Are you looking for an accessible but fascinating trekking experience? The route from Fontanafredda to Orto della Regina, an ancient Sannita settlement on Mount Frascara , is the one for you. With a modest difference in altitude of 350 meters and a total length of just over 10 kilometers , this itinerary alternates slightly uphill sections, short slopes and flat sections, making it suitable for anyone with a minimum of experience in walking . In any case, don’t forget your trekking shoes.
The starting point is the ancient Fontanafredda wash house , located about 3 kilometers from the center of Roccamonfina , in the province of Caserta , in the direction of Sessa Aurunca. Recently restored, the wash house is a symbol of the social life of the past , even if today the water no longer flows inside it. However, three external fountains still offer fresh and clear water, known for its diuretic properties : an excellent opportunity to fill a few bottles before leaving. Near the wash house, you will also find ample space to park .
Let’s get going
Leaving the wash house on your right, turn immediately left onto a small asphalt road . After about a kilometer and a half, the asphalt path ends in a hairpin bend, where other paths converge. Continue to the right, following the hairpin bend, and from here on the path becomes a dirt road but wide and easy to walk . This stretch, about 4 kilometers long, runs along Mount Frascara on the outside, offering a breathtaking view of the Domitian coast up to Gaeta , in lower Lazio.
The dirt path ends in a large clearing dominated by an unphotogenic repeater antenna . From here, another short uphill stretch , marked by an arrow and an information sign, will take you in a few minutes to a large panoramic meadow, ideal for a lunch stop . Here you will also find a small cone-shaped structure, pompously called an “ astronomical observatory ”. Even if you have to bring your own telescope, the structure can offer shelter from the wind during nighttime stargazing.
You reach the top
A few metres further on, you finally reach the summit of Mount Frascara, at 923 metres above sea level, where the Orto della Regina awaits you , an ancient Samnite settlement surrounded by megalithic walls.
From here begins the return of the path from Fontanafredda to the Orto della Regina, all downhill . The first stretch is dirt, up to the base of the antenna-repeater, then turn right and descend into the ancient crater of the Roccamonfina volcano , active up to 50,000 years ago. This stretch of asphalt road, fortunately not very busy, will take you back to the starting point, closing a loop rich in history, nature and unforgettable views.
The Queen’s Garden
Hidden among the chestnut trees on the top of Mount Frascara, at 923 meters above sea level, the Orto della Regina is, in reality, a little-known archaeological site but with an undoubted charm . This ancient settlement, located in the municipality of Roccamonfina and near the border with Sessa Aurunca, is characterized by imposing megalithic walls that enclose an area of about 2,500 m². The walls, dating back to pre-Roman times, were built by the Auruncan people between the 6th and 5th centuries BC and subsequently used by the Samnites as a military observation post during the conflicts with Rome, between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC
The wall circuit , surrounded by chestnut trees and in good condition, is 3 meters high and 2 meters thick . Built with the opus siliceum technique , it uses large blocks of trachyte overlapped dry, adapting perfectly to the natural conformation of the peak. The enclosure , with an irregular polygonal shape, has a perimeter of about 180 meters , with a 4-meter wide main entrance located on the south-east side, near what appears to be a bastion structure.
Near the site, an ancient paving stone connected the Queen’s Garden to the Aurunci pentapolis , in particular to the cities of Suessa and Vescia, leading to the hypothesis of the existence of another Aurunci centre in the area.
The Mystery of the Name Queen’s Garden
The strategic position of the site, which dominates the Garigliano river plain and the Gulf of Gaeta, underlines its military importance. However, the name “Orto della Regina” has fueled various theories over time about its original function. The term “orto” could refer to a military enclosure or, alternatively, derive from the Latin hortus, used by ancient Italic peoples to indicate sacred places. The attribute “Regina” has instead led to the hypothesis that the site was dedicated to a female deity, such as Mefitis , a goddess associated with springs and sulphurous emissions. In support of this theory, a Roman tuff stone with the inscription “Mifineis” was found in Roccamonfina , which could be a variation of the goddess’s name, suggesting the presence of a temple dedicated to her.
Other interpretations see the Garden of the Queen as a military border , with “Mifineis” meaning “border stone”, since the territory of Roccamonfina marked the border between the Aurunci and the Sidicini, an ancient Italic population. The most plausible theory, however, combines the sacred and military aspects, proposing that the site was initially a sanctuary, then transformed into a strategic fortress to defend against enemy attacks.
