Monte San Biagio

Monte San Biagio
—  Comune  —
Comune di Monte San Biagio
Coat of arms
Monte San Biagio Location of Monte San Biagio in Italy
Coordinates: 41°21′N 13°21′E / 41.35°N 13.35°E / 41.35; 13.35Coordinates: 41°21′N 13°21′E / 41.35°N 13.35°E / 41.35; 13.35
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Latina (LT)
Frazioni	Campo Marinella, Pieterte, San Vito, Valle Viola Bassa, Vallemarina, Vallemarina Iannace, Vallemarina Scorzaro
Government
– Mayor	Gesualdo Mirabella (since June 2004)
Area
– Total	66 km2 (25.5 sq mi)
Elevation	133 m (436 ft)
Population (1 September 2009)
– Total	6,179
– Density	93.6/km2 (242.5/sq mi)
Demonym	Monticellani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	04020
Dialing code	0771
Patron saint	St. Blaise
Saint day	February 3
Website	Official website

Monte San Biagio is a town and comune in the province of Latina, in southern Lazio (Italy). It is located on the slope of a hill part of the Monti Ausoni.

History and main sights

The Roman presence in Monte San Biagio's territory is testified by the presence of a mausoleum attributed to Emperor Galba, a native of the area, but which probably belonged to Sextus Iulius Frontinus, who had a great villa in the vicinity. The Romans defeated the Samnites here, at the Passo della Portella: in the place a fortified gate was built, which was later used as the border customs of the Kingdom of Naples. Nearby is a watchtower from the period of Pope Sixtus V.

The origins of the modern town date back to the Middle Ages, when a castle was built here (over the Roman ruins), firstly as a stronghold of the Duchy of Gaeta, and later of the Duchy of Fondi. The first document mentioning the Castrum Monticelli, however, dates from 1099, from the archives of Monte Cassino. In the following centuries it was a fief of Fondi, a possession of the dell'Aquila family from 1145. Later it was ruled by the Colonna, the Carafa, the Mansfeld and the Di Sangro, as part of the Kingdom of Naples.

In the winter of 1788 the town was sacked by the French army, while, after the Bourbon restoration and the subsequent unification of Italy, the neighbourhood was the base of brigandage. In 1862 the name was changed to Monte San Vito and, soon thereafter, to the current Monte San Biagio.

Transportation

Monte San Biagio lies next to the Via Appia, once the main road from Rome to Campania. It is also connected by a branch of the Via Flacca from Terracina to Gaeta.

The town is served by a railway station on the mainline between Rome and Naples.

Traditions and Gastronomic Specialities

There are several dishes particular to Monte San Biagio. Shrimps from the local lakes, and wild asparagus. The pork sausages are particularly distinctive, usually hand made from the meat and lard of the pig, mixed with chilli pepper and coriander seed.

It is also home to 300 hectares of cork oak woods, one of the few areas of production outside of Sardinia.

Twin cities

• Saint-Romain-le-Puy, France
• Übersee, Germany