Artinchiaro

An art festival at the foot of the tower

Artinchiaro is the summer event that the Municipality of Fontechiari, in the province of Frosinone (Lazio), dedicates to art and craftsmanship. The formula is simple yet highly effective: take the ancient heart of the village, open it up to local artisans and artists, and let it thrive for four consecutive evenings. The focal point is the Medieval Tower Gardens, the green space surrounding the town's landmark, from which the exhibition spreads into the alleys and small squares of the historic center.

Where it takes place: Fontechiari and its tower

Fontechiari has just over 1,200 inhabitants and sits at an altitude of about 375 meters in the Comino Valley, one of the greenest and most hidden corners of the Ciociaria region. The town was called Schiavi until 1862 and owes its current name to its intermittent springs. The ancient core was once walled, with clear traces remaining, and preserves the Torre Boncompagni, a square medieval tower built in the 13th century by the Counts of Aquino and now public property. It is this backdrop—stone, arches, and gardens—that gives Artinchiaro a character no exhibition hall could ever replicate.

What to expect

• Stalls and displays of artistic craftsmanship and handmade goods;
• Works by local artists from the Comino Valley area;
• Exhibits spread throughout the Tower Gardens and the streets of the historic center;
• Evening strolls through the village, with the town center closed to traffic and fully pedestrianized.

Part of the Estate Fontechiarese

Artinchiaro is not an isolated event: it is part of the Estate Fontechiarese, a summer program that fills the town from July to August with live music, gastronomic evenings, karaoke, cultural meetings, children's workshops, and religious celebrations. The program is promoted by the Municipal Administration together with the Pro Loco Fontechiari APS, local associations, and businesses, and is spread across the various squares of the village. During the days of Artinchiaro, the calendar usually features other events—card tournaments, tribute concerts, and celebrations for Saint Roch—ensuring the art festival becomes part of a continuous village celebration.

Why it's worth the trip

Those who come to Artinchiaro won't find a massive national fair, but something different and increasingly rare: a village-scale event where you can talk directly to the makers, where prices are those of a local market, and where the setting—a medieval tower and its garden on a summer evening in Ciociaria—does half the work. It is also an excellent opportunity to discover the rest of Fontechiari's heritage: the two main churches with Renaissance-era works, the Napoleonic cemetery, the caves of the Hermitage of Saint Onofrio, and the remains of the polygonal walls.

A territory to explore

The Comino Valley is an excellent base for a long weekend: the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park is nearby, as are the villages of Alvito, Casalvieri, Posta Fibreno with its lake and floating island, and the archaeological area of Atina. Combining Artinchiaro with a day in the park or a tour of the valley's villages is the best way to understand this part of southern Lazio.