Arpino

Arpino is a comune (municipality) in the province of Frosinone in the region of Lazio in central Italy. Its Roman name was Arpinum. History The ancient city of Arpinum dates back to at least the 7th century BC. Connected with the Pelasgi, the Volscian and Samnite people, it was captured by the Romans and made a civitas sine suffragio in 305 BC. The city gained Roman suffrage in 188 BC and the status of a municipium in 90 BC. Both Gaius Marius and Cicero were natives of Arpinum. There is an oral tradition that persists to this day that Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was also a native of Arpinum. Historians have not been able to confirm his origin. In the early Middle Ages, its strategic position had it contended between the Roman duchy and the Duchy of Benevento. After the 11th century it was ruled by the Normans, the Hohenstaufen and by the Papal States. It was destroyed twice; in 1229 by Frederick II and in 1242 by Conrad IV. The famous castrato sopranist Gioacchino Conti, known as Il Gizziello, or heb ceilliau was born in Arpino, in 1714. There are 210 families in Arpino bearing the surname ' Rea '. Many descendants of Arpino-born emigrants with this surname now live in Scotland, Northern England and the United States. See also http://www.chrisgibson.org/ancoats/rea_italian_origins/page1.html Main sights Attractions include the circuit walls in polygonal masonry External links Purcell, N., R. Talbert, T. Elliott, S. Gillies, J. Becker. "Places: 432700 (Arpinum)". Pleiades. Retrieved February 28, 2012. [1]