Marche reGION: be enchanted a holiday amongst the villages and castles of an ancient region Country Culture and rural traditions

The hinterland of the Region, with an intimate atmosphere with a human dimen- its rolling, cultivated hills, is a perfect fit be- sion: from the Montefeltro region to the Sibillini tween man and nature, culture and traditions. mountains, from the coast of Gabicce to San The landscape is characterized by hills, which Benedetto del Tronto, the Marche Region of- cover 69% of the whole region. The hillsides fers a wide range of opportunities to discover have been shaped and formed by sharecrop- perfectly preserved towns and villages to your ping and polyculture, which has been partly hearts content, where you can still enjoy a replaced by intensive, specialised cultiva- Medieval and Renaissance atmosphere. Im- tion. The major crops include wheat, olives mersed in beautiful mountain landscapes or and vine. The Marche Region boasts 15 DOC situated on vine-carpeted hills, each town re- wines, 5 DOCG wines and 1 IGT wine. Certi- veals itself to the eye with a beauty and indi- fied products are increasingly growing, includ- viduality that will take your breath away. ing six PDO and five PGI products. Old villas or If you steer away from the common tourist manor houses, intact examples of sharecrop- routes and visit the less famous and busy ping architecture, have often been converted towns - by car, by motorbike or using any into farm holidays (agriturismo): this type of ac- means of transport – you will discover real commodation is a very special way of sampling Italian life as it is actually lived. the excellent culinary traditions and of visiting The deep roots of peasant life are, indeed, the many small villages scattered throughout to be found in these places, where there is the territory. a veneration for the land and for a quiet and These villages are enchanting oases of history simple lifestyle. The Marche Region boasts and culture, where time seems to have come to nineteen communes which belong to the a standstill, surrendering to a pleasantly slow “I Borghi più belli d’Italia” - the club of the and human pace, where the only perceivable most beautiful villages of – including small rhythm is the inexorable change in the daytime Italian towns of significant historical and artistic hours or seasons. You can go on an infinite interest. In addition, the Orange flag is a pres- number of tours and itineraries to discover the tigious banner awarded by the Italian Touring most hidden and the most picturesque villages Club to nineteen communes of the hinterland in the Marche Region, and where you can still that can meet certain requirements, notably experience a truly authentic atmosphere. protection of cultural heritage and the envi- Small villages, like pearls set amidst timeless ronment, the hospitality culture, the food and landscapes, still preserve their original fea- wine offering and quality hospitality services. tures, where work done centuries ago is still The historical pageants that take place in the carried on and where local people extend a town centres are spectacular, and many events warm greeting and welcome to visitors. Ar- are connected with religious occasions or local tisan traditions and local tastes and flavours artisan or gastronomic produce. are waiting to be discovered without haste, in Amandola (FM)

3 the most beautiful “orange flags” Villages of italy

“I Borghi più belli d’Ita- The “Orange Flag” is a qual- The project “Gusta lia” (the club of the most ity brand for the tourism and l’Arancione” (enjoy beautiful villages of Italy) environment sectors assigned the orange) enhances is a club including Italian by the Italian Touring Club. It is and promotes the local quality wine and food in important art and historical towns. The club awarded to small towns of the the “Orange Flag” towns of the Marche Region, was created in 2001 by the National Associa- hinterland which stand out for by organizing food and wine itineraries for one tion of Italian Communes and operates with the excellent services and high-quality hospital- or more days. San Ginesio is the leading town aim of protecting, preserving and revitalizing ity. To get this award the towns have to meet of the project which aims at: small urban centres, either towns or villages, some requirements: protection of both the • creating a “Sistema del Tipico” (System of which are recognized of great importance al- cultural and environmental heritage, hospital- the Typical) which is a resource made of though they are not included in the main tourist ity culture, quality of accommodation, catering, knowledge and local production that could circuit. To join the club, a town must meet the wine and food as well as availability and use of meet the global market demand; following requirements: integrity of the urban information. • developing the sustainability of these typi- area, architectural harmony, high standards of The “Orange Flag” favours the social and eco- cal products, by making the local systems quality of life, artistic and historical quality of nomic growth through sustainable development adopt specific strategies of enhancement as both private and public building heritage, good and tourism. Some of the aims are as follows: well as efficient actions of coordination and public services. The club organizes several the enhancement of local resources, the devel- orientation at a regional level. events in the villages such as festivals, exhibi- opment of accommodation, the strengthening • focusing on actions aimed at developing Genga (AN) tions, fairs, meetings and concerts to enhance of local identity and the promotion of typical the local farm and food products, also in the and promote the artistic, cultural and histori- local food and handicrafts. 19 “Orange Flags” tourism sector, enhancing their characteris- cal heritage as well as the best local wine and fly in the Marche Region. The towns which were tics and highlighting the territorial culture and food. The inhabitants of villages, associations, assigned the outstanding award are: Acquaviva origins; schools and local artists are directly involved Picena, Camerino, , Genga, Gradara, • “exporting” the local products of the Marche in the events. Mercatello sul Metauro, Mondavio, Montecas- Region also abroad and through a cultural 19 towns of the Marche Region are members siano, Montelupone, Monterubbiano, , exchange between “Orange Flag” towns in- of the Association “I Borghi più belli d’Italia” Ostra, Pievebovigliana, Ripatransone, San Gi- volved in the project and foreign towns; (the club of the most beautiful villages of Italy): nesio, Sarnano, , Urbisaglia, Visso. • qualifying and diversifying the offer for the , Corinaldo, Gradara, Grottammare, enhancement of “MARCHE BRAND”. Matelica, Mondavio, Mondolfo, Montecas- siano, Montecosaro, Montefabbri, Montefiore dell’Aso, Montelupone, Moresco, Offagna, Offida, San Ginesio, Sarnano, Treia e Visso.

Visso (MC) www.borghitalia.it www.bandierearancioni.it www.gustalarancione.com

4 5 aCQuaViVa PiCena Camerino

Acquaviva Picena, a small 22 m high. The interior, with the Church of San Francesco town situated in the hinterland two vaulted rooms which are with the adjoining convent is of San Benedetto del Tronto, linked by a masonry staircase, the oldest Franciscan founda- is located on a hill where you now houses a very interesting tion of the whole region, es- can enjoy a breathtaking view exhibition of ancient weapons. tablished by “S. Francesco d’ over the Apennine Mounts, At the foot of the fortress is Assisi” upon invitation of Ac- like Vettore, Gran Sasso and the “Piazza del Forte”, with quaviva family. The traditional Maiella. The village features its theatrical parterre and low activity of the village is the the fortress, a real master- semicircle buildings. The “Pi- production of straw baskets, piece of Renaissance mili- azza San Nicolò” is the hub of made according to a method tary architecture, whose first the old town, stretching be- handed down from generation construction dates back to tween two opposite hills; upon to generation. the fourteenth century com- it the sixteenth century church Camerino boasts a well pre- century works), the Archaeo- About 3 km away from the missioned by Acquaviva no- of the same name, “Casa served historic centre - its Me- logical Museum with findings town centre, in Renacavata ble family. It was then rebuilt Rossi Panelli” (Rossi Panelli dieval plant underwent a little from the Neolithic to the Mid- area, rises up the Capuchin in 1474 by architect Baccio House) and the Civic Tower change over the last few cen- dle Ages, as well as the Mu- Convent, mother house of the Pontelli. The plan is an irregu- rise. Outside the old town, turies – as well as a brilliant ar- seum of Natural Science. order, dating back to 1528. lar quadrangle, enclosing a chitecture of the ancient capi- The Cathedral, rebuilt by An- The church preserves a mag- large central courtyard with tal ruled of Da Varano family. drea Vici in the nineteenth nificent decorated majolica in a well and the tops strength- The Ducal Palace, important century, retains the fifteenth a showcase attributed to Mat- and lively cultural centre, is century wooden sculpture tia della Robbia. ened by pinnacle towers. The the seat of the University of “Madonna della Misericordia”, The most typical Camerino’s highest tower, the keep, has a Camerino; it is worth visiting the so-called “la Madonna specialties are: the “ciauscolo”, cylindrical shape and is about its fifteenth century portico bella” and, in the crypt, the a kind of spreadable salami, the and courtyard, the “Sala de- fourteenth century Gothic Sar- nougat and the walnut bread. gli Sposi” (Bride and Groom cophagus of “Sant’Ansovino”, INFO hall) with its fifteenth-century ancient Bishop of the town. INFO Commune of Acquaviva Picena frescoes, as well as the “Val- From the impressive Strong- Commune of Camerino www.comuneacquavivapicena.it entiniana” Library, boasting a hold of Cesarew Borgia, which www.comune.camerino.mc.it Tourist association prestigious book heritage. At was destined to protect the Tourist Information Acquaviva Picena the foot of the Ducal Palace western sides of the hill where Phone number +39 0737 632534 www.prolocoacquavivapicena.it there is the nineteenth century the town rises up, there is a EVENS Botanical Garden. breathtaking view over the EVENTS The thirteenth century Con- « Sibillini » Mountains. Historical pageant of the Palio del Duca-Sponsalia “Corsa alla Spada e Palio” - May August vent of “San Francesco” Not far from the town walls www.corsaspada.camerino.sinp.net www.paliodelduca.it houses the Civic Picture Gal- stands the Roman Gothic lery (with an important sculp- Church of « San Venanzio », International Festival of music tural and pictorial collection which was later rebuilt in neo- and chamber theatre - August www.camerinofestival.it housing thirteenth eighteenth classical style.

