This square is the meeting point of the historic centre: a venue for numerous summer events of all kinds and a gathering place for the town’s older population. It is dedicated to Itri’s most famous figure, Frà Diavolo, born Michele Pezza.
Frà Diavolo, who lived between the 18th and 19th centuries, earned a place in history for his brigand activities against Napoleon Bonaparte’s French forces.
Born in 1771 in a house just below the square (where a commemorative plaque can be seen), Michele Pezza earned his nickname from an episode in his childhood. Legend has it that, stricken with a serious illness, his mother vowed to Saint Francis to obtain a miracle: if her child recovered, she would dress him in a Franciscan habit until it wore out. Michele recovered, and his peculiar attire earned him the nickname “Frà Michelino,” later transformed into “Frà Diavolo” due to his constant pranks on his playmates.
As an adult, he committed the murder of two fellow villagers (likely over an honour dispute) and became an outlaw, joining the bandits operating in the Itri area. However, it was the arrival of the French that marked his rise to prominence: to strengthen his army, King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon commuted death sentences into years of military service, and Frà Diavolo enlisted in the Bourbon army. His skill in military tactics and troop management earned him the rank of colonel and the title of Duke of Cassano. He was responsible for halting the French at the Sant’Andrea fort, severing communications between northern and southern forces.
The French advance, however, marked the end of his career: the king ordered a retreat, but Frà Diavolo, disobeying and continuing his disruptive actions, was captured in Bassiano, found guilty, and hanged in Naples’ Piazza Mercato in 1806.
His legacy remains controversial. Some consider him a hero defending the poor against the oppression of the rich, while others see him as a violent and bloodthirsty bandit, akin to the infamous brigand Mammone.
Theatre and cinema have immortalised him, with numerous films inspired by his life: among them, The Devil’s Brother with Laurel and Hardy, and I tromboni di Frà Diavolo starring Vianello and Tognazzi.
