Italian Ghost Tour - Ciociaria Special (Vicalvi Castle)

Ghosts and legends in a Lombard castle

When night falls over the Comino Valley, Vicalvi Castle — the Lombard fortress that dominates the village with its iconic red cross — transforms into the stage for the Italian Ghost Tour - Ciociaria Special. This is not a séance or a paranormal investigation, but an immersive theatrical tour: actors from the Italian Ghost Story company guide the audience through courtyards, towers, and ancient halls, giving voice to ghost stories and legends rooted in the oral traditions of Ciociaria and all of Italy.

A format inspired by great European ghost tours

The project brings to the province of Frosinone a format beloved in capitals of mystery like Edinburgh, London, Dublin, and Prague, where ghost tours have long been a compelling, theatrical way to discover the history and soul of a place. In Vicalvi, characters from the past emerge from the shadows of the walls, stories alternate with nocturnal atmosphere, and the castle's history intertwines with the spirits that, according to legend, still inhabit it. To meet high demand, the evening is organized into multiple time slots, from twilight until late at night; the experience is not suitable for young children.

The legend of Aleandra Maddaloni

The narrative heart of the tour is the manor's most famous legend: that of Aleandra Maddaloni, a 17th-century chatelaine who, according to tradition, was walled alive in one of the towers by her jealous husband. On full moon nights, locals say, a female figure draped in a white veil still appears within the walls. Alongside her story, other tales of Italian tradition are recounted, from the Neapolitan 'monaciello' to the maidens of the so-called 'well of virgins', in a repertoire that blends local folklore with classic tales of mystery.

Vicalvi Castle, between history and memory

Built around the year 1000 on Lombard foundations, the castle features a unique almond-shaped layout and passed through the centuries from the Counts of Aquino to the Borgia family, before a long period of abandonment and its eventual return to the community: it has been municipal property since 1986. On the south-east facade stands the large red cross painted in 1943, when the building was used as a military hospital: a mark that makes the fortress silhouette recognizable from across the valley. The charm of the site and its mysteries has even attracted the cameras of Rai, which has dedicated reports to the castle and its ghosts.

A project born from a book

The Italian Ghost Tour of Vicalvi was born from the collaboration between the Italian Ghost Story company, the Pro Loco, and the Municipality of Vicalvi, launched during the presentation of the book "I Fantasmi della Ciociaria" (The Ghosts of Ciociaria), which features the castle on its cover. Following its debut in October 2023, the event was repeated in the summer of 2024 with sold-out evenings — including the show "Tra passato e presenze" (Between Past and Presence) — thanks to the work of professional actors and young students led by playwright and actress Silvia Tagliavento.

Vicalvi, the Comino Valley, and Ciociaria

Vicalvi is one of the most evocative villages in the Comino Valley, in the province of Frosinone, at the gateway to the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. A visit to the castle is also an opportunity to discover the historic center, the Convent of San Francesco linked to the passage of the Saint of Assisi, and the flavors of local charcuterie: an authentic corner of Ciociaria, in the heart of the Lazio region, where history is told through its ghosts as well.