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Roccagorga in the Lepini Mountains: the miracle of the roses and strawberry grapes in October
Roccagorga, located 110 km from Rome on a rocky spur of Mount Nero in the Lepini Mountain range, boasts medieval origins and a nickname that remains popular today: "Borgo Madonna" (The Madonna Village). The historic centre developed around the Doria Pamphili Baronial Palace, which was originally a medieval fortress before being transformed into a noble residence. Today, it houses the Ethno-Museum of the Lepini Mountains and the "Il Tarlo Baronale" hostel.
Its churches and the miracle
The village is dominated by the Church of the Saints Leonard and Erasmus, built in the 16th century and plundered in 1798 by French troops, who spared only the bust of St Erasmus. The Church of the Madonna delle Rose (Our Lady of the Roses) contains a Madonna and Child painting, donated in 1875 by German Nazarene painter Franz Johann Heinrich Nadorp. This church is the setting for the miracle of Sister Claudia De Angelis: while travelling through the Lepini region, she stopped to pray here, and shortly after, her spiritual father found fresh bouquets of roses that had miraculously appeared on the altar.
Trails, snails, and strawberry grapes
Near the village is the Hermitage of St Erasmus, standing 850 metres above sea level. It dates back to the 11th-12th centuries, and comprises a sanctuary and a monastery. For hiking enthusiasts, two main trails branch out: the Sentiero dell'Ulivo-Arco (Olive-Arch Trail) and the Sentiero del Leccio-Eremo (Holm Oak-Hermitage Trail). Local delicacies include strawberry grapes (uva fragola), celebrated every October with a dedicated food festival.
