Ferentino

Ferentino
Comune
Comune di Ferentino
Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Coat of arms
Ferentino Location of Ferentino in Italy
Coordinates: 41°41′N 13°15′E / 41.683°N 13.250°E / 41.683; 13.250Coordinates: 41°41′N 13°15′E / 41.683°N 13.250°E / 41.683; 13.250
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province / Metropolitan city	Frosinone (FR)
Frazioni	Porciano
Government
• Mayor	Antonio Pompeo
Area
• Total	80 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation	393 m (1,289 ft)
Population (31 May 2012)
• Total	21,027
• Density	260/km2 (680/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Ferentinesi or Ferentinati
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	03013
Dialing code	0775
Patron saint	St. Ambrose
Saint day	May 1
Website	Official website

Ferentino is a town and comune in Italy, in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, 65 kilometres (40 mi) southeast of Rome. It is situated on a hill 400 metres (1,312 feet) above sea level, in the Monti Ernici area.

Ferentinum was a town of the Hernici; it was captured from them by the Romans in 364 BC and took no part in the rising of 306 BC. The inhabitants became Roman citizens after 195 BC, and the place later became a municipium. It lay just above the Via Latina and, being a strong place, served for the detention of hostages.

From 1198 to 1557 it was the seat of the Papal rectorate of Campagna and Marittima province.

Strong in textiles (linen and embroidery) and handicraft (clay bricks from Fornaci Giorgi), after World War II Ferentino experienced a heavy industrial growth, mainly in pharmaceuticals.

Ferentino still possesses remains of ancient fortifications. The lower portion of the outer walls, which probably did not stand free, is built of roughly hewn blocks of a limestone which naturally splits into horizontal layers; above this in places is walling of rectangular blocks of tuff. Two gates, the Porta Maggiore, a double gate constructed entirely of rectangular blocks of tuff, and the Porta Sanguinaria (with an arch with tuff voussoirs), are preserved. Outside this gate, the testament of Aulus Quinctilius Priscus inscribed in the rock.

The highest part of the town, the acropolis (2nd-1st centuries BC), is fortified also; it has massive retaining walls similar to those of the lower town. At the eastern corner, under the present episcopal palace, the construction is somewhat more careful. A projecting rectangular terrace has been erected, supported by walls of quadrilateral blocks of limestone arranged almost horizontally; while upon the level thus formed a building of rectangular blocks of local travertine was raised. The projecting cornice of this building bears two inscriptions of the period of Sulla, recording its construction by two censors (local officials); and in the interior, which contains several chambers, there is an inscription of the same censors over one of the doors, and another over a smaller external aide door. The windows lighting these chambers come immediately above the cornice, and the wall continues above them again. The whole of this construction probably belongs to one period.