Isola del Liri: the medieval village with a waterfall in the historic center

Just one hour from Rome lies Isola del Liri, one of the most beautiful villages in Lazio. Right in the historic center you can admire two stunning waterfalls that make this fairytale-like town a truly enchanting place. A wonderful village worth a day trip to discover the places that tell the story of its past.

Isola del Liri: history

We are in the province of Frosinone, in one of the most beautiful and evocative villages of Lazio. In ancient times, the town was inhabited by the Volsci and later conquered by the Romans in 305 BC. The Liri River, which surrounds the entire town, has always been one of the main sources of wealth and development: it provided an inexhaustible source of energy, both mechanical and hydroelectric. In this way, the two waterfalls of the Liri could generate power for industrial machinery.

From 1580 to 1786, Isola del Liri was ruled by the Boncompagni family, Dukes of Sora, and in the Liri Valley the first industrial settlements were established: paper mills and wool mills, both immediately linked to the exploitation of hydraulic energy. Thus began the development of the wool industry, particularly near the Cascata del Valcatoio. This locality, still called so today, derives its name from Valca, meaning Valchiera, a fulling mill.

Later, between 1821 and 1841, new paper mills arose, bringing Isola del Liri fully into the industrial revolution of the time. These industries became among the most important in paper production and, consequently, in the national economy. Along the entire Liri River, power plants, paper mills, and factories producing cardboard and cellulose were established.

Today, visitors can follow a tourist route that testifies to the illustrious past of Isola del Liri as the “City of Paper.” The route begins at the bridge on the town’s main street, the perfect spot to admire and photograph the waterfall. The walk continues along Corso Roma to the River Park, where you can see remains of old paper machines, and ends at the foot of the Cascata del Valcatoio.

What to see in Isola del Liri: the Cascata Grande

The historic center of Isola del Liri is a true gem; its houses are embraced by the river and the traces of its history. The Liri River, coming from the Sora plain, reaches the travertine rock base on which the majestic Boncompagni Viscogliosi Castle stands, and here it splits into two branches. In this way, it surrounds the town as if it were an island.

The left branch forms the Cascata Grande, the vertical waterfall, about 27 meters high. The right branch creates the second waterfall, the Cascata del Valcatoio, which flows down an inclined rock wall for 160 meters.

The Cascata Grande is a striking natural and architectural scene, immortalized many times by Italian and foreign artists in prints and paintings. For example, Philipp Hackert in 1777, an 18th-century landscape painter and friend of Goethe, painted it on his return journey from Abruzzo; likewise, I. Bidault in 1790 painted the landscape of Isola del Liri with the waterfall, a work now exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The Boncompagni Viscogliosi Castle

The Boncompagni Viscogliosi Castle is a national monument and stands at the point where the Liri River divides to form the two waterfalls. During the Middle Ages, the castle was a fortress used to defend the valley. In the 15th century, it became the ducal residence of the noble Della Rovere family, serving as the main seat of political activities.

In 1580, it was purchased by the Boncompagni family, from which it takes its current name.

During those years, Isola del Liri experienced its most flourishing period: several religious buildings were constructed, such as the Chapel of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Church of San Lorenzo, which are still among the main attractions for visitors today. In the 17th century, Costanza Sforza had the castle interiors frescoed and a park created. The castle is privately owned but can be visited by reservation on dedicated days through its official website.

Villas, palaces, and towers

Enriching the cultural heritage of Isola del Liri are numerous noble palaces, examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The most important building is certainly Villa Lefebvre, today part of the Historic Residences of Lazio. It was built for Ernesto Lefebvre, son of Count Carlo of Balsorano, founder of the Lefebvre paper mills.

The villa’s interiors are decorated with frescoes, trompe l’oeil, and papier peint, and feature splendid Belle Époque stained glass windows. It is not normally open to the public, but can be rented as a venue for private events and dream weddings. Other noble palaces in the village include Palazzo Marsella, Palazzo Chigi di Fede, Palazzo Nicolucci, and Palazzo Mazzetti-Marsella, all dating between the 17th and 19th centuries.

The churches

Walking through the magical alleys of Isola del Liri’s historic center, you can stop to visit its numerous ancient churches.

Among the main ones are: the Church of San Lorenzo Martire (17th century); the Church of Sant’Antonio, rebuilt in the 20th century on pre-existing medieval structures; the Church of Madonna delle Grazie (18th century); and the Church of San Giuseppe, built between the 18th and 19th centuries, also on medieval remains. You can also admire the ruins of one of the oldest churches, the Church of the Holy Trinity, dating back to the 11th century.