Roccasecca - Castrocielo - Aquino

If one stops in Roccasecca, they can visit the medieval village of "Castello". To access the courtyard, one passes through a monumental pointed arch above which is placed an inscription that gives the traditional name of Casa di San Tommaso, perhaps referring to a namesake character.

Then, one takes the road to Castrocielo and must inevitably pause in the medieval village of Caprile and make a detour to visit the hermitage of San Michele.

Descending towards the Via Latina, one arrives in Aquino. Aquino was conquered by the Lombards under the command of the Duke of Benevento, Zottone, around 587/589.

In the year 1000, the Castle of Aquino was defended by walls and surrounded by waters. The draining of the waters and the reclamation of the area have revealed what is now called the Vallone, a space well-equipped for outdoor sports. The medieval village retains the square tower that stands near the house of San Tommaso, now designated as a museum.

It is due to Adenolfo II that the fortified count's residence was built on the travertine rock that today constitutes the medieval village of Aquino. Even on this occasion, one can discover the not always peaceful relations between the Counts of Aquino and the Abbey.

In 953, Atenolfo II even managed to imprison the abbot Aligerno, bringing him to Aquino and subjecting him to public humiliation. Let us remember that here, around 1225, Tommaso d'Aquino was born, son of Landolfo, the sole heir of the fiefs of the middle valley of the Liri, and Teodora, his second wife.