Pofi: History, Prehistory and Local Specialties

Pofi combines a prominent location on the summit of a hill considered to be an extinct volcano with historic buildings, prehistoric finds and a lively culinary tradition. Those planning a trip to Pofi can therefore discover the town according to their interests—through its culture, history, festivals or specialties. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, the key factor is which of these aspects you want to shape your stay.

Between the Castle, Churches and Historic Entrances

The Castello Baronale was restored around 1300 by Filippo Colonna. Today, it is normally closed and opens to the public during certain events. The Palazzo baronale dei Colonna also represents the reconstruction of large parts of the old castle. In this way, Pofi refers to its fortified past in several places, even though not all historic areas need to be accessible at all times.

Another notable building is the Chiesa Santa Maria Maggiore. It was first mentioned in a document in 1108, when it stood within the castle fortifications. The present-day church has a central floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross and six chapels. It is regarded as an expression of the 18th century without excessive Baroque embellishment. Another historic entrance to the old town is the Porta del Melangolo. The Torre dell’Orologio is a 36-metre-high Romanesque tower that was converted into a bell tower.

Prehistory at the Museo Preistorico di Pofi

The Museo Preistorico di Pofi offers a special perspective on the town. It presents evidence of prehistoric humans in inland southern Lazio, and the exhibition tour extends into the Neolithic period. The collection includes the skull of the Uomo di Ceprano, discovered in 1994 and also known as “Argil”. The Museo di Pofi also displays human remains from Cava Pompi, attributed to the Uomo di Pofi and dated to between 400,000 and 350,000 years ago.

For your visit, you should take the stated opening hours into account: the Museo Preistorico di Pofi is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. This makes it possible to plan a museum visit specifically as part of a weekend itinerary. Those travelling with children or in a larger group can organise their stay around different interests: historic architecture, the church interior and prehistory each offer their own way of discovering Pofi.

Via Francigena del Sud and Festivals Throughout the Year

Pofi is the seventh stage on the Prenestina–Casilina section of the Via Francigena del Sud. This classification also makes the town interesting for travellers who plan their journey around a longer sequence of stages. In addition, several festivals add their own seasonal highlights. The Festa dei Fiori takes place on the last Sunday in April. Sapori d’Autunno is celebrated over two days in November and includes traditional dishes, dances and folk songs. The Sagra della Pizza Fritta takes place at the beginning of August.

Local Cuisine as Part of the Journey

The culinary traditions give Pofi a profile just as distinctive as its buildings. Stracciatella in brodo is part of the Christmas menu and was formerly served at wedding banquets and at Easter. To make pizza fritta pofana, dough is prepared from lukewarm water and flour and then deep-fried in oil. During Carnival, spiral-shaped frappe made from eggs, sugar and flour are prepared in Pofi and also deep-fried.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

For further searches, you can also visit Roccasecca Stazione, Falvaterra, Castrocielo, Posta Fibreno, Frosinone, Ferentino, Vallommari and Paliano.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Frosinone.