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Rocca Canterano in the Ruffi Mountains: the Stone Garden and the Chestnut Festival
Located 60 km from Rome, in the Ruffi Mountains, Rocca Canterano stretches along a rocky ridge dominating the Aniene Valley. As one of the smallest municipalities in the province of Rome, it is home to just a few hundred residents. The local Town Hall preserves Roman epigraphs and ancient manuscripts, while paintings are housed in the Church of San Mauro, and the remains of ancient fortifications are still visible within the urban fabric.
The village and the climb to the top
Ascending through the narrow alleys and stairways, visitors encounter the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (St Mary of the Assumption), constructed using repurposed materials from ancient Roman patrician villas, and Palazzo Moretti, built upon the ruins of a 1084 medieval fortress. Flanking the village’s steps, the Stone Garden is a collection of sculptures donated to the community by artist Leonetta Marcotulli. At the summit is Piazza del Forno (Bakery Square), where local women once took their bread to be baked in the communal oven. For those wishing to venture further, a trail leads up to the ruins of the Church of San Michele (St Michael) on the peak of Mount Costasole.
Climbing, trekking, and the "Role" festival
The local cliffs attract rock climbers due to the quality of the limestone and variety of climbing routes. The meadow known as Prato del Merro serves as the trailhead for trekking toward La Retommella. The village also hosts the Sagra della Rola - Festa del Cornuto (Feast of the Roasted Chestnut and the Cuckold): a traditional festival where visitors can enjoy handmade cecamariti pasta, chestnuts roasted on a special slotted pan (rostera), and novella wine, while a satirical procession carrying the horns of St Martin winds its way through the town.