6 7 Cingoli Corinaldo

Geographically located in the Visiting the town is a pleasant preserves findings of the near- top of the hill. The Venetian centre of the Marche Region experience, with an impres- by site of “Moscosi”, dating painter “Claudio Ridolfi” lived at the top of Monte Circe, Cin- sive atmosphere of ageless back to the Bronze age, and and worked in Corinaldo in goli offers a 360° view of the calm, also because the centre the Civic Picture Gallery. the seventeenth century. He hills of the surrounding terri- is almost fully closed to traffic. Outside the city walls lie the was dedicated the Art Town tory. In the background, the Many churches are worth a Collegiate Church of St. “Es- collection that houses works Apennines lie on one side and visit: the Cathedral dedicated uperanzio”, with its beautiful by “Ercole Ramazzani” and the Adriatic sea and Monte to “Santa Maria Assunta”, the Romanesque façade, where “Domenico Peruzzini”. Conero on the other, deserv- Church of “San Filippo Neri”, numerous artworks are pre- The town was the birthplace ing the name of “the Balcony the Church of “San Niccolò” served, and the Sanctuary of “Santa Maria Goretti”, so of the Marche Region”. and the Church of “San Do- of “Santa Sperandia”, whose you can visit the house and Originally a Roman municipi- menico”, which contains the original structure dates back shrine dedicated to her. um, Cingoli was the birthplace great painting Madonna of the to the thirteenth century. In the area of “Santa Maria of the Roman General Titus Rosary by “Lorenzo Lotto”. The municipal area of Cingoli del Piano”, the church of the Labienus and, more recently, The laical buildings are the is extensive and very well pre- same name - subject to ex- of Pope Pius VIII. Town Hall, the “Palazzo Con- served: it is possible to take cavation works - represents The centre is characterized by ti”, “Palazzo Puccetti” and nature excursions in the many a showcase for investigation a series of noble residences “Palazzo Castiglioni”, where woods and forests on the of the ancient mediaeval set- with exteriors of warm-col- Pope Pius VIII was born. slopes of “Monte San Vicino”, tlement. oured plaster and Renais- It is worth visiting: the Ar- and in the area of Lake “Cas- sance portals. chaeological Museum, which treccioni”. Strategically located between the walls - over 900 meters in INFO the cities of and Urbino, circumference - in the shade Corinaldo preserves its undam- of a series of lime trees that Commune of Corinaldo www.corinaldo.it aged fifteenth century surround- surround the historic centre. INFO Tourist Information ing walls. Enclosed within these walls Phone number +39 071 67782 Commune of Cingoli They feature impressive walls, are the remains of the previ- www.comune.cingoli.mc.it interrupted by gates, polygo- ous town walls, which date EVENTS Tourist Information nal bastions, towers of various back to 1367. Phone number. +39 0733 602444 “Contesa del pozzo della polenta” shapes and ramparts, one The typically mediaeval town [email protected] historical pageant - July of which - crenellated and centre is a succession of nar- www.pozzodellapolenta.it sharp in form - is attributed to row streets and brick houses. Corinaldo Jazz - August EVENTS Francesco di Giorgio Martini. The most attractive, typical www.corinaldojazz.com “I Giovedì dell’Arte” - Art Thursdays The fortress is noted for hav- street of the town is “Via Piag- Halloween July/August ing withstood a deadly siege gia”, also known as the “Cen- “La Festa delle Streghe” October Cingoli 1848 by the Duke Francesco Maria to Scale” (a hundred steps), www.misstrega.it www.cingoli1848.it della Rovere. which ascends straight up to It is worth taking a walk around the “Piazza del Terreno” at the

8 9 frontino genga

Frontino is, by population, liste”, who left most of his chio”, which supplied flour The castle of Genga is locat- the smallest Municipality in works to the city of Frontino. and bread to the castle, has ed in the heart of the Regional the Province of Pesaro and The museum in the old town a guard and a defense tower Park of “Gola della Rossa e Urbino and in the Montefeltro centre is infact devoted to him. and it now houses the “Museo di Frasassi”; its origins are Mountain Community. Its terri- The pride of the town is the del Pane” (Museum of Bread). linked to “Pierosara” (ancient tory is part of the Natural Park thirteenth century convent The monastery of San Gi- Longobardic family of Castel- of Sasso Simone e Simoncello of Montefiorentino. Accord- rolamo, a wonderful place petroso) and the Monastery of where, in Pian dei Prati, during ing to tradition it was founded surrounded by oak trees, has San Vittore. the summer months a Wildlife by St. Francis in 1213 and it recently been restored and it The name of the village origi- Park can be visited. Boasting a is one of the largest monaster- is now used as a service resi- nates from the family of “Conti number of breathtaking pano- ies in The . From its dence. It consists of a church, della Genga”, feudatories who ramic views, Frontino is domi- church comes the Altarpiece a convent and a service de- built the imposing palace and nated by Mount Carpegna and by Alvise Vivarini, which is now pendence. The back wall of the the fine medieval walls. In the at his feet lies the valley of the on display at the National Gal- dining hall is adorned with one town centre it is worth visiting river Mutino, whose stones lery of Urbino. Last Supper. The upper floor the Church of “Santa Maria pave its internal streets. The monastery includes a houses the old monks’ cells. Assunta” and the “Museo di These stones were used to small cloister and preserves Among the flavours of this Arte Sacra” (Museum of Sa- build beautiful towers, the cas- the Renaissance Chapel earth are to remember the cred Art) which is rich in valu- tle walls and the fountains by of the Oliva Counts, built in black truffle and the bean, able works of art. Franco Assetto, the great art- 1484 and a masterpiece of to which some events are The territory of the town has places, woods and caves to ist from Turin precursor of pop Renaissance art, attributed dedicated, the organic baked a number of attractions: the be discovered: climbing up art and promoter of the artistic to Francesco De Simone Fer- goods, dairy products and Frasassi Caves, discovered in you will see the octagonal movement “Baroque Ensemb- rucci da Fiesole, where it can beef. 1971, are one of the most in- church commissioned by also be found the beautiful For over thirty years in Frontino INFO teresting and well-known karst altarpiece by Giovanni Santi, has been taking place the Na- Commune of Genga Pope Leone XII (coming from subterraneous system in Italy. INFO Raffaello’s father, and a fresco tional Literary Prize “Frontino www.comunedigenga.it Genga) and built by Valadier attributed to Evangelista da Montefeltro”. “Frasassi” caves The Romanesque Abbey of inside a cave, as well as the Commune of Frontino “San Vittore alle Chiuse”, one Via Giovanni XXII 5 (Town Hall offices) Piandimeleto. Since 2014 it has been ac- www.frasassi.com ancient Monastery of “Santa Tel. +39 0722.71131 - Fax +39 0722.71342 The fourteenth century water knowledged as one of The Regional Natural Park of of the most important build- Maria infra saxa”, located in- [email protected] mill known as “di Ponte Vec- Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. “Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi” ings of the region, is located side a natural cave. www.frontinomontefeltro.it www.parcogolarossa.it in this area. Next to the Abbey, San Vittore has a health spa www.comune.frontino.pu.it there is the Speleological Mu- with sulphur water containing EVENTS EVENTS seum, whose most important sodium and chloride for the Autumn Festival attraction is an ichthyosaur treatment of respiratory dis- National Prize for Culture October/November “Frontino - Montefeltro” fossil, a kind of rare marine eases. In the area of Genga October Live Nativity Scene reptile which lived 150 million and the park you can go hik- December Black Truffle Festival years ago. ing, enjoy mountain biking, www.presepedigenga.it 1st weekend of August The “Gola di Frasassi” is a canoeing and horse riding. Feast of leguminous plants succession of breathtaking of Montefeltro 1st weekend of September 10 11 gradara grottammare

The village of Grottammare is It is lovely to walk around the liberty style. INFO located on the edge of a hill village, where Pope “Sisto V” The seafront is one of the Commune of Gradara overlooking the Adriatic Sea. was born and his memories most outstanding of the re- www.comune.gradara.pu.it The histocial centre of Grot- are still alive: the Church of gion, with a lush palm line, Tourist Information tammare, with rural houses St John the Baptist, that to- imported from Canary Islands www.gradara.org and medieval alleys, is gen- day houses the “Sistino” Mu- during the early years of the Province of Pesaro-Urbino erally called the “Vecchio In- seum, with the objects that twentieth century. Toll-free number 800 563800 casato” (while the historical the Pope offered to his town, www.turismo.pesarourbino.it name is “Castrum Gruptarum the sixteenth century Church EVENTS ad Tisinum”); it is located of “Santa Lucia”, built by the around the remains of the Pope nearby his home, and “Gradara d’amare” - (Gradara to love) February eleventh century fortress and the eighteenth century “Aran- INFO Solstice in the Castle it is surrounded by walls. cio” Theatre (Orange Theatre), Thursday in the Castle Along the walls it is worth with the statue of the Pope on Commune of Grottammare June/Spetember visiting the Tower of Battle, a the façade. Phone number +39 0735 7391 www.comune.grottammare.ap.it Siege in the Castle sixteenth century fortification The historical centre is sur- July recently renovated, housing rounded by Mediterranean Tourist Information Phone number +39 0735 631087 www.assedioalcastello.it the museum dedicated to vegetation, with orange groves [email protected] the sculptor “Pericle Fazzini”, and agaves. Hotel Association Gradara is definitely linked you enter the village. Via Um- by Aspertini, and altarpieces author of the famous Resur- In the lower part of the village, “Riviera delle Palme” to the romance of Paolo and berto I, full of short build- by Andrea della Robbia and rection in the Nervi Hall at the especially along “Viale Colom- Toll-free number 800 120052 Phone number + 39 0735 83036 Francesca, the lovers immor- ings with shops, coffee bars Giovanni Santi. Vatican. bo”, there are fine cottages in [email protected] talized by Dante in his “Divina and restaurants, leads to the Around the castle you can www.rivieradellepalme.com Commedia” (Poem V). The intermediate walls, which take the path “Sentiero degli “Consorzio Riviera delle Palme” tourist can easily plunge into separate the village from the innamorati” (the lover’s path) Phone/fax numbers +39 0735 595088 the medieval atmosphere of squared Fortress with a po- that surrounds the hill, where [email protected] knights, weapons and love, lygonal tower in the north- you can enjoy the sharecrop- www.larivieradellepalme.it by visiting the fortress and its eastern side. The town plan ping landscape over Pesaro, fortified village which over- of Gradara dates back to the full of both cultivated lands EVENTS looks the landscape of this twelfth century, but extensions and wood areas. “Cabaret amore mio” strip of land located in north- and modifications occurred The most typical dish is the (Cabaret my love) International Festival of humour ern Marche. Gradara has two under the rule of the Malat- «bigol,» a kind of homemade July/August walls: the most external one, esta and Sforza families, until spaghetti topped with mush- www.cabaretamoremio.it crowned by theatres and the eighteenth and nineteenth room or meat. Liszt Festival squared crenellated towers, centuries. The interiors are July/August has a strong visual impact on decorated with fifteenth and www.festivaliszt.com the visitor; going through the sixteenth century pieces of Clock Gate, the only doorway, furniture, and contain frescoes

