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The Monti Ausoni and Lake Fondi Park: caves, cork-oak forests, and ancient wines
Spanning the provinces of Latina and Frosinone, the Monti Ausoni and Lake Fondi Regional Natural Park encompasses several municipalities, and helps to protect some of the most diverse natural sites in southern Lazio. For centuries this area served as a watershed between the Kingdom of Naples and the Papal States—a historical border that has left still-legible traces across the landscape today.
Features of the park
In the heart of the park, Lake Fondi blends fresh and brackish waters, serving as a vital stopover for over 150 species of migratory birds. Not far away lies the underground world of the Pastena Caves (Grotte di Pastena) and Collepardo Caves (Grotte di Collepardo), which rank among the best-known speleological complexes in Lazio. Nearby is the Pozzo d’Antullo, a massive karst sinkhole hidden amidst the greenery. The landscape changes again in Camposoriano, featuring dolines (more sinkholes) and limestone spires dominated by the rock formation known as "The Cathedral". The San Vito Cork-Oak Forest (Sughereta di San Vito) in Monte San Biagio is one of the largest in Italy. Higher up, the Temple of Jupiter Anxur in Terracina offers a panoramic view stretching from Mount Circeo to the Pontine Islands.
Fauna, trails, and local products
The park is inhabited by species such as the wolf, edible dormouse, and hazel dormouse. It boasts a network of trails suitable for hiking or mountain biking. The local gastronomy reflects the territory's geography: the Fondi blonde orange, the traditional produce of Monte San Biagio, and ancient wines such as Caecuban and Falernian, celebrated thousands of years ago by writers in ancient Rome.
