Rocca Massima
Discovering Rocca Massima - a city with a long history
Hello friends, today I want to tell you about Rocca Massima, a small town in the province of Latina, in Lazio. Rocca Massima has a population of 1068 inhabitants and is the highest village in the province, with its 735 meters above sea level. Most of the population lives in the Boschetto fraction.
Physical geography
The territory of Rocca Massima is located on Monte Massimo, which is part of the Lepini Mountains in the Apennine range. There are also the peaks of Colle Illirio and Monte Pratiglio. With regards to the climate, Rocca Massima belongs to zone E with a code of 2426 GR/G.
History
The historian Antonio Nibby identifies Rocca Massima as the ancient Arx Carventana described by Livy, a Roman fortress occupied by the Volsci during the Latin War. The fortress was later reconquered by the Romans but taken back by the Equi after a failed siege attempt.
Although it is not clear whether today's Rocca Massima is the Arx Carventana mentioned by Livy, there is evidence of a Roman settlement in the area. Remains of polygonal walls and numerous archaeological finds have been discovered in the locations of "Lubro," "La Selva," and "Monte S.angelo."
On December 5th, 1202, Pope Innocent III granted Pietro Annibaldi the territories on Monte Massimo and the authority to build a fortified castle with the brief "Quia per tuae." The castle was built at the highest point of the mountain and became Annibaldi's palace. Despite numerous modifications over time, the palace still retains the building technique made up of small parallelepipeds joined together by mortar, which is common in the small medieval towns of southern Lazio.
The church of Arcangelo Michele, instead, dates back to the 13th century. In 1260, the widow of Guido Pierleoni sold Rocca Massima, together with the castles of Giuliano and S. Silvestro, to the Conti family.
At the end of the 15th century, the Conti family underwent a subdivision of properties, and Rocca Massima became an autonomous community with a communal system administered by a council.
Conclusion
As you can see, Rocca Massima has a rich and interesting history. In addition to the remains of a Roman settlement, you can visit Annibaldi's palace, built at the highest point of the mountain, and the church of Arcangelo Michele, dating back to the 13th century. You can also enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Lepini Mountains, with Monte Massimo dominating the view. If you are looking for a peaceful and picturesque place to visit, Rocca Massima is the right place for you!