12 13 maCerata feltria mateliCa

Macerata Feltria, the Roman Battelli” of 1932 fully restored the remains of its ancient monas- rini”, the architect who built the Pitinum Pisaurense, is nestled and operational, the nineteenth- tery, which now houses the Mu- “Teatro alla Scala” in Milan. in a green valley on the bor- century Parish Church of St. seum of Vintage Radio, the sec- In Palazzo Piersanti is hosted der among the Regions of The Michael the Archangel in which ond public museum of antique the museum taking its name Marches, Romagna and Tuscany, is preserved a precious Crucifix radios in Italy. The Palace of the from the collections of Venan- in the heart of Montefeltro and painted on wood by Olivuccio di Podestà (twelfth century) houses zio Filippo Piersanti, donated in it boasts a landscape of great Ceccarello in 1396, and the Pit- the Civic Museum of Archaeology 1901 to the Cathedral Chapter. beauty. A prime land for its geo- inum Thermae, the thermal First and Palaeontology. Among the notable works, graphical location, a moderate Level Super, where you can prac- Across the river stands the Castle paintings by Bellini, Antonio climate, natural and cultural re- tice all types of spa sulfur treat- (eleventh and fourtheenth cen- di , Francesco Gentile sources and the richness of its ments . In the basement of the turies) with a pyramidal shape, da Fabriano, Salvator Rosa, thermal springs, make it an ideal Church of Santa Chiara (thirteen placed on a hill and surrounded Carlo Maratta, are preserved, place for a full recovery of health century) is a Museum of indus- by walls, on the top of which as well as exquisite silvers, and a complete relaxation. Not trial archeology, which exposes stands the Torre Civica where rare and valuable furniture. by chance, it is one of The Most equipment in perfect working palaeontological specimens The discovery of Matelica Beautiful Villages in Italy”. order. are displayed. Near the south- does not stop in the historical The Village is home to the eight- In the basement of the Church of ern entrance of the Castle is lo- centre but it continues tasting eenth century Palazzo Antimi Santa Chiara (thirteenth century) cated the Arc of the Pelasgians, the local products: “Verdic- Clari, the beautiful Theatre “A. is a Museum of Industrial Arche- the mythical “Sea Peoples” of the chio” wine, honey, excellent ology, which exposes equipment pre-Hellenic Greece, founders of cheese and sausages. The in perfect working order. the town . INFO Matelica is located in a very “Palazzo del Governo” with its Along the road leading to the On the road to Carpegna stands area surrounding the village Commune of Macerata Feltria good position, in a valley be- porch, “Palazzo Ottoni” and castle you can find the Church of the Romanesque church of San has variegated hilly or moun- Via Antimi 14 (Town Hall offices) tween “Monte San Vicino” the Town Hall. tainous slopes to go hiking in Phone number +39 0722.74244 St. Francis, built in the fourteenth Cassiano in Pitino near which you Fax +39 0722.74709 century and rebuilt in the seven- can see the excavations which and the Apennines chain of The historical town centre can contact with the nature. [email protected] teenth and eighteenth centuries, have revealed the remains of the mountains of Marche and be visited walking through http://www.comune.maceratafeltria.pu.it/ with a Gothic portal and frescoes Pitinum Pisaurense and in par- Regions; the village is streets and alleys with a num- Tourist Information Centre Point: of the fifteenth century and also ticular of an ancient Roman road. surrounded by vine-carpeted ber of buildings belonged to INFO [email protected] hills; its “Verdicchio di Ma- aristocrat families as well as Phone number – Fax +39 0722.728208 Commune of Matelica telica DOC” is a well-known churches, retaining valuable Macerata Feltria Spa www.comune.matelica.mc.it Phone number +39 0722 728080-73245 white wine; the “Verdicchio di works of art, such as the Ca- Tourist information www.pitinumthermae.it Matelica Riserva” is a DOCG thedral of “Santa Maria As- Iat Pro Loco (Travel bureau) wine (one of the Marche’s top sunta”, the Church of “San Phone number EVENTS quality white wines). Francesco” rich in works of art +39 0737 85671 +39 0737 85333 Tuesday weekly market Most of the life of Matelica re- of the 15th century, the Church Kids’ carnival, last sunday of carnival volves around the central “Pi- of “San Domenico” and the Antique fair of San Giuseppe EVENTS saturday and sunday close to march 19th azza Mattei”, where stands its Church of “Sant’ Agostino”. International Folk Meeting Jewels in Macerata Feltria elegant sixteenth century The Town Theatre was de- July/August first weekend of august fountain. signed by “Giuseppe Pierma- www.assfolkmatelica.org Wonderland, december 8th Theatre season, from december to april 14 15 merCatello sul metauro mondaVio

The village, which was one of preserves the walls of the ear- collection of Sacred decora- careful reconstructions of re- the most important castles of liest Romanesque building, tions. The Church of “San al-size catapults, trebuchets, the ancient region of Massa with beautiful Gothic windows Francesco”, located in the bombards and other siege Trabaria, retains medieval and an old Byzantine icon square with the same name, machines. The historic centre features; its walls are pro- representing “Madonna delle is a very beautiful building dat- is surrounded by a wall system tected by the groove of two Grazie” retained in a precious ing back to the Romanesque of 780 m. in length; the most water courses: “Metauro” and golden and painted wooden Gothic time and renovated in remarkable monuments are: “Sant’Antonio”. In the central shrine. the fifteenth century. It boasts “Palazzo dei Malatesta”, the “Piazza Garibaldi” stands the The museum of the Colle- a number of artworks: a four- church of “San Francesco”, Collegiate Church, which still giate Church contains a wide teenth century crucifix by Gio- the Collegiate Church of “Ss. vanni da Rimini and the tomb Pietro e Paterniano”, the four- of “Bartolomeo Brancaleoni”, teenth century “Palazzo della who was lord of Mercatello in Comunanza”, the old Insti- the first half of the fifteenth tute managing the Commu- century, stand out in the apse. nity Property, and the Theatre The area of Mercatello sul “Apollo”, built in the mid-eight- Metauro is well known for its eenth century on the ruins of a Situated on a hill at 280 m and cultural centre of an ex- truffles, both black and white, fifteenth century church. above sea level, between the tensive territory. which are the main ingredients The former Covent of “San valleys of the Metauro and Today it is still protected by of the local dishes. Francesco” houses the Town Cesano rivers, with views that its walls and defended by a Museum with interesting doc- sweep from the Adriatic to mighty fortress, and its pal- uments of art and history like the Apennines, the beautiful aces and churches witness a the Virgin Mary with Child by historic centre is among the glorious past. Olivuccio of Ceccarello. best preserved of the Marche The Fortress is considered Region. to be the greatest landmark Mondavio was ruled by the in Mondavio, commissioned INFO Malatesta, the Piccolomini, by Giovanni della Rovere and Commune of Mondavio INFO Medici, the Montefeltro and designed by the Sienese ar- www.mondavioturismo.it Commune of Mercatello sul Metauro the Della Rovere families un- chitect “Francesco di Giorgio Province of Pesaro-Urbino www.comune.mercatellosulmetauro.pu.it til 1631, when it passed to Martini”. It was built between Toll-free number 800 563800 Province of Pesaro-Urbino the Church State. Apparently 1482 and 1492. Today it is seat www.turismo.pesarourbino.it Toll free-number 800 563800 decentralised, Mondavio be- of the Museum of Historical www.turismo.pesarourbino.it came a soldering centre and Pageant ad Armoury in the EVENTS a focal point for a perfected Fortress. An exhibition of the “Nino” Festival - January EVENTS www.festadelnino.org system of fortifications, as “war machines” of Francesco “Palio del Somaro” well as an administrative hub di Giorgio Martini has been Boar-hunting and Renaissance Traditional Italian Donkey race banquet - August July and a commercial, religious set up in the castle moat, with www.mondavioproloco.it www.prolocomercatellese.191.it

