It was founded by Benedictine monks in the 8th or 9th century. The historic center of Cervara can only be reached by foot after a 35-metre (115 ft) climb. The village is located in the Monti Simbruini Regional Park.
Cervara has experienced a steady loss of population since World War II as residents left farming for jobs in nearby Rome. With approximately 75 percent of Cervara's inhabitants over the age of 60, the town's population dipped to 471 in 2015.[2]