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Itri

Atina and the Val di Comino

Settefratti

10 km from town is the Val di Canneto. The valley takes its name from an area where clumps of bamboo once flourished. At this mystical site, at the foot of Monte Meta and the source of the River Melfa, there were a series of pagan temples, one was dedicated to the goddess Mephiti who was said to have had the power to drive out fevers, particularly those brought on by Malaria. In recent years some votive statuettes (5th/6th century BC) of the goddess have been unearthed here, together with some Roman coins of the Republican era.

There is a legend that while a young shepherdess, named Silvana, was diligently tending her flock, she saw an apparition of a wonderous lady of celestial beauty, bathed in white light. The lady spoke to the startled girl, telling her to go back down to the village and to ask the head priest to construct a church on this spot, and say that it should be dedicated to her name. The girl replied that she could not abandon her fold, as she needed to lead the thirsty flock down to the plain in search of water. The lady told her to fear not, saying she would take care of the sheep. The Madonna is said to have outstretched her hand and first touched the mountain peak and then the foot, and from the rocks began to flow a stream of fresh, crystal water. She let her ring fall into the watercourse and it transformed into thousands of little golden stars.

Here the Benedictine monastery of San Vincenzo was founded in 819 AD. Over the centuries the building was enlarged as it became a popular site of pilgrimage.

photo by Cominensis CC BY-SA 2.5

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The statue of the “black” Madonna is carved of wood, and probably dates from the 6th century. She has a brown face and deeply penetrating eyes and holds the Christ Child. They are elaborately dressed and both wear golden crowns.

Each year on the 22nd August there is a pilgrimage, which draws thousands of people from central Italy to participate in this sacred event. The Madonna is carried aloft on a golden throne followed by faithful pilgrims up the verdant trail to the revered shrine.

Website of the Sanctury of the Madonna di Canneto

Historically the Val di Canetto was associated with the mining of limonite/iron ore. It is believed that here there were also deposits of gold, silver and copper.

Some of Settefrati’s Feast Days and Celebrations include:

January - La Sagra della Polenta / Polentata di San' Antonio

July - Festa della Montagna

August - Festa della Madonna di Canneto, which includes a noctural procession

August - La Sagra delle Quattro Regioni e dei 100 Paesi and Sagra delle Sagne e Fagioli

(a type of homemade pasta and bean soup)

29 August - Santo Stefano

23 September - Fair of San Maurizio

Common Surnames of Settefrati :

ALONZI, ANTONELLI, APRUZZESSE, AURELLI

BALDASCINO, BERNARDELLI, BEVILACQUA, BLANDI, BOCCAROSSA, BOVE, BUZZEO

CAIRA, CAMILLI, CAPOCCI, CARDELLI, CARELLA, CARINGI, CARTA, CASINELLI, CASTELLUCCI, CECANDARDI, CEDRONE, CELLUCCI, CERASI, CICCORITTI, CIPRANI, COCUZZA, COLALUCA, COLAROSSI, CONETTA, CONTE RICCI, COPOCCIA, COSTANZO, CROLLA, CUCCO, CUNETTA

D’ERAMO, DEL CARMINE, DE LUCA, DE MUSSO, DE ROSA, DE RUBEIS, DI GIULIO, DI GIULIO

DI RUBEIS, DI PRETA, DI SPIRITO, DI TROIA, DOMENICONE

FABRIZIO, FANONE, FARINA, FERRANTE, FERRERA, FERRI, FRANCIOSA, FRATAROLI, FUCINARI

GENTILE, GIOVANNANGELI

IANETTA

LEONARDI, LEONE, LIBETTI, LUCARELLI, LUPO

MACARI, MALIZIA, MANCINI, MANTIGLIONI, MARCHELLETTA, MARRAZZO

MARTELLI, MASSARELLA, MATASSA, MAZZENGA, MAZZOLA, MINCHELLA, MOLENDINI, MORGA

NARDELLI, NIZZARDO

ODDI

PALADINO, PALANGIO, PALOMBO, PELLICCI, PELLICCIA, PIA, PISELLI, PIZZUTI, POLICELLA, POMPA, PUCA

QUINTILIANI