Discover Pofi

Pofi sits atop a hill considered to be an extinct volcano and is the seventh stop on the Prenestina–Casilina section of the Via Francigena del Sud. Historic buildings, the Museo Preistorico di Pofi, local cuisine and the festival calendar are useful starting points for planning your trip.

History and historic buildings

The Porta del Melangolo is one of Pofi’s historic gateways to the old town. The Torre dell’Orologio is a 36-metre-high Romanesque tower that was converted into a bell tower. The Palazzo baronale dei Colonna is a reconstruction of large parts of the old castle.

The Castello Baronale was restored around 1300 by Filippo Colonna. It is normally closed and opens to the public for certain events. If you are planning a visit, check before your trip whether the Castello will be open for an event.

The first documented mention of the Chiesa Santa Maria Maggiore dates to 1108, when it stood within the castle fortifications. The present-day church has a central plan in the shape of a Greek cross and six chapels. It is regarded as an expression of the 18th century without Baroque excess. The town’s architectural history therefore brings together different periods: the church’s early documented mention, its present architectural form and the Castello’s restoration around 1300.

Prehistory at the Museo Preistorico di Pofi

The Museo Preistorico di Pofi presents evidence of prehistoric humans in inland southern Lazio. The exhibition spans a period reaching back to the Neolithic, giving the collection a broad chronological scope.

The museum preserves 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. These two points of reference—a named skull and remains from a specific find site—make Pofi’s prehistory more tangible.

The Museo Preistorico di Pofi is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Check opening hours before your visit.

Cuisine and festivals throughout the year

In Pofi, stracciatella in brodo is part of the Christmas menu; in the past, the soup was also served at wedding banquets and Easter. Pizza fritta pofana is simply made: a dough of lukewarm water and flour is fried in oil. For Carnival, spiral-shaped frappe are made with eggs, sugar and flour, and fried too. These traditional dishes are associated with different seasonal occasions, from Christmas and Carnival to festive meals of the past.

The festivals also take place across several seasons: the Festa dei Fiori is held on the last Sunday in April, and the Sagra della Pizza Fritta in early August. Sapori d’Autunno is celebrated over two days in November and features traditional dishes, dances and folk songs. If a festival is part of your travel plans, you can choose between a spring, summer or autumn date. Check the current event programme before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Falvaterra, Casalvieri, Porciano, Giuliano Di Roma, Foresta, Sant'elia Fiumerapido, Patrica, Sant'Apollinare

For the broader travel overview: Frosinone.