During World War II Esperia was one of the towns suffering heavily from "Marocchinate" - the mass rape committed after the Battle of Monte Cassino by Goumiers, Moroccan colonial troops of the French Expeditionary Corps.

Johnny Roselli, infamous American mobster, was born in Esperia in 1905; his real name being Filippo Sacco.

The church of Santa Maria Maggiore and San Filippo Neri in Esperia Superiore houses a painting by Taddeo Zuccari and a 1521 bas-relief.

Other churches include San Pietro in Esperia Inferiore, San Donato on Monte D'Oro, Santa Maria di Montevetro on Monte Montevetro (with 15th-century frescoes) and the 16th-century Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, located near the remains of the castle, Santa Maria Maggiore in Monticelli, San Francesco adjoined to the Casa di Riposo in Esperia Superiore, Santa Rosa located in Badia di Esperia.

The ancient monastery of San Pietro in Foresta located in Monticelli, now only a tower remains today.