The ancient history of the village of Subiaco still attracts tourists from all over the world. From the many frescoes in the National Library, to the activities on the Aniene River, here is everything there is to see in this corner of Lazio: the splendid village of Subiaco – which almost earned the title of Borgo dei Borghi – owes its name to the position it boasts. The translation from the Latin is in fact “under the lakes” and the reference is to the three artificial lakes that were generated by the damming of the Aniene river. It is necessary to go back to 55 A.D. to retrace the history of this village counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy, at the time when the emperor Nero exploited a series of dams to obtain artificial ponds for the majestic villa built on the right bank of the Aniene, of which today some ruins remain. In 497 Benedetto da Norcia decided to settle in this valley, leading a hermitic life for three years. Over the next thirty years, however, the project of religious growth led to the construction of thirteen monasteries, against which time was merciless. Of the many erected in fact only one is still visible today, the monastery of Santa Scolastica. This develops around three cloisters, the Cosmatesque, the Gothic and the Renaissance, built in the thirteenth, fourteenth and between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A crossroads of styles for a place full of history that continues to attract tourists. There are many elements to admire, such as the internal garden enhanced by a monumental Gothic arch, the splendid frescoes dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, a National Library that jealously guards manuscripts and parchments, and the first examples of Italian incunabula, made thanks to the work of two German printers in 1465.
In the fourteenth century he set foot in the Petrarca monastery, whose poetic soul was enraptured by the beauty of this place, so much so that it was defined as the “threshold of Paradise”. It is not only history that attracts tourists, who – in Subiaco – have the opportunity to go through centuries of Italian history. Anyone who sets foot on the banks of the Aniene river can in fact try their hand at various activities, from rafting to canoeing, to kayaking. In its waters it is also possible to fish for trout, and then go to the discovery of splendid views around the village, testing one’s skills as hikers. Tourism is alive all year round, but many travelers go to these places at specific times, to coincide with some well-known holidays.On August 10, the Feast of San Lorenzo is celebrated, on the day of shooting stars, remembering the birth of the village in 937. On the 14th of August instead we find ourselves in a real medieval festival, with two processions departing from the churches of Santa Maria della Valle and Sant’Andrea, two votive images carried on the shoulder to the crossroads in La Valle. From 20 to 22 March, however, the patron saint of Subiaco is celebrated continuously, with shows, events and a characteristic market at the via dei monasteri.