Fiuggi

History of Fiuggi

The Ernici population inhabited the territory of modern Fiuggi as far back as the V-IV centuries B.C., then the settlement was called Felcia. In 367 BC the Romans dominated the lands, they changed the name of the city to Anticoli and already under the Romans there was information about the curative properties of the water from the spring, which was named Fons Arilla. Barbarian and Saracen raids forced residents to move to a nearby hill and build fortifications to have a better chance of protecting their homes. Looking ahead, it is worth explaining that the land at the foot of the hill, although it was inhabited before, but now it is called New Fiuggi because the resort area was rebuilt from scratch in the early 20th century, there was nothing left of the Roman buildings.

According to a legend, local mineral water in the XIII century saved Roman Pope Boniface VIII from kidney stones, which he considered a miracle and bought the land. At the end of the XV century, Alexander VI, aka Rodrigo Borgia, became Pope of Rome, who in turn entrusted the castle Anticoli to Cardinal Ascanio Sforza. The Castle was part of the Pontifical area between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries and belonged to the members of the Sforza, Borgia and later Colonna families until in 1870 it became part of the united Italy under the name Anticoli di Campania. In 1911 year, the name of the resort was changed by Royal Decree to Fiuggi in order to maintain cohesion between the ancient village of Anticoli and the rapidly developing drinking resort at the foot of the hill. Another reason for the renaming is to avoid confusion between Anticoli di Campania and the commune of Anticoli Corrado. In one version the name of the resort comes from the Latin fluvius (river, stream), in another version it is in honor of a fern growing in local forests. In the same 1911 year the name of the healing mineral water spring was changed to "Bonifacio VIII". "Anticolana" or "New Spring" was opened in the 20s, surrounded by rare plants from a large natural park.

Fiuggi attractions and festivals

The main attractions of the Fiuggi resort are two water treatment centers located in the lower part of the city: "Anticolana" and "Bonifacio VIII".

In the same place, in the lower/new town, there are buildings built at the beginning of the last century, the architecture is dominated by the Liberty style. In search of ancient palaces, churches and beautiful residential buildings it is worth climbing up to the Old Town - here you will find beautiful monuments of architecture covering periods from the early Gothic and Renaissance to the late Baroque and Rococo.

To visit the Basillica di Santa Maria del Colle, the Gothic Church of San Biagio (former collegiate church of the 12th century, rebuilt in the 17th century with frescoes by Giotto's disciples), the Church of Saint Peter built on the ruins of an ancient castle (1617 year).

The Palazzo Falconi (1800 year) and Della Fonte (1913), the city theatre, the cast-iron fountain on Piazza Piave (1907) deserve attention. In the new part of the city you will find the churches of Regina Pacis (1922 year) and Sainte Teresa of Lisieux (90s).

Fiuggi is a city of congresses and festivals, especially where music is loved. Since 1997 year, it has hosted the annual national music contest "Bacchetta d'oro" (first weekend of May), since 2007 - the international guitar festival "Città di Fiuggi" (held in the third week of July). The annual Fiuggi Family Film Festival has been held since 2008 year.