Visit Anagni Italy: Your Trip to the Enchanting City of the Popes

Perched in the rolling green hills of southern Lazio, the medieval town of Agnani isn’t just old, it’s legendary. Known as the City of Popes, Anagni holds a unique place in history, where papal power once clashed with emperors and where ancient alleyways still echo with centuries-old stories. But it’s not all solemn frescoes and Gothic cathedrals, this town also knows how to please the palate. After wandering past Romanesque facades and diving into tales of Boniface VIII, you’ll want to slow down with some Lazio wine tours, maybe paired with local prosciutto or aged pecorino. Anagni isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about soaking in that deep, layered magic you only find in places that have truly lived.

Visit Anagni and the best things to do

Explore the Anagni Cathedral

The Cathedral of Santa Maria towers quietly over Anagni’s hilltop streets, stoic, powerful, and full of stories. Step inside and you’re walking through centuries of whispered prayers and papal secrets. But the real magic is below. In the crypt, frescoes bloom like visions, angels, saints, zodiac signs, and swirling medieval colors that earned it the nickname Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages. It’s dark, it’s intimate, and it grips you in a way most museums never will.

Visit the Palace of Boniface VIII

The Palazzo di Bonifacio VIII doesn’t just sit in Anagni, it looms. More fortress than palace, this stone giant once hosted popes and political storms alike. Walk its echoing halls and you’ll land smack in the middle of one of the juiciest dramas in church history: the infamous “Slap of Anagni,” when power, pride, and papal politics all collided under one furious roof in 1303. Inside, it still feels charged. The throne room? Chilly, frescoed, and tense, like the silence before a storm.

Wander through Anagni’s historic center

Wandering through Anagni’s historic center isn’t just sightseeing, it’s time-traveling with a fork in hand. These narrow alleys twist through centuries of Romanesque arches, stone palaces, and faded frescoes that whisper stories of popes, noble families, and quiet revolutions. You’ll pass facades that feel more lived-in than preserved, some linked to the powerful Caetani or Conti dynasties, others simply proud of their age. And when the stroll stirs your appetite, cozy trattorias tucked between the stones invite you in with the scent of roasted meats, handmade pasta, and pours of rustic local wine from nearby Lazio vineyards.

Visit the House of Barnekow

The House of Barnekow feels like a love letter from another time. Once home to the eccentric Swedish painter and historian Albert Barnekow, who fell under Anagni’s spell in the 19th century, this building still bears his mark, literally. Its walls are etched with cryptic symbols, hand-painted inscriptions, and artistic flourishes that feel both mysterious and oddly intimate.

Walk to the Palazzo della Ragione

Also known as the “Palace of Reason,” the 13th-century Palazzo Comunale brings a quiet authority to Anagni’s historic core. With its solid Romanesque arches and towering presence, it once echoed with civic debates and courtroom decisions, reminding visitors that this was a city of both popes and power. Just a few steps from the cathedral, it’s the perfect addition to your walk through town, adding depth to Anagni’s story beyond the church walls.

Marvel the Bell Tower

The bell tower of San Magno rises like a quiet guardian over the rooftops of Anagni. Built in the 13th century, its layered stonework and elegant arches reflect the austere beauty of medieval church architecture. There’s something almost solemn about it, until sunset hits. That’s when the whole tower catches fire in soft gold, its silhouette etched against the fading sky.

Visit Anagni and the best things to do around

Discover the iconic Alatri

Just about 15 miles (a scenic 35-minute drive) from Anagni, Alatri is a hidden gem that deserves a spot on your Lazio itinerary. This ancient hilltop town is famous for its towering acropolis and some of the best-preserved polygonal walls in Italy, massive stones fitted so perfectly that they’ve held strong for millennia. As you explore its Romanesque churches, winding alleys, and noble façades, you’ll feel a strong connection to the medieval spirit of Anagni.

Visit the ancient city of Ferentino

Around a 30-minute drive, Ferentino is where Roman history and medieval mystique collide. Walk through ancient gates and weathered arches, explore the crumbling acropolis, and you’ll get a real feel for the layers of time packed into this hilltop town. Romanesque churches and fresco-filled chapels pop up around every corner, echoing the same vibes as Anagni’s Cathedral and the crypt of San Magno.

Discover the papal legacy in Viterbo

Just about 56 miles north of Anagni, Viterbo brings its own papal swagger to the Lazio travel circuit. While Anagni is famous for that legendary papal slap of 1303, Viterbo played it cooler, hosting popes during the 13th century when Rome felt a little too hot to handle. The Palazzo dei Papi, medieval towers, and sturdy Romanesque churches here mirror the spiritual weight you’ll find back in Anagni, but with a twist of northern Tuscia flavor. Pair the two cities together and you get a full arc of Church power, drama, and beauty, all steeped in stone and still whispering secrets.

Dive into our lates guide, visit Viterbo Italy!

Good to know before visiting Anagni