Historical notes
In the marvellous Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museums there are two maps of Latium where the village of Porcile is mentioned: certainly the first document that mentions it is the biography of Saint Sylvester I. The origins of the name seem to refer to the Roman gens of Porcia, and a tombstone dedicated to characters of that period, including a little girl of just 7 years old, remains today.
The origins of the name seem to refer to the Roman gens Porcia, and a tombstone dedicated to people of that period, including a little girl of just 7 years old, still remains.
With the passing of the classical Roman age, Percile began to develop around parish churches and churches, which were then followed by the castles that dotted the surrounding territory in defence of the villages that rose there.
From 1011 to 1275 Percile was owned by the Abbey of Farfa, and then passed under the rule first of the Orsini and then of the Borghese.
Percile is also remembered for being a refuge for Garibaldi's troops in the 19th century following the Battle of Mentana, but also the object of bombings during the Second World War.
What to see
Stone houses, narrow streets that open onto a garden, a courtyard or a panoramic belvedere: this is Percile, a village where the air is clean and offers the scent of wood, the surrounding woods and chestnuts that in autumn warm up the atmosphere in this Latium village. At the entrance to Percile there is a large fishpond filled with crystal-clear water from the Licenza stream: continuing to the right you come to the Fonte degli Aliucci, where the light, low-mineral water that the Romans used for medicinal purposes, especially to treat kidney stones, gushes out.
In the highest part of the village is Palazzo Borghese, now the town hall; it is the symbolic building of Percile and was built in 1033 as a castle donated to the abbot of Farfa by Azone, the son of the commander Guerrone. Linked to the palace, which then passed into the hands of the Orsini family and then the Atti di Todi and the Borghese themselves, is the 16th-century Church of Santa Lucia, which was built as a chapel to the palace.
The Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria is much older and dates back to the 12th century, commissioned by Charles of Anjou to thank the Virgin for the victory over Corradin of Swabia in 1268.
Also worth seeing is the Church of Sant'Anatolia, small but precious given the 17th century frescoes inside.
Excursion from Percile to the beautiful Lagustelli
A stop at Percile must include a taste of the local gastronomic specialities, starting with the Ramiccia: a homemade pasta very similar to fettuccine, prepared according to a very old recipe. In December, the Sagra della Ramiccia takes place, with the ladies of the village preparing this delicacy using more than 1500 eggs. Also worth tasting are the amaretti biscuits, the tisichelle (aniseed-flavoured doughnuts) and the nociata, a delicious cake made with walnuts and honey. The Percilese wild asparagus is also very good, and a festival is dedicated to it in May: this month also sees the Festa dei Laghi (Festival of the Lakes), which kicks off outdoor excursions.
Among the places to reach on foot from Percile are the beautiful Lagustelli, small lakes with emerald green waters that are also protected by the Ramsar Convention: the starting point is the Lago estate, whose lush and unspoilt appearance is very reminiscent of a typical Swiss moorland. Path 307, which is easy and suitable for children, takes you through a landscape dotted with hawthorns, wild blackberry bushes, coloured thistles, dog roses and even a few brick walls, a reminder of the Republican era.
There are two Lagustelli: the smaller Marraone with its steep shores and the larger Lago Fraturno, with reeds, poplars and willows surrounding the small beach. Continuing beyond the Lagustelli you can reach the medieval ruins of Morella, immersed in a dense thicket of centuries-old trees, or you can take the Coleman Trail, established in memory of the painter of the same name who explored the Simbruini Mountains in 4 days.