16 17 mondolfo monteCassiano

Mondolfo, an ancient village heart of the castle is the large Outside the city walls there are Montecassiano is a Medieval placed as a balcony overlook- central square dominated by the Church and the Convent village located in the heart of ing the sea, its name comes the Town Hall from which ray- of St. Augustine, with works the Marche Region, among from Castrum Montis Offi, shaped alleys and staircases by Claudio Ridolfi and Giovan the hills of Macerata; it is sur- that is the Mount of Offe, the start in different directions. Francesco Guerrieri; the Con- rounded by high walls over- forefather of the feudal family Alongside is the Collegiate vent of San Sebastiano and looking the valley of the river who had the lordship of the Church of Santa Giustina, the Abbey of San Gervasio of “Potenza”. castle until the advent of the with a Baroque interior that Bulgaria, founded in the fifth- The town planning of the vil- Malastesta. preserves an eighteenth cen- sixth century, that houses an lage is made of concentric ring The first circle of walls, oval- tury organ by Gaetano Callido. important sarcophagus from roads which, following the hill shaped, dates back to the In the Oratory of “San Giovan- Ravenna area dating back to shape, join on the top, in the sixth century. A.D. It belonged ni Decollato” a crucifix which sixth century. central square. Here stood the to a Byzantine castrum having is considered as miraculous A few kilometers far from castle of “Santa Maria in Cas- a regular urban structure. and a Baroque painting por- the old town center, Marotta siano”, attested as early as In the fourteenth century traying Salome with the Head is a pleasant seaside resort 1151, with the name of “Cas- Mondolfo passed under the of St. John are exhibited. to which the Blue Flag was trum Montis Sanctae Mariae”. rule of the Malatesta, then the Among the civil buildings awarded. The rural and marine The Palace of “Priori” rises of the “Seven Brotherhoods”. Montefeltro and Della Rovere, whorthy to be mentioned are soul of Mondolfo can be found up in Piazza Leopardi, where The discovery of the village under whose rule the new Palazzo Giraldi della Rovere, in its typical products and cui- in the past the castle court has to include beautiful his- boundary wall and a mighty Palazzo Peruzzi and the Bas- sine, where dishes based on was located, with a crenel- torical courtyards which have fortress were built (and then tion of Saint Anne, that once bean flour and fish (Spaghetti lated façade and porch; the been recently restored: the demolished destroyed in the its military function was over, Mondolfese) and “garagoj” Town Council Meeting Room Augustinian cloister, housing nineteenth century) by Franc- has become an elegant Italian (molluscs) play a leading role. of the Palace houses an altar the Tasting Centre, the Gar- INFO den of “San Giacomo” and the esco di Giorgio Martini. The garden. piece with Virgin, Saints and Commune of Montecassiano courtyard of the Monastery of musician angels by Johannes www.comune.montecassiano.mc.it the Poor Clares. These histori- Hispanus. The nearby Colle- Tourist information giate Church of “Santa Maria cal places liven up every sum- Phone number +39 0733 290483 INFO Assunta”, built by the Ben- mer on the occasion of the Commune of Mondolfo edictine monks of the Abbey “Palio dei Terzieri“. In Autumn EVENTI www.comune.mondolfo.pu.it/ of “Fiastra”, with a beautiful in Montecassiano you can “Palio dei Terzieri” Tourist information Office terracotta façade, houses a taste a typical specialty of the July Toll-free number +39 800 407171 Marche Region: “li sughitti”, a www.paliodeiterzieri.com +39 0721 939252 splendid terracotta altarpiece [email protected] by “Mattia della Robbia”. In kind of pudding made with the Festival of “Sughitti“ October the Church of “San Marco” is grape must according to the EVENTS preserved an archaeological local farming tradition. “La Spaghettata” - March collection and the Church of www.marottaturismo.it “Santi Filippo e Giacomo” is “Sagra dei Garagoj” - April the seat of the gathering place www.marottaturismo.it 18 19 monte grimano terme monteCosaro

Montecosaro is between Ci- On the other side of the Basilica of “Santa Maria a piè vitanova and Macerata on a square, further historical di Chienti”, or “Santissima hill overlooking the valley of monuments are the Augus- Annunziata”, which is located the river Chienti and looks like tinian Complex, including the in the village of Montecosaro a small castle facing the sky. Church of “Sant’Agostino”, Scalo. The church is probably The historical centre, which built around the middle of the of Longobardic origin as the can be reached through the thirteenth century, and the historical documents prove its Door of “San Lorenzo”, is Town Hall, a former monastery existence since 936 and two surrounded by the fourteenth of the Augustinians. inscriptions document that century walls. In central “Pi- Finally it is worth visiting most of the present building azza Trieste” stand the nine- the garden of “Cassero”, was commissioned by Abbot teenth century “Teatro delle an ancient fortified fortress, Agenolfo and consecrated in Monte Grimano Terme, was important in the disputes hares, deer and hawks. Logge”, “Palazzo Cesarini”, whose tower no longer ex- 1125. formerly called Mons Ger- between the Montefeltro from The urban layout of its old former “Palazzo dei Priori”, ists; here the view sweeps The building has two floors manus, is situated on a spur Urbino, for whom it represent- town centre has a spiral shape the medieval town tower re- from sea to hills. Not far from with a matroneum and ala- overlooking the valley of the ed a defensive stronghold, and of typical medieval origin. The built in the eighteenth century the town centre there is the baster windows, the walls Conca and, thanks to its 600 the Malatesta from Rimini. fifteenth-century Civic Tower is and the Collegiate Church Church of “San Rocco”, with retain fragments of frescoes m above sea level, it offers Today, it represents a true what remains of the Medieval of San Lorenzo, featuring its its octagonal plan and beau- of the fourteenth and fifteenth pure air, a mild climate and the gateway to the Montefeltro for Palace. In the parish church original Romanesque tenth tiful frescoes attributed to centuries. The apse features atmosphere of hill landscapes. people coming from Romag- of San Silvestro, built at the century bell tower and hous- “Simone de Magistris”. The volumetric effects due to the As an old medieval castle, it na. Immersed in an enchanting end of the eighteenth century ing a large wooden pre-Giotto most remarkable tourist at- combination of various small natural scenery, the precious and designed by Cosimo Mo- crucifix. traction is the Romanesque apses. INFO healing alkaline, sulphurous relli from Imola in neoclassical Commune of Monte Grimano Terme and saline-bromic-iodic wa- style, but altered, there is an Piazza Matteotti 1 (Town Hall Offices) ters used in the well-equipped organ dating back to the 1700- Tel. +39 0541.970125 hydrotherapy station, flow 1800, a musical jewel of a little Fax +39 0541.970014 [email protected] from the slopes of the near S. less than 500 barrels, now in- www.comune.montegrimanoterme.pu.it Paolo mountain. The proposed ventoried as a cultural asset of INFO Monte Grimano Terme Spa natural methods of the thermal the Marche Region. Thanks to Commune of Montecosaro Tel. 0541 972057 - 0541 972128 www.montegrimanoterme.it station exploit the properties the fulfillment of the criteria for www.comune.montecosaro.mc.it of herbs and mud. The Centre admission to the Most Beauti- Tourist Information EVENTS also hosts a modern spa for ful Villages in Italy, Montegri- Pro Loco (Travel Bureau) Festival of the Pig medical and aesthetic treat- mano Terme came to be part Phone number +39 0733 1870642 January/February ments. This is an ideal place of this exclusive Club that aims Festival of Montefeltro black truffle EVENTS July to regenerate body and spirit, at safeguarding, preserving “Contesa dei Ducati” - Duchy Duel Festival of Montefeltro good meat characterized as it is by gar- and revitalizing small settle- August August dens, woodlands and trails ments that, despite their great www.prolocomontecosaro.it Festival of gourmet pasta where you can meet squirrels, value, risk to be forgotten. September

20 21 montefabbri di Colbordolo montefiore dell’aso

twelfth century crypt, that houses the remains of ”San- INFO ta Marcellina” (moved from Commune of Montefiore dell’Aso Rome in 1666) and a fifteenth www.comune.montefioredellaso.ap.it century bell tower, which is 25 m. high. The apse half–dome EVENTS of the Baptistery is taken from Carnival of Montefiore a Roman marble stone. February From Montefabbri you can Festival of cinema symphonies also reach the village of Col- August bordolo, birthplace of Giovan- “Palio delle Botti” ni Santi, Raphael’s father and September a painter himself. In the town centre, retaining the old walls, there’s the Romanesque church of ”San Giovanni Bat- tista” with a valuable painting by Claudio Ridolfi. The area near Colbordolo is well-known Montefabbri is a small village can see the fifteenth century for the production of top qual- Montefiore dell’Aso is a small rebuilt in neoclassical style. works by “Domenico Canta- in the municipality of Col- “Madonna Lattante” engraved ity extra virgin olive oil and village in the “Piceno” area sit- The Museum of “San Franc- tore”. There are some other bordolo, standing out along in the sandstone. DOC wine from Colli Pesaresi. uated on a hill along the valley esco”, inaugurated in 2007 in exhibitions such as the “Mu- the road linking the towns of Its main attraction is the of river “Aso”. It has a pano- the old Convent, contains the seum of Farming Culture” and Pesaro and Urbino. Its town Church of ”San Gaudenzio”, ramic view over the surround- eminent artistic history of the the “theatrical documentation plan dates back to the fif- one of the oldest churches ing landscape, from the coast village: the remains of the pre- centre Giancarlo Basili” who teenth century with groups of the Parish of Urbino. It to Sibillini Mountains. The old cious polyptych of the Renais- made the setting. Next to of brick houses surrounded was probably built between INFO town is well-preserved with sance are displayed in “Carlo the museum it is worth visit- by castle walls, around them the seventh and eighth cen- Commune of Colbordolo a number of remaining sec- Crivelli” room; unfortunately ing the fourteenth century the habitat is still intact and turies and was dedicated to www.comune.colbordolo.pu.it tions of the surrounding walls it was dismembered, with Church of “San Francesco”, striking. The sightseeing of the first Bishop of Rimini who Province of Pesaro-Urbino equipped with doors and six Saint Peter among the Saints modified in the seventeenth the village is like a backwards was martyred approximately Toll-free number 800 563800 great towers dating back to “Caterina d’Alessandria” century, boasting fourteenth time travel: the atmosphere in 360. The church houses a www.turismo.pesarourbino.it the fifteenth and sixteenth and Magdalene; the mu- century frescoes in the upper is still like the one of the past number of decorative works centuries. The heart of the seum “Adolfo De Carolis” part of the apse. centuries, full of peace and made with the technique of EVENTS town is “Piazza della Repub- documents the activity of the intimacy: you go through the the poor canary grass, all in Celebration of ”Santa Marcellina” blica” which is dominated by woodcut artist who was born arch where was located the black and white. The church July the paleochristian Collegiate and lived in Montefiore; the “Table around the walls” lift bridge, on the arch you is rich in marble and has a Church of Saint Lucia, later modern section houses the August

