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Rocca Massima: The Highest Village in the Lepini Hills and the Thrill of the Falcon's Flight
Overlooking the Pontine Plain, Rocca Massima is the highest municipality in the province of Latina, an eagle's nest in the Lepini Mountains. People come here above all for the adrenaline rush of Flying in the Sky: a steel cable stretching over 2 kilometres on which you can hurtle through the air at 172 km/h, mimicking the flight of the peregrine falcon.
The Medieval Fortress and the Frescoes
The village grew up around the fortress, built at the behest of the Annibaldi family in the early 13th century. Traces of it remain in the village’s narrow alleyways. Nearby, the single-nave Church of San Michele Arcangelo (Archangel St Michael) preserves in its apse the frescoes painted in 1900 by Aurelio Mariani of Velletri. They depict the four patron saints: St Barbara, St Blaise, St Lucy and St Sebastian. On the high altar, the altarpiece featuring St Michael is a copy of a work by Guido Reni.
Mysteries, Roasted Chestnuts, and Polenta
Beside the zip-line launch platform lies the small Chiesetta del Carmine (Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel). Its history conceals a minor mystery: a Roman funerary urn, once bricked into the wall, has disappeared. Autumn, meanwhile, is occupied by local food festivals. In October, the Chestnut Festival fills the air with the aroma of roasted chestnuts, while at the end of November it is the turn of the Polenta Festival, served with spare ribs and sausages.
It is necessary to book in advance for the Flying in the Sky experience, and the calendar should be checked, as opening times vary with the season. Church opening hours may also be subject to change. For the exact dates of autumn festivals, it is always best to consult the website of the municipality or the local tourist office, so as not to miss these tasty local celebrations.
