tower dominates the acropolis of Arpino, in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of Lazio. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries, it is the highest and oldest point of the town, and takes its name from Marcus Tullius Cicero, who was born here in 106 BC.
Standing 30 meters tall and mostly intact, it remains a medieval symbol of the area and a landmark for those exploring these hills.
The Cyclopean walls date back to the 7th–6th centuries BC, and were built dry with enormous stone blocks. The pointed arch of the medieval gate rests directly on these megalithic stones. The tower was built in the Middle Ages as a military control structure. There is a striking architectural contrast: the Middle Ages on top, pre-Roman history below.
Cicero’s Tower can be reached on foot from the town in about 15 minutes. The structure preserves the ancient arched entrance and the original arrow slits. It has a quadrangular plan measuring about 16 meters on each side, and is on two floors.
Visitors can walk along a section of fortified wall just a few meters wide, with an open view over the Liri Valley. The breathtaking view explains why this was such a strategic location: on clear days, the silhouettes of the Apennine hills can be seen.
