Palazzo di Bonifacio VIII – the site of the “Slap of Anagni”

History and description

Built between the 12th and 13th centuries by order of the popes of the Conti family, such as Innocent III, the palace was later purchased by Pietro II Caetani, nephew of Pope Boniface VIII, becoming the center of the family’s power. Over the centuries, it passed through the hands of various owners until it was acquired by the Cistercian Sisters of Charity, who made it their Mother House, as it still is today. The building also houses the Museo Bonifaciano e del Lazio Meridionale. Architecturally, it features two main halls—the Sala delle Scacchiere and the Sala delle Oche—as well as a Lapidarium. However, it is most famous for being the site of the celebrated “Slap of Anagni” in 1303, when Giacomo “Sciarra” Colonna affronted the Pope.

Curiosities

Boniface VIII, the pope after whom the palace is named, was the pontiff of the Jubilee of 1300, which drew thousands of pilgrims. At the same time, he was harshly criticized by Dante Alighieri, who in Canto XIX of the Inferno accused him of corruption.

Access

Open daily with morning and afternoon visiting hours, the palace can be visited at the cost of €5–6, with free entry and specific reductions available.

How to reach it

The building can be reached by car via the A1 motorway (Anagni-Fiuggi exit), by bus, or by train to Anagni.

As the setting of one of the most famous and debated episodes in history, the Palazzo di Bonifacio VIII is the perfect destination for lovers of art and history.

Photo credits: Marcello Nucciarelli (Wikipedia) - Licensed by CC 4.0