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Roccagiovine Castle: The Fortress, Roman Poets and Republican Rebels
Arriving in Roccagiovine, it is the Castle of Roccagiovine that immediately catches the eye, dominating the village from above. Its true distinguishing feature, however, is something else entirely: embedded in its outer walls is an ancient marble slab. It is a bas-relief from the Roman era, testament to a temple dedicated to the goddess Vacuna, celebrated by none other than Horace and Pliny the Elder.
A History of Lords and Statutes
The fortress was built in the 14th century. The Orsini family shaped its history for a long time, taking possession of it in 1315. Their dominion, which began with the statutes dictated by the first lord, Giovanni, lasted until 1632, when the fief changed hands.
The Tree of Liberty
After passing through various owners, the castle came into the hands of the Marchesi del Gallo in 1821. It was in those very years that the village became the cradle of a small republican uprising. The year was 1849. A young local man, Giuseppe Ruffini, uprooted a large chestnut tree, together with his followers, and carried it into the village as a Tree of Liberty.
Reminders in the Square
No trace remains of that tree today. In its place, a fountain donated by Alessandro del Gallo preserves its memory. One need only look for the plaque, placed right there, which still bears the name of Giuseppe Ruffini in lasting memory of that revolutionary act.
