Sermoneta is one of the best preserved medieval villages in Italy.
Ancient Sulmo is even mentioned by Virgil in the Aeneid.
Located in the province of Latina, a few kilometers from the Appian Way and about 60 from Rome, it stands on a hill 257 meters above sea level, overlooking the great Pontine Plain. Its fortunes began at the end of the 13th century, when the rule of the Caetani family began in the town, which erected an imposing castle.
Sermoneta became the main center of a vast fiefdom and also flourished artistically and culturally. Throughout the centuries, illustrious rulers and pontiffs have stayed inside the imposing Caetani Castle, which is still intact today.
Today, Sermoneta still preserves this immense historical, artistic and cultural heritage. With its quiet, winding streets and monuments, it is the ideal place for a vacation or a short visit, especially for those who want to take a dip back in time. Between 1909 and 2012 it was the set of no less than 86 Italian and international films. Among the most famous events are the Polenta Festival, the Pontine Music Festival and the Re-enactment of the Battle of Lepanto.
However, the medieval ensemble of the village has its own charm and is certainly a nice attraction for tourists. Among other things, for some time now some sections of the ancient walls and other evidence of the history of the place can also be seen. In addition to the castle, there are numerous works of art in the aforementioned Collegiate Church (one panel is reported to have been painted by Benozzo Gozzoli) and in the connected Oratory of the Battenti (frescoed by Giovan Domenico Fiorentini da Sermoneta but also home to the diocesan museum).
And tourists certainly cannot forget that, in addition to the aforementioned Ninfa, interesting places such as the abbey of Valvisciolo and the small town of Bassiano (a castle historically connected to Sermoneta and hometown of Aldo Manunzio famous Renaissance publisher) are not far away.
In Sermoneta around 1521 the painter Girolamo Siciolante was born, an appreciated Mannerist artist who left his paintings both in Lazio and elsewhere.
As can be guessed, the role of the Caetani family was important with regard to the inhabitants of the village, who were often helped with customs and concessions, including tax concessions. Around the beginning of the 14th century some local structures also began to function (commune Sermineti etc.) however connected to the power of the lords of the castle. There was in Sermoneta also a brief rule of the Borgias but for this we refer to note below, in any case dating back to their very brief season the so-called "house of the Cardinal" in the castle.
