Ausonia
Welcome to Ausonia, a town between mountains and sea
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk about Ausonia, a small Italian commune located in the province of Frosinone, in Lazio. Ausonia has a population of about 2414 inhabitants and is immersed in the beautiful Valley of the Saints, between the Aurunci and Mainarde mountains.
Let's discover the territory of Ausonia
A breathtaking natural beauty
The territory of Ausonia offers a stunning spectacle thanks to the presence of Mount Fammera, which reaches 1131 meters and dominates the southwestern part of the commune. From here you can admire a breathtaking view of the valley below.
But Ausonia is not only mountains: the Ausente river, which originates in the commune's territory, is the last right-hand tributary of the Garigliano river, the most important in southern Lazio.
Hot and humid summers, foggy winters
The climate of Ausonia is particularly hot and humid in summer, with temperatures that can reach 40°C. The drought is such that the rivers of the valley, like the Liri, the Gari, and the Garigliano, dry up to the point that they can be walked on for long stretches.
In winter, on the other hand, temperatures drop to between 2°C and 6°C and the valley is often shrouded in fog.
The history of Ausonia
The ancient city of Osci Ausoni
Ausonia has a very ancient history, dating back to the times of the Osci Ausoni, an Italic people who inhabited these lands. The ancient city of Ausona, whose exact location is unknown today, was part of the Auruncan Pentapolis and was allied with the Capuani. In 314 BC the city was destroyed by the Romans and its inhabitants put to the sword.
The cult of Hercules
In the territory of Ausonia, Latin inscriptions dating back to the imperial age have been found concerning the divinity of Hercules. These inscriptions are related to the presence of an ancient processional road dedicated to the cult of the demigod.
The Saracen presence and Norman conquest
In 846, a Saracen fleet besieged Gaeta and settled in the "ad duos leones" area, near present-day Ausonia, taking control of the communication routes to the south. In the 11th century, the castrum Fractarum was named, located on a territory that was part of the duchy of Gaeta. With the Norman conquest of southern Italy, Ausonia will be part of the Kingdom of Sicily, later called the Kingdom of Naples, and finally the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, until 1861.
The name Ausonia
The commune of Ausonia owes its name to the ancient pre-Roman city of Ausona, also known as Aurunca, destroyed during the Second Samnite War in 314 BC and never reborn.
In conclusion, Ausonia is a commune with a unique charm, between mountains and sea, immersed in nature and history. If you have the opportunity, come and visit this small gem of Lazio: it will captivate you with its beauty and timeless charm!
