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Castelforte: from medieval Keep to the baths of Suio
Castelforte is the easternmost municipality in the province of Latina, close to the border with Campania. Perched on a hill of the Aurunci Mountains overlooking the Garigliano Plain, the village is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards. The polygonal walls enclosing the old town point to ancient origins — and on the flat land below, traces of Roman villae rusticae and baths still remain.
From Porta Cianca to the Keep
You enter through Porta Cianca, named after the slaughterhouse it once housed. From there, stairways and narrow lanes lead up to the Mastio, the main tower built directly on the rock. Signals were sent from here to the towers of Suio and Ventosa for the spotting of approaching invasions. Beside it, at the highest point, stands the Church of San Giovanni Battista (St John the Baptist), dating back to 1000–1100 AD, almost completely destroyed during World War II along with its bell tower.
The Gustav Line and a Gold Medal
The town paid an extremely high price during the conflict: as a nerve centre of the battle to break through the Gustav Line, it was nearly levelled by Allied bombing. Today the Gustav Line – Garigliano Front Museum preserves that memory. Castelforte was awarded the Gold Medal for Civil Valour.
Spas and local products
A few kilometres away, Suio Terme offers sulphurous waters already known to the Romans — Pliny and Lucan both mentioned them. Local products include: Colline Pontine PDO olive oil, oranges, Pane Cafone and Piccelatiegli, a savoury dough with cloves and cinnamon, fried and traditionally linked to Christmas.
