Ciociaria

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'Ciociaria (pronounced choh-chah-REE-ah) is the name of a traditional region of Central Italy comprising approximately the northern half of the Province of Frosinone. Its inhabitants are known as Ciociari (singular Ciociaro).

In a looser sense, the term Ciociaria may indicate a broader region of Italy comprising most of southern Lazio, and adjoining areas of southern Abruzzo and of Molise.

The name appears to be derived from the ciocia (plural cioce), the traditional footware still worn by sheep and cattle herders in the Central Appennines. Ciociaria is also the name of asteroid 21799 (see List of named asteroids (A-E), List of asteroids (21001-22000), and Meanings of asteroid names (21001-22000)) †.

In the Middle Ages, this region was referred to as Campagna. The local dialect, now known as ciociaro, was earlier referred to as campanino. (In more recent times, the term Campagna Romana, or Roman Campagna, a favorite subject of countless painters from all over Europe, has referred to the adjoining region to the north of Ciociaria, but part of the Province of Rome.)