Historical Re-enactment - Pope Innocent III visits Giuliano A.D. 1208

A Pope on his way to Fossanova

On June 16, 1208, Pope Innocent III left Anagni, heading toward the Abbey of Fossanova to consecrate its high altar. Along the way, the pontiff was welcomed and escorted by Count Giovanni da Ceccano to the fortress of Giuliano, the ancient Castrum Iuliani, where he spent the night amidst banquets and solemn celebrations. This episode is recorded in the Chronicle of Fossanova, which describes in great detail the games and tournaments held in honor of the illustrious guest. From this account, the Historical Re-enactment that still brings the village to life today was born.

The re-enactment today

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Giuliano di Roma, an association founded on July 16, 1975, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2025. The Historical Re-enactment is considered the most iconic event in its calendar: it traditionally takes place in August and involves dozens of costumed figures, processions, musical groups, and artisans.

• Historical procession with the papal retinue, knights, and the court of the Counts of Ceccano
• Chivalric joust, remembered by the Latin formula Iocavit Buburbando, taken from medieval sources
• Banquet inspired by the reception offered to the pontiff in 1208
• Animations, games, and scenes of medieval life in the historic center

The village as a backdrop

Giuliano di Roma sits at an altitude of approximately 363 meters, perched on the Passo della Palombara, a natural watershed between the Sacco Valley and the Amaseno Valley. The village is one of the most characteristic in the province of Frosinone: its narrow alleys, arches, and stairways offer a naturally medieval setting that requires no artificial scenery. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built between 1776 and 1783 on the site of the old castle, retains the fortress tower as its bell tower: a tangible sign of the past that the re-enactment tells.

Nearby, the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Speranza, about two kilometers from the center, and the medieval church of San Biagio, at the foot of Mount Siserno, are well worth a visit. A geological curiosity: the village is located on an ancient extinct volcanic center, a theme explored in the MUVE, the museum of volcanism housed in Palazzo Brettagna.

A tradition within a summer of festivals

The Historical Re-enactment is not an isolated event; it is part of a busy Giuliano summer curated by the Pro Loco, including the Maccaruni cugli feri Festival and the Dialect Poetry Competition, which together make up the village's August calendar. Those who arrive for the re-enactment will also find the cuisine of the Ciociaria, featuring handmade pasta, extra virgin olive oil, and products from the Lazio hinterland.

Why it's worth the trip

This is a local re-enactment, not a massive event with thousands of tickets: precisely for this reason, it retains a participatory and genuine atmosphere, where the inhabitants are the true protagonists. For those visiting the Ciociaria in summer, it is an opportunity to discover a village off the beaten path of mass tourism and to understand how deeply papal and feudal history has marked this corner of southern Lazio.