Anagni stands on a hill overlooking the Sacco valley, about 45 minutes by car from San Vito Romano. Once a centre of the ancient Hernici people, in the Middle Ages it became one of the most important towns of the Papal States: several popes were born or lived here for long periods, including Innocent III, Gregory IX, Alexander IV and Boniface VIII, which is why it is still known today as the “city of the popes”.
The highlight of a visit is the Cathedral of Santa Maria, built in Romanesque style between the late 11th and early 12th centuries on the highest point of the town. Inside, the Cosmatesque floor stands out, but the real treasure is the crypt of Saint Magnus, entirely covered in 13th-century frescoes with scenes from the Old Testament, the Apocalypse and figures of saints; its richness has earned it the nickname of the “Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages”.
A few steps from the cathedral is the Palace of Boniface VIII, residence of the Caetani family, to which Pope Benedetto Caetani belonged. The palace is linked to the famous “slap of Anagni”: on 7 September 1303 the men of Guillaume de Nogaret, envoy of King Philip the Fair of France, and of Sciarra Colonna broke into the pope’s residence to arrest him. Today visitors can see several rooms with medieval decoration, such as the Hall of the Geese and the Hall of the Chessboards.
The visit is completed by the medieval streets of the historic centre, with stone houses, arches and small squares, perfect for a stroll before heading back to San Vito. Opening times and guided tours of the crypt and the palace change during the year: it is worth checking them before setting off.
Opening hours and contacts
Cathedral Museum and Crypt of San Magno
The museum is open every day; the crypt is part of the museum route and cannot be visited on its own. Booking is mandatory, for individual visitors too.
- April to October: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and 3:00 – 7:00 pm;
- November to March: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and 3:00 – 6:00 pm;
- last entry: one hour before closing;
- Sunday mornings: the ticket office closes at 10:30 am and reopens at 3:00 pm;
- during services: visits are suspended.
In the crypt the lights come on at fixed times, every half hour (from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 3:30 to 6:30 pm), and stay on for 20 minutes.
Phone: +39 0775 728374
Email: museo@cattedraledianagni.it
Address: Via Leone XIII, Anagni (Frosinone)
Palace of Boniface VIII
The palace is open every day:
- 5 April to early November: Monday to Friday 9:30 am – 1:00 pm and 3:00 – 7:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am – 7:00 pm;
- 4 November to 4 April: Monday to Friday 9:30 am – 1:00 pm and 3:00 – 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am – 6:00 pm;
- last entry: 45 minutes before closing;
- special days: on 24 and 31 December it closes at 6:00 pm, on 25 December it opens in the morning only.
Phone: +39 0775 727053
Email: palazzobonifacioviii@archeoares.com
Address: Strada Vittorio Emanuele 238, Anagni (Frosinone)
Sources for opening hours and contacts: Cattedrale e Museo di Anagni - Orari e biglietti for the museum and the crypt; Città di Anagni - Palazzo Bonifacio VIII for the palace (checked in October 2026).
Photo: Diego Baglieri, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Settembre2014, CC BY-SA 3.0; Diego Baglieri, CC BY-SA 4.0.