Boville Ernica sits on top of a hill at a distance of just over 100 kilometers south of Rome. The town offers a number of fine medieval churches and palaces. The ancient (and partly even pre-Roman) city walls also remain largely intact.
Top 10 tourist attractions Boville Ernica
01. San Pietro Ispano Church
The 12th century San Pietro Ispano Church was built near the cave where the saint used to live. In addition to Giotto’s mosaic and Sansovino’s bas-relief, an early Christian sarcophagus and reliquary cabinets of both San Pietro Ispano and Santa Lucia can be seen here. The Simoncelli Chapel is also worth seeing.
02. Castle
The large castle with 18 alternating round and square towers has been preserved undamaged. The castle, together with the walls built by the Pelasgians (a tribe that lived in Greece before the Greeks and about which very little is known), made the town very easy to defend.
03. Palazzo Filonardi
The Palazzo Filonardi is the largest palace in Boville Ernica. It was built in the 16th century on the ruins of a castle and is located at the highest point of the city. The architect was Jacopo Barozzi il Vignola.
04. San Michele Arcangelo Church
The Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo (Piazza Sant’Angelo) was built in the 11th century and renovated in the 18th century. This is one of the oldest churches in the city. Cavalier d’Arpino painted “The Martyrdom of San Sebastiano.”
05. Santo Stefano Church
The Santo Stefano Church (Piazza Santo Stefano) is an 11th century church. However, due to renovations in the 16th and 17th centuries it gives off a baroque impression. Artistic highlight is the “San Giovanni Evangelista” by Sebastiano Conca.
06. San Francesco Church and Convent
The San Francesco Church and Convent (Piazza San Francesco) were built in 1377 on land donated to the Franciscans by the city’s notables. A beautiful panorama can be admired from the monastery garden.
07. Santa Maria del Suffragio Church
The Santa Maria del Suffraggio Church is located in the square of the same name. The main attraction in this 11th century church is a 13th century wooden statue known as Madonna del Pagliarola. Until the 12th century, the church was owned by the Montecassino Monastery.
08. Vergine del Carmelo Church
The Chiesa della Vergine del Carmelo (Via della Pagliarola) was built in 1863 by the Carmelitane Teresiane di fra Isidoro della Natività. Its stained glass windows date back to 1990.
09. Palazzo Vizzaredelli
The most interesting feature of the Palazzo Vizzardelli is the beautiful Torre Cometti.
10. Palazzo de Angelis
Palazzo de Angelis (Corso Umberto I): Originally a 16th century building, it was completely rebuilt two centuries later by the poet Desiderio.