22 23 monteluPone monterubbiano

The village of Montelupone, where the “Madonna Immaco- located not far from the centre nestling between Macerata lata” by Ernest Van Schaych and near the river Potenza; it and the sea on the hills along is displayed. The nineteenth- has a doorway with a beautiful the valley of Potenza river, is century Town Hall with its Byzantine fanlight and inside, one of the little towns in the neo-classical portico, de- under the great staircase of Marche Region that has bet- signed by the Architect “Ire- the presbytery, there is the ter preserved its historical neo Aleandri”, is located next crypt with the remains and heritage: its walls retain the to the building; inside there is polychrome terracotta statue earliest four doorways and a real surprise: the historical of the Saint. Montelupone the roads feature the ancient Theatre “Nicola Degli Angeli”, is not only history and art: it stone paving. The heart of with ceiling painted in 1887 boasts a rural and agricultural the village is the square of by “Domenico Ferri”, where a tradition: the most typical the Town Hall, a kind of “sit- group of young boys acting as products are artichokes and ting room” overlooked by the musician angels, are hanged honey. Industry is very devel- fourteenth century “Palazzetto in a cloud sky. It is also worth oped too: in the village there Podestà”, a rectangular build- visiting the thirteenth-century are important companies at an The ancient Castrum Montis archaeological and art mu- ancient colonization by the ing with a mullioned portico; Church of “San Francesco” international level. Rubbiani from 1000 AD was seum collections, the colle- Piceni tribes, who came to the nearby the majestic town and the Church of “Santa the result of the union of three giate Church of “Santa Maria Marche, led by a woodpecker. tower, with ghibellines crenel- Chiara”. It is very pleasant to fortified towns - a clear sign of dei Letterati”, housing works The most typical dish is the lation, has the oldest coat of go on discovering the histori- a disputed territory, especially by the native “Vincenzo Pa- “fried noodle”, whose recipe arms in the town, the clock cal town centre, as there are with neighbouring Fermo. gani”, who has been dedi- is kept strictly secret. and the great bronze bell. a number of historic buildings In 1443, the town fell under cated the nineteenth century On the “piano nobile” (main owned by aristocratic families the occupation of the Sforza Theatre, the old Romanesque floor) of the building there is with beautiful façades. The dynasty, which then surren- Church of the “SS. Stefano e the the“Corrado Pellini” Town nineteenth-century Benedic- dered to the Papacy. Its for- Vincenzo” dating back to the INFO Picture Gallery and Museum, tine Abbey of “San Firmano” is tified walls bears the typical eleventh century as well as the Commune of Monterubbiano mark of Sforza influence: they thirteenth century Church of www.comune.monterubbiano.fm.it were much bigger than the the “SS. Giovanni Battista ed Tourist Information INFO buildings inside. Evangelista” boasting eight- Phone number +39 0734 257396 Commune of Montelupone Monterubbiano has lost eenth century frescoes. www.comune.montelupone.mc.it most of its fortified wall sys- The Church of “Santa Maria EVENTI Tourist information tem, except for the tower of dell’Olmo” or “Santa Lucia”, Withsun Army Phone number +39 0733 2249334 the keep and some sections embellished by a statue of the “Sciò la pica” of the walls, but its mediae- seventeenth century Veneto May EVENTS val plan is unchanged. Worth Saint School, is interesting, www.armatadipentecoste.it Festival of “San Firmiano” visiting are the fourteenth too. Festival of the “fried noodle” March August century “Palazzo Comunale” Each year the event “ Sciò Festival of the artichoke (town hall), which houses the la Pica” commemorates the May

25 moresCo offagna

Offagna, located near An- around the fortress is pretty of the village goes on in the INFO cona and “Monte Conero”, small, but full of remarkable Provincial Museum of Natu- Commune of Moresco is overlooked by its squared buildings: the church of ”SS. ral science “Luigi Paolucci”, www.comune.moresco.fm.it fortress standing out as a Sacramento”, which is circular with interesting paleontologi- solitary watch person over the in plan, was built by the Archi- cal, mineralogical, zoological EVENTS surrounding hills. Built in the tect “Andrea Vici” in pure neo- and botanical collections and “Sagra della polenta con le vongole” middle of the fifteenth century classical style. Andrea Vici de- the Regional Museum of the Festival of the “polenta” (corn mush) on the ruins of an old castle, signed also the Monastery of Liberation of Ancona attest- with clams - August it is one of the most beautiful “Santa Zita”, which is s a for- ing the phases of the passage “Festa della Madonna della Salute” and impressive fortresses in tified building. The Church of of the allied coalition in the Festival of Our Lady of Health October the region. It is quadrangular Saint “Lucia”, attested as ear- Marche Region. The typical and rises on a sandstone cliff ly as fourteenth century, keeps specialty of the village is the “Festa del Braciere” Festival of the brazier - October increasing its defensive char- a wooden crucifix dating back “crescia”, a kind of flat bread acteristics. It still retains the to the sixteenth century as cooked on the grill and served massive five-floor tower, that well as seventeenth century with a variety of herbs, the so- The Castle of Moresco, with the fourteenth century, domi- into two parts in an unusual now houses a Museum of An- paintings: an altar piece de- called “foie de campo”. Rosso its alleys, square portico, fres- nates the old doorway of the and original way. The Church cient Weapons. The sentry’s voted to Saint “Bernardino”, Conero is the local outstand- coes and ancient buildings castle and it is framed by a fif- of “Santa Sofia”, which can walkways run along the forti- Patron Saint of the village, is ing red wine, whose vineyards perfectly preserved, takes the teenth century elegant portico. be reached passing under the fied walls, hemmed by dove- fetaured in the Church of “San are throughout the surround- tourist into a medieval and The left aisle of the earliest Clock Tower, has been decon- tail battlements. The village Tommaso” . The sightseeing ing countryside. magic atmosphere. church of S Maria Castro is secrated and is now known It is situated on the top of a now the portico, at the sides as “lu teatrì”. Actually it was hill overlooking the surround- of the square, frescoed by turned into a small theatre. ing Valley of “Aso”. During the “Vincenzo Pagani” (Madonna The church houses an inter- INFO Middle Ages it was the strong- with Child). esting fresco by the school of Commune of Offagna hold of the town of Fermo in The town hall houses a small “Carlo Crivelli” (1430-95). www.comune.offagna.an.it the war against the town of art gallery, boasting many The valley of Aso, at the foot Tourist information Ascoli. Its strategic position is works coming from churches of Moresco, is well-known Iat “Pro Loco” undeniable: the village has a and private collections; the for its fruit and vegetables Phone number +39 071 7107552 breathtaking view that sweeps main work is a large altar crops. The peach of the from “Monte Conero” to “Gran piece by Pagani, featured in “Valle dell’Aso” is one of the EVENTS Sasso”. The triangular shaped the Council meeting room. most famous peaches in Italy Offagna in bloom village, completely surrounded Outside the walls worth visit- thanks to organic farming. May by medieval walls, features ing are: the Sanctuary of the Medieval Festivals July the imposing heptagonal “Madonna della Salute” and www.festemedievali.it twelfthcentury tower. the Church of Our Lady of the “Colombaccio” The other tower, called the Elm, with a niche frescoed by Fair clock tower, dating back to Pagani dividing the church September

