Fontechiari
Discovering Fontechiari, between hills and history
Fontechiari is a small Italian municipality located in the province of Frosinone, in Lazio. With its 1221 inhabitants, this town is a charming place, immersed in the green Comino Valley and characterized by a predominantly hilly territory that reaches 624 meters in height at Colle Ramato. Let's see together the characteristics and curiosities of this fascinating place.
Territory
The landscape of Fontechiari is a mix of nature and history. The Municipality is crossed by the Fontechiari stream, which collects the waters of the area and carries them to the Fibreno. The force of the stream's current was so intense that in the past two mills were moved, of which only the ruins remain today. The Historic Center of Fontechiari developed around the original Benedettine curtis and its districts, of small and large dimensions, are a unique tourist attraction: Caponero, Cisterna, Colle Laturo, Colle Mastroianni, Fonteoco, Gizzi, Macciocca, Muto, Panetta, Pennacchia and Valle Scalza are just some of the districts of Fontechiari.
Climate
Fontechiari is in zone D, with 1759 mm of average annual rainfall.
Origins of the name
The name Fontechiari derives from a water source called Fons Clara in 1732. The name of the municipality, until 1862, was Schiavi, which may refer to an immigration of Slavs from Schiavonia.
History
At the beginning of the fifteenth century, Fontechiari was part of the County of Alvito, and then passed to the Duchy of Sora from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. In 1796, thanks to the will of Ferdinando I delle Due Sicilie, Fontechiari was reintegrated into the Kingdom of Naples.
Symbols
The coat of arms of the Municipality of Fontechiari was granted by decree of the President of the Republic on November 15, 2006. The banner is a yellow cloth.
Monuments and places of interest
Fontechiari is a small town rich in treasures and places of interest, especially from a religious point of view. Let's see together which are the most important religious architectures to visit:
Church of Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist
This church dates back to the eighteenth century and is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and Evangelist.
Church of Madonna dei Fratelli
The Church of Madonna dei Fratelli was in the past a convent of Madonna delle Grazie and still collects precious art treasures. The imposing wooden Christ dates back to the thirteenth century and there is also a sacred painting depicting the Holy Family, attributed to the Cavalier d'Arpino.
Hermitage of Sant'Onofrio
The Hermitage of Sant'Onofrio is one of the most fascinating places of worship in Lower Lazio. Frequented by the faithful since the ninth-tenth century, it consists of a large grotto divided into three environments. Externally, it presents numerous graffiti that refer to well-known symbols of the Christian tradition and traces of frescoes. Inside the main compartment, dedicated to liturgical functions, you will find an altar entirely frescoed with the depiction of the saint anachorete and eight panels with scenes from his life.
Napoleonic cemetery
The Napoleonic cemetery of Fontechiari is a unique monument throughout central Italy. The cemetery project, preserved in the historical archives of the village, dates back to 1836. The village had the need to have a cemetery and the solution was to create a structure that followed the Napoleonic model, with the addition of a circle of noble chapels to decorate the three holes in the ground where people were buried. Under the mound there is still a vacant but perfectly ventilated part that constituted the ossuary.
Fontechiari is a place rich in history and tradition, with a strong religious presence. Visiting it is a unique experience that will make you discover a magical atmosphere and an extraordinary landscape.
