🌰 Canepina: The Jewel of the Cimini Mountains

Giano di Vico
Aug 22
3 min read

🏛️ Origins and Ancient History

Canepina rises at the foot of the Cimini Mountains, surrounded by forests and springs.

Its name comes from the cultivation of hemp, which for centuries sustained the local economy. Streams such as Rio Francina, Fonte Rosa, and Arcella were ideal for hemp processing.

🏺 Etruscans: archaeological traces in Corniente, Fontana Vecchia, and Rio della Ripa.
🏛️ Roman era: the Sanctuary of Arcella, dedicated to Bona Valetudo and Bona Dea, a sacred site nestled in nature.

🏰 The Middle Ages and the Birth of the Village

📜 First mention: 1093 in the Chronicon Farfense.

The Prefects of Vico fortified the village in the 11th century, with papal consent, to control the Tiber plain.

1154 → Pope Adrian IV acquired the castle.
1174 → Christian of Mainz assigned it to Viterbo.
1207 → listed among the assets of the Monastery of San Martino al Cimino.

⚜️ The Farnese Era

In the 16th century, Pope Paul III Farnese had the Farnese Palace built for his son Pierluigi. Today it houses the Town Hall.

📖 In 1460, Canepina welcomed Pope Pius II returning from the Congress of Mantua.

🏰 Monuments and Artistic Heritage

🛡️ Castle of the Anguillara

Built in the 14th century, it dominates the village with its cylindrical towers. Once a strategic fortress, today it hosts a civic museum dedicated to local nature.

⛪ Churches and Sacred Buildings

✝️ Santa Corona (13th century): the oldest, dedicated to the patron saint.
🙏 Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta: pink stone façade, three naves.
🎨 Madonna del Carmine: 15th-century frescoes and stuccoes.
🕊️ San Michele Arcangelo: today home to the Museum of Popular Traditions.
🌸 Santa Maria delle Grazie: a small Renaissance chapel on a slope.

🏺 Museum of Popular Traditions

Located in the former Carmelite convent (17th century), it preserves farming tools, looms, and instruments of rural life.

🎭 Traditions and Legends

🌹 Santa Corona: The Patron Martyr

Every May 14th, Canepina honors its patron saint.

According to tradition, young Corona was martyred in Syria in 171 A.D., tied to two bent palm trees that tore her apart when they sprang upright.

👉 Today she is invoked as a protector against epidemics.

The feast includes:

Procession through streets decorated with floral carpets 🌸
Musical performances 🎶
Drawing of the organizing committee 🎟️

📖 Dante and the Dark Wood

Legend has it that Dante Alighieri drew inspiration from the Selva Luce of Canepina for his famous Dark Wood in the Inferno. The mystical chestnut forests still carry this aura today.

🍝 Culinary Traditions

🥢 The Fieno of Canepina

The famous Maccaroni (or Fieno) are a medieval egg pasta, rolled into paper-thin sheets, cut into fine strands, dried, and then dressed with:

🍅 Light ragù
🍄 Porcini mushrooms from the Cimini Mountains
🌿 “Ernestina” sauce with cherry tomatoes, guanciale, and mint

👉 Recognized as a Slow Food Presidium, among the oldest egg pastas in Lazio.

🎉 Festivals and Events

🍝 Sagra dei Maccaroni (June)
🌰 Chestnut Festival (October): free roasted chestnuts, the Donkey Palio 🫏, the Barrel Race 🛢️, open wine cellars, and performances.