26 27 offida ostra

Offida is located on the spurs of an unusual aspect of harmony “Santa Maria della Rocca”, an of the image of the Madonna, a Rocky Mountain between the and beauty. The “Palazzo Co- imposing cotto-tile building in which remained fresh and fra- valleys of “Tesino” and “Tronto”; munale” (town hall) is on the Roman-Gothic style, was built grant for several months, as if the village is surrounded by the main side of the square, with in 1330 on the foundations of it had only just been plucked. ancient walls (Mure Castellane) an elegant loggia formed by 13 an existing small longobardic The façade and the bell tower dating back to the fifteenth trevertine arches and a portico church boasting very beautiful were built in the nineteenth century. A good way of visit- raised in the fifteenth century fourteenth century frescoes at- century. ing this town is to begin with and formed by brick collums tributed to the Master of Offida. Even today, the shrine is a the monument to the Merlettaie with travertine capitals. From the The visit of Offida includes the (lace-workers), depicting three portico you can reach a hidden best local wine and food prod- notable pilgrimage destina- generations of women engaged marvel: the wonderful Theatre ucts. The specialties to taste in tion and is one of the most in the local artisan trade par ex- of the “Serpente Aureo”, built the village are: “chichì ripieno” important Marian shrines in cellence: bobbin lace, which is in the eighteenth century, with (a flat bread with tuna, ancho- the region. still in common practice. Indeed, gilded stucco and intaglio. The vies, capers and peppers), the The typical products are: while ambling around the town square is overlooked by the so-called Offida’s “mushrooms” “Lacrima di Morro d’Alba”, the centre you will often see wom- eighteenth century Church of (anise-based sweet cakes) and local red wine, and the extra en busily working their small Collegiata, with a façade in a Offida’s DOC and DOCG wines. virgin olive oil obtained from Situated along the basin of the medieval circular, winding wooden bobbins in the shady heterogeneous style. The old The former convent of “San “raggia” olive, one of finest river “Misa”, Ostra was known streets, and lower Ostra with entrance-halls of their own town centre offers a number of Francesco” now houses one of olive variety of The Marche. houses. The heart of the town is surprises to discover: noble resi- the two sections of the “Enoteca as “Montalboddo” until 1881 its regular and symmetrical the Piazza del Popolo, with its dences, fountains, churches as Regionale” (Wine Bar, the other and, according to tradition, streets - planned for the area unusual triangular shape, over- well as the most important wor- is located in the town of Jesi), it was founded by refugees around the Abbey of “Santa looked by buildings erected in ship building which is located important and dynamic centre from the Roman town of Os- Croce” and built between INFO different styles and materials, on the border of the residential for the promotion and tasting of tra which was destroyed by 1280 and 1350. The Church Commune of Ostra but which nevertheless retain area, on a cliff: the Church of the Marche Region wines. the Gothic invasions. of “San Francesco” still oc- www.comune.ostra.an.it It is surrounded by medieval cupies a central position and Tourist information Phone number +39 071 7989080 INFO walls with square plan towers, is well worth visiting, boasting Commune of Offida nine of them are still existent. frescoes by “Filippo Bellini” EVENTS www.comune.offida.ap.it The central square, “Piazza and a number of paintings by National exhibition of artistic crafts www.turismoffida.it dei Martiri”, is dominated by “Ercole Ramazzani”. and antiques Regional Wine Cellar in Offida the neoclassical “Palazzo Co- Not far from the centre a must August Phone number +39 0736 880005 munale” (town hall) and the see attraction is the eight- www.antiquariato-ostra.com www.vineamarche.it sumptuous theatre from 1865 eenth century Sanctuary of “Sprevengoli” night EVENTS – “Teatro La Vittoria”. The “Madonna della Rosa”, which October www.visitaostra.it Carnival of Offida, February square is the focal point that houses the miraculous sev- www.inoffida.it connects the two sides of the enteenth century niche dedi- Festival of the “chichiripieno”, August ancient settlement: upper Os- cated to the Virgin Mary. Offida Opera Festival, September tra, where the fortress was lo- According to tradition, in 1666 cated and which has typically a small girl placed a lily in front “Di Vino in Vino” - From Wine to Wine September

29 PieVeboVigliana riPatransone

Pievebovigliana, which dates Mountains. In the upper part to textile tradition, as well as High on a ridge between the back to the ancient Roman of the village stands the fine the famous and old “Mistrà” valleys of the stream “Menoc- time, when it was a station Romanesque parish church of liqueur, prepared with green chia” and river “Tesino” stands along the route to Umbria, “Santa Maria Assunta”, later aniseeds which are macer- Ripatransone, in a fine pano- passed on to Benedictine restored in Neoclassical style; ated in alcohol for 40 days; ramic position so as to deserve Monks during the Late Mid- it houses a precious crypt it is very appreciated both as the title of “balcony of Piceno”. dle Ages and then under the recovered in 1930. The Town a “ digestivo” (digestive) after Its position on the ridge of a rule of “Da Varano” family. Hall houses the Museum “Raf- meal and as an added dash of hill allows long and wide views Pievebovigliana, which has faele Campelli” with remark- liquor to coffee. over most of the highest picks always been a crossroad of able Roman and Pre-Roman of the central Apennines as well various population, enjoys a archaeological finds as well as the Adriatic coast of “Monte brilliant “middle”position. Its as some valuable paintings. Conero” up to “Gargano”. Its historic centre boasts build- view overlooks middle and Around Pievebovigliana there ings dating back to the Middle top hills: on one side there are two remarkable build- INFO Ages, Renaissance and Ba- are the fertile valleys of the ings: the castle of “Beldil- Commune of Pievebovigliana roque time, as well as a curi- Marche’s countryside, on the etto”, which was renovated www.comune.pievebovigliana.mc.it ous distinctive feature, the other side there are the first in the Renaissance time, and National Park of Sibillini Mountains narrowest alley of Italy, only 43 mountain pastures which are the Romanesque church of www.sibillini.net cm. in width. are the archaeological Muse- good production of extra virgin typical of the “Sibillini” Moun- “San Giusto” located in “San Inside the town, around “Cor- um, with over three thousand olive oil and top quality wines, tains area. One part of its ter- Maroto” area. The local typical EVENTS so Vittorio Emanuele II” and finds, and the Art Gallery, such as “Falerio dei Colli As- ritory is actually included in products are: the local fabric, “Feste Triennali” in San Maroto the squarest there are several which contains a rich artistic colani” and “Rosso Piceno the National Park of Sibillini which is handmade according www.propieve.it remarkable monuments. The heritage including important Superiore”. Chestnut Festival Cathedral, built in 1597 but not works by “Vittore Crivelli” and October completed until 1902, contains “Vincenzo Pagani”. www.propieve.it seventeenth century statues Worth visiting are also the INFO and paintings; inside you can “Museo della Civiltà Conta- Commune of Ripatransone visit the shrine of the “Madon- dina e Artigiana” (museum of www.comune.ripatransone.ap.it na di San Giovanni” (Our Lady rural life and handicrafts) and Tourist information of St. John), the Patron Saint of the “Museo del Vasaio” (pot- Phone number +39 0735 99329 the town. Worth visiting is also ter’s museum), with a nearby “Consorzio Riviera delle Palme” the fourteenth century “Palaz- production workshop. Phone and fax numbers zo del Podestà”, one of the Among the specialties of the +39 0735 595088 best-preserved public build- cuisine of Ripatransone are [email protected] ings of the Marche Region. It the “lumacone” or large snails www.larivievadellepalme.it was restored in 1824, and now (cuccëlú in dialect) and the is known as the “Mercantini” “ciavarro”, a typical soup of EVENTS Theatre, dedicated to the poet the Piceno area made with “Cavallo di Fuoco” - Fire Horse who wrote the Hymn to Gari- different legumes. In Ripatran- First Sunday of Easter baldi. Particularly interesting sone’s neighborhood there’s a Festival of the Magdalene – July

30 31 san ginesio sarnano

San Ginesio is a small town of the history of the Marche Sarnano is situated in the the nineteenth century into of mountains and surrounding with a medieval plant; it is sur- Region, is very important. middle of a beautiful valley at the magnificent “Teatro della woods, you can cross the ter- rounded by an impressive and One of Marche Region’s envi- the foot of the Sibillini Moun- Vittoria”, “Palazzo dei Priori”, ritory on numerous trails on wide wall system featuring ronmental education centres tains. Its history is linked to St. “Palazzo del Podestà”, and foot, horseback or mountain sentry’s walkways, embrasures - “Angolo di Paradiso” (corner Francis of Assisi and his fol- the Church of “Santa Maria bike. In winter you can enjoy and towers. of Paradise) - is located within lowers; according to the leg- Assunta”, housing works by winter sports in the nearby Its name derives from its Pa- the beech woods of San Gi- end the Seraph depicted in the “Pietro Alemanno”. district of Sassotetto-Santa tron Saint, the Christian martyr nesio. town coat of arms had been The Civic Museum and Art Maria Maddalena. whose remains are preserved The monastery of “San Lib- drawn by the Saint himself. Gallery is located inside the In Sarnano and in the sur- in the principal monument erato” is located near “San The medieval historic centre former Monastery of St. Clare, rounding territory you can of the town - the Collegiate Liberato” area, in the National is one of the best preserved of and contains a Madonna with sample the culinary delica- Church. Despite its Roman- Park of the Sibillini Mountains. the Marche Region, with the child by “Vittore Crivelli”. cies of the Sibillini region: esque style, it has a late Gothic It was founded at the foot of typical urban structure of a Sarnano is also known for its cold meats and salami, game, façade, and inside are numer- “Monteragnolo” mountain by walled town, its ancient streets thermal baths: special pure vegetables, the simple artisan ous works of art, including a the Lords of Brunforte. The re- in the form of concentric cir- low mineral content waters bread baked in wood-fired ov- wooden crucifix and paintings mains of the Blessed “Liberato cles, and with interesting stair- are extracted. ens. The typical nougat tart is by “Zuccari”, “Pomarancio”, da Loro” were transferred to cases and breathtaking views. Sarnano is a spa town: its well worth tasting, exclusively “Simone de Magistris”. The the monastery; after embrac- “Piazza Alta” is the centre of waters are claimed to be ben- hand-made, using almonds, crypt houses delightful early ing the rule of St. Francis of the ancient settlement, where eficial for a whole gamut of hazelnuts and spices and frescoes decorated by Lorenzo Assisi, he had retired to the the town’s principal monu- complaints, including gout, cooked in a wood burning Salimbeni in 1406. monastery of Soffiano in pen- ments are located: “Palazzo arthritis and liver disease. Im- oven to give them their typi- The Church of “San Franc- ance, until his death. del Popolo”, transformed in mersed in the natural scenery cally crunchy texture. INFO esco”, with its fine doorway The new church was called and polygonal-shape apse, is “San Liberato”, and the Bless- Commune of San Ginesio [email protected] almost of the same period as ed “Fra’ Umile” and “Fra’ Pa- INFO www.comune.sanginesio.mc.it the Collegiate. The museum cifico” were also buried in this Commune of Sarnano Tourist information heritage of San Ginesio can church: these two friars were www.comune.sarnano.mc.it Phone number +39 0733 652056 be found in “Scipione Gentili” companions of the Saint, as Tourist information National Park of Sibillini Mountains Art Gallery with the antique well as characters who ap- Phone number +39 0733 657144 www.sibillini.net section, housing paintings peared in two chapters of St. Sarnano Spa dating back to the mid fifteenth Francis’ writings - the “Little Phone number +39 0733 657274 EVENTS century until the seventeenth Flowers of St. Francis”. www.termedisarnano.it International Folk Festival century, and the modern sec- The most typical dish is “po- The Balcony of Sibillini Mountains tion, with contemporary works, lenta” (corn mush), obtained EVENTS August musical instruments and holy with a variety of local corn and National market exhibition “Medievalia” - Historical Pageant, ornaments. The Municipal a sauce made of different types of artistic crafts and antiques “Palio di San Ginesio” May/June Traditional Horse Race and “Battaglia Historical Archivies, kept in- of meat; the wine “San Gine- tact from 1199 until today and sio” is one of the fifteen DOC “Castrum Sarnani” della Fornarina” - Fornarina battle August August accurately retracing centuries wines of the Marche Region. www.castrumsarnani.org

