Collepardo is a small commune and town located in the Lazio region in Italy in the province of Frosinone. The town is located close to Rome and Frosinone. The area of Collepardo is 25 sq. km and the population is close to 950. Let’s discover Collepardo, Italy together!
Collepardo is not really a tourist destination; however, several people who visit Rome and Frosinone come to Collepardo as a day excursion. The economy of the town is based on agriculture and the production of olive oil. The locals in town have a laid-back lifestyle and the village-like atmosphere is what attracts many people to Collepardo.
Getting to Collepardo, Italy
Collepardo is located quite close to Rome and Frosinone. Visitors can get a bus to Collepardo from either of these cities from the main bus stations. Buses generally leave for Collepardo every few hours and the tickets are available at the station. Collepardo, Italy is also well connected to the other smaller towns in the province through the state buses. The easiest way is to drive down to Collepardo from Rome or from Frosinone, the drive only takes close to an hour to reach the town. The road leading up to the town is quite scenic so driving down is convenient as well as enjoyable.
Moving Around the Town
Collepardo, Italy is a very small town; there are only a few places to visit, which are all concentrated close to the historic center of the town. Those who have their own cars can easily drive around the town. Exploring the town on foot is also quite convenient and easy since the streets here are very traffic-free. The local buses in Collepardo cover the main quarters of the town and connect it to the neighboring towns of Alatri and Fiuggi as well as to Frosinone so visitors can travel by these buses too.
Attractions in Collepardo, Italy
The Monastery of San Dominico and San Nicola
The monastery is located close to the charterhouse Trisulti. The ancient monastery was founded by San Dominico in 996 and is one of the oldest in the region. On the opposite side of the valley is the monastery of San Nicola which was also founded around the same time by San Dominica. The latter was used to house a community of women in the monastery. The monasteries have been destroyed for years; however, the ruins can be visited by tourists in Collepardo, Italy.
Shrine of Cese
The shrine of Cese is located close to the monastery and is dedicated to Our Lady of Cese. The small shrine is located inside a beautiful Grotto at a picturesque location overlooking the mountains and valleys. The shrine has been beautifully maintained. It has a plain and a simple façade and the interiors are also kept elegant and understated.
Certosa Trisulti
Certosa Trisulti is a very famous and large monastery located amidst lush forests and is a National Monument. The old monastery of Collepardo, Italy was founded in 1204 by Pope Innocent III and is one of the most interesting places to visit in Collepardo. Inside the monastery is a beautiful church that has been decorated with several precious artworks collected over the centuries. There is also an old pharmacy inside the monastery which had been used in the 13th and the 14th century. The monastery also has an old State library which has a collection of more than 25,000 books and volumes as well as some rare documents.
Botanical Garden
The botanical garden of Collepardo, Italy is being maintained by WWF. The garden has a large collection of wild plants, flora, and fauna of the Emici Mountain. It also has several rare species of plants and trees, most of which are being protected from extinction.
Museum Delle Erbe
Museum Delle Erbe is the museum of herbs. The museum is one of the few museums in the world in this genre. It has a large collection of medicinal herbs, equipment, tools, and processing methods that have been used for extracting herbs. There is also a lot of information on the different types of herbs grown in this region and their uses and medicinal properties. For those who are interested in nature, the museum would be quite an interesting place to visit.
Stay and Accommodation in Collepardo, Italy
Collepardo is a very small town, so there are only a few hotels and bed & breakfasts. Because of its proximity to Frosinone and Rome, most people prefer to stay there and come to Collepardo only as a day excursion. There are a few hotels and bed & breakfasts in Collepardo and one campsite where visitors can rent tents and sleeping bags. The two most well-known bed & breakfasts in Collepardo are Maison Dina and Grandpa’s House Fernando. Other than these, there are a few old villas and homes where the locals rent out rooms to tourists occasionally.
Eating in Collepardo
There are very few restaurants and pizzerias in Collepardo, most of which are family-run. The restaurants in town are quite small and have a relaxed family-like atmosphere. The food served is mostly Italian and typical regional dishes that the locals like to eat. Most restaurants would serve good quality wine and use fresh local ingredients and cheeses. Some of the well-known places in Collepado that are popular among the locals are Capofiume, Certosa, By Vittorio, the squirrel, and Pizzeria Da Paolo. Other than these, there are a few bars in town where light appetizers are available.
Shopping in Collepardo
There are not many places in Collepardo where visitors can shop. The shops and old markets in town are mainly where the locals do all their shopping. The weekly markets in town are the best places to find some good locally made products like wooden artifacts, sculptures, some old antiques, jewelry, and other items. Visitors who come to Collepardo can visit some of the shops in the historic center of the town to find something to purchase. Mainly, visitors prefer to purchase olive oil bottles from Collepardo since there are several different varieties of olive oil available here.