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Colle San Magno: the Ciociaria village born from a fleeing population
Colle San Magno is a small village in Ciociaria. It takes its name from Magnus of Anagni, a saint and martyr. Its story begins with an escape - and that alone makes it different.
A village born from the cold
In the 11th century, the inhabitants of Castrum Coeli, a castle on top of Monte Asprano, couldn't take the cold and the paucity of water anymore. They came down the hill to where the village stands today. From there the hamlet passed on to the D'Avalos Marquises, then to the Duke of Sora Giacomo Boncompagni, and then to the Kingdom of Naples in 1796.
What to see while strolling around
The Torre Civica (Civic Tower), built in the 13th or 14th century and restored after the 1984 earthquake, is one of the village’s oldest buildings. In Piazza Umberto I - the traditional gathering spot for the locals - there is an artistic fountain from 1928, neo-imperial in style. The parish church is dedicated to the patron saint (St Magnus), while the Museo Vivo della Memoria (Living Memory Museum) recreates the bombings of World War II through audio, video and artefacts donated by the local community.
The Kiss of the Madonnas and local flavours
On Easter Monday, two processions set off from Castrocielo and Colle San Magno to meet on Monte Asprano, in front of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo. The statues bow to each other: this is the Kiss of the Madonnas.
What to eat
The area is known for its prized truffles, the pride of the village. Traditional dishes include frionza, a bread and vegetable soup, and pagliette, sweet ring-shaped biscuits.