32 33 staffolo treia

of “Santa Maria di Castellar- etta” is a jewel of baroque art: it was built to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Lepanto. The “Museo del Vino e dell’Arte Contadina” (museum of wine and rural art) is located near the town walls and aims at promoting the local wine. In the attached wine bar, you can taste and purchase the best wines made in the area; the most typical of them is the Verdicchio. The origin of the name derives church of “San Michele”, the contains a valuable fifteenth The village has earned the from the word of the Goddess church of “Santa Chiara”, in century crucifix; the tradition title of “Colle del Verdicchio” Trea-Jana, divinity of Greek baroque style, the church of says that it was engraved by (Verdicchio hill) due to its wine. and Sicilian origin, who was “San Francesco”, the church an angel, however somebody The vine and the olive are the worshiped here. Treia was of “Santa Maria del Suffragio” says that it shows the art of most thriving traditional culti- founded by the Romans: it and the “Teatro Comunale” the great Donatello. Treia’s vations. Staffolo is a member was first a Roman colony (Municipal Theatre), inaugu- specialty is the so called “cal- of the National Association of then Municipium. In the cen- rated on 4th January, 1821. cione”, boasting DOP brand, a Oil Towns. tral “Piazza della Repubblica” The outer southern bastion of typical Easter cake made with stands the little Palace of the the village is the “Onglavina” cheese. Georgica Academy made Tower, being part of the old Staffolo, known as the “bal- polyptych by the so-called by Valadier, the sixteenth- fortified system, with a view seventeenth centuries town sweeping from the sea to the cony of the Vallesina area” “Maestro of Staffolo” and a INFO due to its unique panorama, is wooden altar step attributed INFO hall (”Palazzo Comunale”), Sibillini Mountains. In San Lor- Commune of Treia situated on a hill between the to the school of Lorenzo Lotto. that houses the Civic Museum enzo area, outside the town, Commune of Staffolo www.comune.treia.mc.it Adriatic Sea and the moun- The Church of San Francesco www.comune.staffolo.an.it and the eighteenth century there is the Sanctuary of the tains. (St. Francis) dates back to the Cathedral, one of the most Crucifix with finds of the Ro- EVENTS The intact walls are domi- twelfth century and contains EVENTS important religious buildings man “Trea”, such as a mosaic of the Marche Region. The with Ibis, on the base of the “Calcione” festival nated by the so-called numerous important works, “Verdicchio” Festival May church, devoted to Saint “An- bell tower and at the entrance “Albornoz”fourteenth century including a wooden choir and August The “Bracelet Duel” tower. a valuable organ built in 1769 National Prize of the Golden nunziata”, contains various of the Convent. Here the an- July/August The parish church of by the renowned Venetian or- “Verdicchio” artworks, such as the altar cient parish church was built www.disfidadelbracciale.it “Sant’Egidio” contains a gan builder “Gaetano Callido”. September piece by “Giacomo da Re- on the remains of the Tem- valuable fifteenth century The well worth visiting Church canati”. Worth visiting are: the ple of Isis. The sanctuary

34 35 urbisaglia Visso

Urbs Salvia was was an an- The fortress, built between the Visso, a delightful mountain dei Martiri Vissani”, a bright the fourteenth century Baptis- cient and great city of the Pi- thirteenth and fifteenth centu- village, is located in the heart and harmonious square bor- tery, “Palazzo dei Priori” and ceno, a colony and a Roman ry, is in trapezoidal shape and of the National Park of the dered by elegant fifteenth and “Palazzo del Divino Amore”. municipality. Today Urbisaglia has four towers and a keep Sibillini Mountains and is the sixteenth century buildings Nine kilometres far from Vis- overlooks the valley of the Fi- with Ghibelline battlements. seat of the homonymous park. and boasts a beautiful façade so’s historical centre there is astra, and with its surrounding Nearby is the Church of the The historical centre boasts of the twelfth and fifteenth the Sanctuary of Macereto, walls it is a worthy heir of the “Addolorata”, with a portal of impressive walls, medieval century Collegiate Church of in Bramantes ‘s style, built in ancient and glorious Roman Roman origin as well as early balconies, buildings and tow- “Santa Maria”, which con- the first half of the sixteenth town, remains of which may sixteenth century frescoes. ers, Renaissance noble pal- tains valuable medieval works century. It is also worth tast- be viewed in the Archaeologi- Not far from the centre stands aces, carved stone doorways of art, and the Church of St. ing local food specialties: the INFO cal park. the Abbey of “Chiaravalle di with coats of arms and Latin Augustine. The latter church, town, indeed, is well known Commune of Urbisaglia This contains the amphi- Fiastra”, with the church in mottoes. now deconsecrated, houses for cheese and sausage www.comune.urbisaglia.mc.it theater, which dates back to Cistercian style, the Monastery All elements combine with one the Civic Museum which making. The specialty is the Natture Reserve the first century A.D., and the and the Palace of Princes “Gi- another to create harmony contains interesting paintings “ciauscolo” a soft spreadable “Abbadia di Fiastra” www.abbadiafiastra.net theatre, considered to be the ustiniani Bandini”, who suc- and elegance. The most rep- and a group of manuscripts by pork salami. most outstanding example of ceeded to Cistercian Monks in resentative viewpoint, and the “Giacomo Leopardi”. Further EVENTS its kind in the Marche Region, 1773 coming into possession heart of the town, is “Piazza interesting monuments are: TAU - United Ancient Theatres for its size and shape, and the of the lands. Today the ab- July/August only one in Italy that still pre- bey is the seat of the Nature “Palio dell’Assunta” serves its painted decorations. Reserve “Abbadia di Fiastra” August covering 1825 hectares of pro- tected land; a large and pleas- ant green area is fully avail- able, as well as a number of INFO facilities such as the Museum Commune of Visso of Rural Culture, the Archae- www.comune.visso.mc.it logical Museum and the Wine National Park of Sibillini Mountains Museum. In the reserve you www.sibillini.net may hike over three paths: “La EVENTS Selva” (the forest), “Il Lago e le Vene” (the lake and the traces), “Guaite” Tourney July/August “Il bosco e il fiume” (the wood Festival of “Pecorino” cheese and the river). and Exhibition of local products August

36 37 fortresses and Castles

In the collective thought, when thinking about The Marche the mind immediately runs to the campaign and the expanse of cultivated hills dotted with villages and towns and this is the peculiarity of the region. Visiting the countryside of The Marche is not only an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing holiday in the peace of green hills, but also some sort of inner and cultural enrichment determined by the encounter with works of art, historical events and literary memoirs. This harmonious blend of history, art and nature, balances and integrates with the beauty of the coast in a unicum that can engage and captivate the tourists able to choose, among the proposed destinations, those that best meet their interests and expectations. In addition to the countries included in the clubs Orange Flag and the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, The Marche has a high incidence of historic villages both on the coast and especially inland. The Marche Region - the word comes from “Mark” which means a border in German – was far from the centre of imperial power,

Elcito - San Severino Marche (MC)

