Acuto

Balancing on a ridge over the Sacco Valley, the town of Acuto retains its perfectly preserved medieval old town center. The antique walls with towers can still be seen in places, parts are now encased in houses, but keep your eyes out as you stroll around. The centro storico is well preserve and cared for, the clean cobbled streets inlaid with white stone mosaic designs. The lanes wind in and out, opening on little piazzas and grand views, on one side of the valley, another overloks the Lepini Mountains, while the other side has views of the Ernici Mountains, towards Fiuggi.

Located near the mineral water town of Fiuggi and the "city of the popes" Anagni, Acuto is in a beautiful position with nice atmosphere, beautiful views and friendly people. The town's history goes back to the pre-Roman period, and was touched by the Romans, as well. Excavations under the piazza and the monastery revealed artifacts and remains of ancient civilizations here. A kilometer outside town a Roman catacomb was found while they were building the railroad. It was 1051 that the town started to grow, under Anagni; a monastery and church were built and it was officially under the rule of Anagni. It remained so through the Middle Ages, as a feudal territory. With the unification of Italy the town became part of the Kingdom of Italy, as its own comune.

The Church of Santa Maria is the larger "mother church" first built in the 1100s but rebuilt in 1574, and restyled again later. The interior bears some baroque and neoclassical elements and artwork. The heavy exterior of the stone apse is picturesque. The Laghetto Volubro outside town is a carsic pond in a natural setting, the ideal place for a quiet picnic. On the same road is a nature trail Cesa Rotonda, a 2-kilometer path through nature with southern exposure and valley views.

The area's specialty dishes will satisfy foodies - look for the fini-fini pasta, a fine strand, often with simple tomato sauce but sometimes with beans; or the thicker cecapreti pasta, also with beans, with meat sauce or mushrooms. A decadent dish is dedicated to a pope, called timballo Bonifacio VIII; it is a pasta with mini-meatballs, all wrapped up in prosciutto and baked! Lamb and goat are popular here, try the lamb garofolato, it is delicious. Desserts are conservative -sweet cookies with almonds or cookie rings made with wine, but the ricotta cake is a delicious finish, too. The area has a DOCG status wine, Cesanese del Piglio. a fruity ruby red.