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View of Frosinone from Portavecchia. Photo: Wikipedia / Creative Commons.

Cosa Fare a Frosinone – The Complete Attractions Guide

Published June 6, 2026 · Updated June 6, 2026

Frosinone may not be on the typical tourist trail through Italy, but that is exactly its appeal. This quiet provincial capital in southern Lazio rewards travellers who take the time to explore. From Roman ruins tucked away in public parks to one of the most important monasteries in Christendom just 25 kilometres down the road, Frosinone packs serious historical and cultural weight beneath its sleepy surface.

Here is our complete guide to the best things to do in Frosinone — from the old town to the hills of Ciociaria and beyond.

Explore the Centro Storico

Start your Frosinone exploration in the historic centre, which climbs the Colle del Poggio hill. The best approach is on foot from Piazza della Libertà — the main square — where you take the staircase of Via Aldo Moro up into the medieval warren. The streets here are narrow, lined with stone buildings in warm ochre tones, and every corner reveals a new view over the valley below.

The heart of the old town is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, rebuilt after wartime bombing and consecrated in 1953. Its neoclassical interior is light and airy, but the real draw is the Romanesque bell tower — the campanile — which survived the destruction and stands as the city's most recognisable landmark. The cathedral is open daily and free to enter.

Nearby, the Museo Archeologico Comunale (housed in the former Convento di San Francesco) traces Frosinone's pre-Roman and Roman past through pottery, inscriptions and funerary objects. It is small, well-curated, and usually very quiet — allow 45 minutes.

Roman Amphitheatre Ruins at Parco Matusa

Dating from the 1st century AD, the Roman amphitheatre of Frusino (ancient Frosinone) once seated several thousand spectators. Though only the foundations and a few wall fragments remain, the setting within Parco Matusa is lovely. The park itself — the city's largest green space — stretches along the hillside beneath the old town and is perfect for a picnic or a shady afternoon stroll. Pine trees, formal flowerbeds and a children's playground make it a favourite with local families.

Piazza della Libertà

Frosinone's main square is a grand neoclassical space dominated by the Palazzo della Provincia (Provincial Government building) and a striking fountain that personifies the two rivers of the region — the Liri and the Sacco. Cafés line both sides of the piazza, and it comes alive in the evenings with the traditional passeggiata. The weekly Saturday market fills the square with stalls selling local cheese, cured meats, seasonal fruit, clothing and household goods.

Abbazia di Montecassino (25 km)

No trip to Frosinone is complete without visiting the Abbazia di Montecassino — one of the most sacred sites in Christianity. Founded by St Benedict of Nursia in 529 AD, it was where the saint wrote the Benedictine Rule that shaped Western monasticism. The abbey was destroyed four times in its history — most devastatingly by Allied bombing in 1944 during the Battle of Montecassino — and each time it was rebuilt.

The current basilica, reconstructed in the 1950s and 1960s, is a masterpiece of gleaming white marble, gold mosaics and Carrara stone. The cloisters, the museum and the crypt are all open to visitors. The views from the abbey terrace stretch across the Rapido valley to the mountains beyond. Allow at least 2–3 hours for the visit, and consider timing your arrival for midday to hear the monks chant the Angelus. Read our full guide to Cassino and Montecassino.

Certosa di Trisulti (30 km)

Hidden in the beech forests of the Monti Ernici, the Certosa di Trisulti is one of Italy's most atmospheric monasteries. Founded in 1204 by Carthusian monks, it was built on the orders of Pope Innocent III and served as a spiritual retreat for centuries. The monastery complex includes a stunning 13th-century cloister, a pharmacy where monks prepared herbal remedies, and frescoes by Renaissance artists.

Today, the monastery is open to visitors (check opening hours in advance — they can be irregular). The on-site shop sells herbal liqueurs and digestifs produced using the monks' original recipes. The drive from Frosinone through the chestnut woods is beautiful in itself, especially in autumn.

Ciociaria Wine Tours

The hills surrounding Frosinone form the heart of the Cesanese del Piglio DOCG wine region — Lazio's only DOCG appellation. Wine lovers should plan a half-day or full-day tour visiting the vineyards around the town of Piglio, 20 kilometres north of Frosinone.

Tenuta di Fiorano offers guided tastings paired with local cheeses and cured meats in a tasting room overlooking the vineyards. Casale del Giglio, south of Frosinone near the coast, is a larger estate that produces a range of Lazio wines including Cesanese, Bellone and Malvasia. Both are committed to sustainable viticulture — an excellent match for eco-conscious travellers.

The best time for wine tours is September and October, when the grapes are being harvested and the vineyards are alive with activity.

Hilltop Villages of Ciociaria

Frosinone is the perfect base for exploring the medieval hilltop villages that dot the Ciociaria landscape. These towns are rarely visited by international tourists and offer some of the most unspoilt architecture and culture in Lazio.

Anagni (20 km west) — Known as the "City of Popes," Anagni has a stunning 13th-century cathedral with Europe's finest Cosmatesque floor and crypt frescoes. It was where Pope Boniface VIII was famously slapped by a French nobleman in 1303.

Alatri (15 km north) — Famous for its perfectly preserved polygonal Roman walls — a UNESCO tentative site — and a beautiful medieval centre built on the acropolis of the ancient Hernici city of Aletrium.

Veroli (12 km northeast) — A climb well worth the effort, Veroli offers a pristine medieval centre, the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea with its Cosmatesque pulpit, and sweeping views over the Sacco River valley.

Ferentino (8 km west) — A compact, easily walkable town with Roman walls, a well-preserved Roman cistern (the "Cisterna Romana") and a beautiful cathedral straddling the ancient acropolis.

Walking Trails from Frosinone

Old Town Heritage Walk

Time: 2–3 hours. Start at Piazza della Libertà, climb the staircase to Piazza Gramsci, wander through the medieval streets around Via Garibaldi, visit the cathedral, and descend through the Portavecchia gate past fragments of the medieval city walls. This walk is free, self-guided and takes in all the major sights of the Centro Storico. Download a map from the tourist office in Piazza della Libertà.

Montecassino Pilgrimage Trail

Time: Full day. For the adventurous, trace the Via Latina route southeast from Frosinone towards Montecassino. While most visitors drive, the 25-kilometre route on foot through olive groves and past Roman villa ruins is a genuine pilgrimage experience. Alternatively, take the train to Cassino and climb the last 3 km up Calvary Hill to the abbey entrance.

Ciociaria Country Walk: Frosinone to Veroli

Time: Half-day (10 km one way). Follow country lanes and farm tracks from the outskirts of Frosinone up into the hills towards Veroli. The route passes through olive terraces and chestnut groves with panoramic views over the Sacco River valley. Veroli's medieval centre is the reward. You can take a local bus back down to Frosinone.

Plan Your Frosinone Itinerary

One Day: Morning in the Centro Storico (cathedral + museum) + afternoon at Montecassino Abbey + evening dinner in Piazza della Libertà.

Two Days: Day 1 — Old town, Parco Matusa and Roman amphitheatre, wine tasting at a Ciociaria winery. Day 2 — Montecassino Abbey + Certosa di Trisulti, with a stop in Veroli or Alatri on the way back.

Three Days: Add a day for deeper exploration of the Ciociaria hilltop villages — Anagni, Ferentino and Alatri — plus a longer walk in the Monti Ernici.

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