Patrica

Patrica is an ancient hill-top comune (municipality) in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region Lazio, located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) southeast of Rome and about 10 kilometres (6 mi) southwest of Frosinone. It is part of Ciociaria, not far from the Monti Lepini. It borders Ceccano, Frosinone, Giuliano di Roma, and Supino; and overlooks the Sacco and Liri valleys. The origins of the town are not well-known. The Romans called it Patricum. Their presence is attested by aqueduct ruins in the area. Numerous patrican villas which were located below the town. During the 20th century, a large number of people emigrated from Patrica to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, in the United States, to work in the steel mills. The Italian community there continues to celebrate each 16 August the Feast of San Rocco, patron saint of Patrica. Mount Cacume Mount "Cacume" (derived from the Latin cacumen for top, or peak), is mentioned in Canto IV of Dante’s ’’Purgatory’’: Mondazi in Bismantova e iu Cacume, and lies just southwest of the town. In 1903, a 14-metre (46 ft) high, 400-tonne (400,000 kg) cross was erected on the top of the mountain. Demographic evolution References