Discover Piglio: Wine, Castles and Cultural Heritage

A trip to Piglio can be planned around specific themes: Cesanese wine culture, the history of its castles and its religious sites. The town lies at the foot of Monte Scalambra, with views of the Valle del Sacco. These details offer a first guide to choosing your destination, while each attraction has its own historical and scenic character. If you are looking for a hotel in Piglio, you could first consider whether wine, architectural history or a connection to pilgrimage routes will shape your stay.

Wine and the Strada del Vino Cesanese

Piglio lies in the growing area of the red Cesanese wine, which has DOCG status. Six routes were created for the Strada del Vino Cesanese as part of Safari d’Arte. They pass through Acuto, Affile, Anagni, Paliano, Piglio and Serrone, and can be accessed through the free Safari d’Arte app or the project’s publications. If you plan to include these routes in your itinerary, check the app or publications before your trip.

The Sagra dell’Uva “Cesanese del Piglio” is also part of the town’s wine history. Its 48th edition took place from September 30 to October 2, 2022, after a two-year interruption due to the pandemic. This date places the edition in the past and provides a specific reference point in Piglio’s festival history.

Castles and Local History

The Castello Baronale is a double-fortified complex comprising the Upper Castle, also called Castello Superiore or Castello Alto, and the Lower Castle, also called Castello Inferiore or Castello Basso. The names therefore distinguish two parts of the complex, not four separate castles. Another historical landmark is the Castello Colonna: it stands at the highest point in town and was built around the year 1000. The Castello Baronale is notable for its two-part layout, while the Castello Colonna is notable for its approximate construction date and its position at the highest point.

San Lorenzo and Madonna delle Rose

The Monastery of San Lorenzo in Piglio was founded by Francis of Assisi. It stands at an elevation of 850 metres, surrounded by forests of elms, holm oaks and laurel trees. The Church of San Lorenzo houses an urn containing the mortal remains of Blessed Andrea Conti. San Lorenzo is therefore notable both for the monastery’s founding history and for the relic in the church.

Another religious site is the Santuario Madonna delle Rose in the southern part of Piglio. It offers views of the valley below. Together with San Lorenzo’s elevation and woodland setting, this gives a varied picture of the religious sites: the details about San Lorenzo bring together the monastery’s history and its trees, while the Santuario stands out for its location in the town and its views over the valley.

Piglio on the Via Francigena del Sud

Piglio is one of the towns along the Via Francigena del Sud, specifically on the Prenestina-Casilina route. This is a different route connection from the Strada del Vino Cesanese: one concerns the pilgrimage route, the other the wine-growing area and its six associated routes. If you are planning your trip around a particular focus, you can distinguish between these themes and decide which connection best suits your interests.

Discover more destinations: Ausonia, Coreno Ausonio, Ripi, Sant'Apollinare, Settefrati, Atina, Foresta, Vallommari

For the regional travel overview: Frosinone.