Subiaco climbs a hill in the upper Aniene Valley, at about 400 metres above sea level, not far from San Vito Romano. Its name already tells its story: it comes from the Latin Sublaqueum, “below the lakes”, because the town grew up downstream of the artificial basins that Emperor Nero had created by damming the river, in the gorge where his villa stood.
Here, at the beginning of the 6th century, Saint Benedict of Nursia founded his first monasteries, after the years he spent as a hermit in a cave in the valley. Of those foundations the Monastery of Santa Scolastica survives, where in 1465 the German printers Sweynheym and Pannartz set up what is considered the first printing press in Italy; a little higher up, set into the rock, is the Monastery of San Benedetto, the Sacro Speco. Each has its own page in the Places section.
The historic centre is dominated by the Rocca Abbaziale, the medieval fortress of the abbots of Subiaco, extensively remodelled between the 16th and 17th centuries and linked to the Borgia family: according to tradition, Lucrezia Borgia was born here. At the foot of the fortress lies the old town, with its stairways, arches and the neoclassical church of Sant’Andrea, damaged during the Second World War and later restored. Just outside the town, an old bridge crosses the Aniene and leads to the Convent of San Francesco, dating from 1327.
Subiaco is also the birthplace of the actress Gina Lollobrigida and the starting point for the climb to Monte Livata and the trails of the Monti Simbruini Park. With the two monasteries, the old town and the fortress, it makes an ideal full-day trip from San Vito.
Opening hours and contacts
Rocca Abbaziale
The fortress is open every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday, without a lunchtime break:
- 1 May to 31 October: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm;
- 1 November to 30 April: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm;
- closed: 25 December and 1 January.
Special openings are announced on the fortress website.
Phone and WhatsApp: +39 379 177 7766
Email: info@roccadisubiaco.it
Address: Piazza Santa Maria della Valle (Salita Don Gigi), Subiaco (Rome)
Monasteries of San Benedetto and Santa Scolastica
The two monasteries are open every day, with a midday break: the Sacro Speco roughly 9:00 am – 12:30 pm and from 3:00 pm, Santa Scolastica 9:30 am – 12:15 pm and from 3:30 pm. Full opening hours, phone numbers and sources are on the pages of the Monastery of San Benedetto and the Monastery of Santa Scolastica.
Opening hours may change: it is best to check them before setting off.
Source for the fortress opening hours and contacts: Rocca Abbaziale di Subiaco - official website (checked in October 2026).
Photo: Mattis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0.