Filettino: Aniene Springs, Mountain Trails and Culture

Filettino combines an impressive mountain landscape with churches, museums and traces of history. The Fiume Aniene rises in Fiumata in the municipality of Filettino. At the same time, the ZSC area IT6050029 Sorgenti dell'Aniene, with priority habitats as well as endemic and threatened species, including wolves, spectacled salamanders and newts, is one of the defining natural features of the surrounding area. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Filettino can therefore tailor their stay to very different interests: mountain trails and springs, art and history, or a combination of both.

Springs, Summits and Trails

The landscape can be explored through various trail ideas. The Percorso 694b hiking trail begins in the centre of Filettino and leads towards Monte Viglio. Monte Viglio is 2,156 metres high and the highest summit in the Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Simbruini. From Filettino, it can be reached via trail 694b, which is rated EE by the CAI. You should take this classification into account when planning your individual day.

For a different type of trail, consider the paths starting at Le sorgenti dell'Aniene - Fiumata. The path on the left climbs for 4 kilometres, with an elevation gain of around 170 metres, to the slopes of Colle delle Fontane at 1,269 metres. The path on the right follows the Torrente Riglioso to the vicinity of Fonte della Radica at 1,169 metres and is around 3 kilometres long. The two descriptions help you distinguish between a longer route with an elevation gain and a shorter route along the water. The 2,015-metre-high Monte Cotento also rises above the settlement of Filettino. Belvedere del Cotardo offers another view of the landscape: a viewing terrace overlooking mountains, valleys, forests and Filettino.

The responsibilities concerning Lago del Pertuso are also clearly described: The spring is located in Filettino, while the lake and dam belong to the municipality of Trevi nel Lazio. This distinction is helpful for finding your way around the area.

Churches, Walls and Everyday History

Filettino has several distinct cultural attractions. The Chiesa di San Nicola is the oldest church in Filettino and stands outside the town walls near the municipal cemetery. The Chiesa S. Bernardino is located below the current seat of the municipal administration. Its apse contains frescoes from the second half of the 15th century. The Museo parrocchiale di arte sacra “Don Alessandro De Sanctis” in the Chiesa di San Bernardino also displays furnishings, liturgical vestments, works of art and liturgical silver.

The Chiesa di San Giovanni contains a fresco from the Umbrian-Marche school dating from around 1500. It depicts the enthroned Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child in her arms. The Museo dell’Arte e Civiltà contadina “Angela Cotoloni” on the first floor of the Palazzo Graziani offers a different perspective on the past. Objects, documents and testimonies there convey everyday life from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century.

The Mura Saracene are located 3 kilometres outside Filettino on the road between Trevi and Filettino. The structure is 37 metres long, up to 7 metres high at its highest point and clearly Roman. The Parco Naturale Regionale dei Monti Simbruini also contains boundary stones from the 19th century. They marked the former border between the Papal States, to which Filettino belonged, and the Kingdom of Naples.

Experiences for Different Types of Travel Days

The Infiorata del Corpus Domini adds a seasonal tradition to the permanent cultural attractions: Floral carpets depicting scenes from the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are usually created for the occasion. At the visitor centre of the Parco dei Simbruini, the exhibition “Gli Animali del Bosco” illustrates the lives of the park’s animals. Those wishing to plan winter activities can visit Campo Staffi, a ski resort in Lazio. It has two cross-country skiing circuits with a total length of 10 kilometres.

For travel planning, Filettino is connected to Campo Staffi and the nearby towns of Trevi nel Lazio and Altipiani di Arcinazzo by COTRAL services and a shuttle service operated by A.T.L. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore first decide which experiences should be the focus: trails starting in the town centre, nature at the Aniene springs, historical sites or the connection to Campo Staffi. This keeps your search for a holiday apartment or holiday house oriented towards your desired travel itinerary.

Other places you can include in your research are Pico, Ferentino, Broccostella, Atina, Frosinone, Pontecorvo, Fossò and Falvaterra.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Frosinone.