39 thus encouraging the development of the independent com- munes which led, between 1300 and 1400, to the creation of states and autonomous areas ruled by families, unrelentingly struggling with one another. These historical events explain why there are so many fortresses and castles in the region, witness- ing a cultural past when the best and most renowned military architects of the time worked and made several experimentation. You can go on a fascinating itinerary all over the region, visiting the military structures distributed throughout the area, built to protect the towns and the territory. The “fortress” (rocca) architectural type, aimed at protecting the small armed garrisons, provided with a smaller surrounding circumference of walls and towers that protected and defended the inner keep, could survey the valley passes safely and defend urban centres. Variable in size and form and equipped with vari- ous defensive elements, they were often used as a temporary residence of the Lord. The Marche Region has good examples of such fortresses from the mediaeval to the Renaissance period, and indeed in the latter period this region became an excellence laboratory for the building of this type of fortress. They were first built during the time of the papal legateEgidio Albornòz, who had been charged by Innocent VI of reconquer- ing Church territories (1353). He built powerful stone fortresses throughout the region, the best-preserved of which is the for- tress of . In the Renaissance, the military archi- tects of the so-called “transition” worked in the Marche Region, changing the defence systems as well as their anti-ballistic role. Francesco di Giorgio Martini and Baccio Pontelli, serving the

Rocca Roveresca - (AN) Piobbico (PU) Montefeltro family and the Pope, are the archi- tects designing the main defensive buildings. The Malatesta family was the earliest family that started to choose the new style of defence fortifications in the territory which, today, cov- ers the Province of Pesaro Urbino. They de- signed the Fortress of Fano with the help of the famous expert architect Filippo Brunelleschi and the experienced Matteo Nuti. They were Rocca di Albornoz - Sassoferrato (AN) followed by the Sforza family in Gradara (for- merly a Malatesta fortress) and Pesaro (the Fortress of Costanza, by Luciano Laurana). The of Pesaro (built by Alessandro Sforza), the Ro- Montefeltro family, in turn, led by the genius vere Palace in Montebello and the magnificent of Francesco di Giorgio Martini for defensive Imperial Villa of Pesaro designed by Girolamo buildings (Fortress of Sassocorvaro, For- Genga were commissioned by the. Della Ro- tress of Montecerignone, Fortress of Fos- vere family. sombrone, the Fortress and Tower of Cagli, The Rovere Fortress and the Ducal Palace in Fortress of Frontone) as well as civil buildings Senigallia are examples of military architecture (Ducal Palace of Urbino and Urbania). The in the . The imposing For- Fortress of Mondavio and the Ducal Palace tress of Offagna was the seat of the battles

Piazza del Comune - Fabriano (AN)

Castello di Precicchie - Fabriano (AN) 43 between Ancona and the neighbouring . The Priora For- tress in Falconara is worth a visit, with its beautiful doorway by Vanvitelli and the castle in the upper section. Inland, Corinaldo - subject to the Malatesta and then to the Church State - dominates the valleys of the Cesano and Misa rivers, with its intact surrounding walls. Ascending Misa valley, and its castles evoke a truly mediaeval atmosphere. Jesi is situated in the next valley, with the castles of Verdicchio and Fabriano, surrounded by its fortifications which evoke a proud and fighting past. Some of the most beautiful and evocative castles in the region are situated in the province of Macerata. Located in the heart of the Chienti valley, near Tolentino, is Rancia Castle, built by the Lords of Camerino - the Da Varano family - who built an impressive series of castles around their town. Today, only the Castle of Lanciano, the Fortress of Ajello and the Fortress of Varano still stand. From Tolentino it is easy to reach Urbisaglia, dominated by its mighty fortress, and Caldarola with its Pallotta Castle, which was an elegant residence restored during the Renaissance. Along or near the Via Salaria, in the Ascoli Piceno area, the castle of Acquaviva Picena which was changed in the 15th century by Baccio Pontelli, the unusual circular-shaped Castel di Luco near Acquasanta Terme and the 13th century Fortress of Arquata del Tronto, overlooking the valley and the ancient Roman road, in the shade of the Sibillini Mountains. art within art In many castles and Palaces in the Marche Region take place several events, such as exhibitions or permanent museums: the Tower of Cagli hosts a Contemporary Sculpture Centre. The Caldarola (MC) Fortress of Sassocorvaro is home to the Arca dell’Arte (the “Art Ark”) established in remembrance of the saving of 10,000 works of art during the Second World War. The Fortress of Gradara houses Renaissance painting cycles; Mondavio hosts a Museum of Arms, Urbino hosts the National Gallery of the Marche Re- gion. In Piobbico, a Technical-Scientific Museum has been set up in Brancaleoni Palace. There is a permanent exhibition on the Della Rovere family in the Fortress of Senigallia. Medieval Festivals are held in the Fortress of Offagna in July; Rancia Castle in Tolentino hosts temporary exhibitions. The Fortress of Acquaviva Picena is the scene of the Palio del Duca (“horse- race of the Duke”) and houses a Museum of Arms, as does the Fortress of Urbisaglia. A restaurant, by contrast, was the solu- Corinaldo (AN) Castello della Rancia - Tolentino (MC) tion adopted in Castel di Luco.

44 45 Montefortino (FM) Jesi e i Castelli di Jesi

JESI Jesi is the main town of the Vallesina (the Esino Valley), which fol- lows the middle course of the Esino river from to the river’s mouth at Rocca Priora, near . MORRO D’ALBA The town, which was the birthplace of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia and the musician Giambattista Pergolesi, has one of SERRA DEI CONTI the best-preserved fortified city walls of the Marche Region, STAFFOLO equipped with gates, square polygonal and cylindrical towers and fortification curtains and crowned by corbels. The Cathedral of St. Septimius is located in Piazza Federico II (Federico II Square). The Palazzo della Signoria, designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini in an elegant Renaissance style, accommodates the Pla- nettiana Library and the municipal historical Archives. The Teatro MONTECAROTTO Pergolesi, built between 1791 and 1796, dominates the Piazza della Repubblica. Palazzo Pianetti (XVIII century) is located in Via XV Settembre and INFO houses the municipal Art Gallery, which contains masterpieces Commune of Jesi by Lorenzo Lotto as well as the magnificent gallery with rococo www.comune.jesi.an.it www.turismojesi.it Tourist information Phone number +39 0731 538420 [email protected] EVENTS Commune of Cupramontana Festival of grapes, October www.sagradelluva.com Commune of Jesi “Palio di San Floriano”, May www.paliosanfloriano.it Commune of Jesi and communes of Vallesina Festival Pergolesi Spontini, September www.fondazionepergolesispontini.com Trivio e Quadrivio, August www.comune.maiolatispontini.an.it Commune of Monsano and bordering communes Monsano Folk Festival, August Commune of Montecarotto Verdicchio in festa, July Galleria Palazzo Pianetti - Jesi (AN) Commune of Serra San Quirico Paese dei Balocchi, July Jesi (AN) www.teatrogiovani.eu 49 plaster works. The distinguishing feature of the Verdicchio Wine is one of the most famous, tra- Vallesina area, of which Jesi is the main town, ditional DOC wines of the Marche Region. The is the series of historic villages spread over the Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Riserva carries the hills, surrounded by walls and rich in museums DOCG label. Among the best-known red wines and culture in general. These are the so-called is the DOC Lacrima di Morro D’Alba, produced “Castelli di Jesi”: Belvedere Ostrense, Castel- in the area of Morro d’Alba. Palazzo Balleani, bellino, Castelplanio, Cupramontana, Majola- in the historic centre of Jesi, houses a section ti Spontini, , Monsano, Montecarotto, of the Enoteca Regionale or regional Wine Bar, , Morro D’Alba, Poggio San which is an important centre of promotion of Marcello, , San Marcello, San Paolo di quality wines and the typical local produce of Jesi, Santa Maria Nuova, Serra dei Conti, Serra the Marche region. Italcook has its headquar- San Quirico, Staffolo. This area is well-known ters in the same building: this Italian cuisine for the Verdicchio of the Castelli di Jesi, school started thanks to cooperation between one of Italy’s main indigenous grape species. the commune of Jesi and Slow Food Italy.

Lorenzo Lotto, Angelo Annunciante, Colline di (AN) Pinacoteca Civica - Jesi (AN)

Castelbellino (AN) Serra San Quirico (AN)

50 51 arCeVia and Castles of arCeVia

Arcevia is located on a hill with the evocative name of Monte Cischiano, the lowlands of the pre-Apennine chain on the Um- bria-Marche Region slopes. Its thirteenth-sixteenth century town walls retaining a number of towers and four gates, are mighty and easily accessible. The most interesting buildings of the old town are: the baroque collegiate church of St. Medardo, which contains masterpieces by Luca Signorelli, works by Della Rob- bia, Gian Battista Salvi and Claudio Ridolfi; the Misa theatre, an architectural gem built between 1840 and 1845 inside the Palazzo dei Priori and the Church of St. Agatha; the cultural centre of San Francesco, housed within the former Franciscan convent where the Renaissance cloister and the magnificent church are located. The State Archaeological Museum of Arce- via has an important collection of archaeological finds from the territory of Arcevia. There are splendid funerary remains in the Gallic necropolis of Montefortino (forth-third century BC). The nine castles of Arcevia (Avacelli, Castiglioni, Caudino, Lo- INFO retello, Montale, Nidastore, Palazzo, Piticchio, San Pietro) are Commune of Arcevia among the main attractions: these are walled towns based on www.arceviaweb.it a fourteenth-fifteenth century plan, which have preserved their Tourist information typological traits right up to the present day. Phone number +39 0731 9127 +39 0731 984561 [email protected] Natural Regional Natural Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi www.parcogolarossa.it

EVENTS One Sunday going to eat cornmeal much on Sundays in February Arcevia Jazz July/August www.arceviajazzfeast.it Grapes festival September One Sunday, going to eat first courses on Sundays in October Autumn Festival Castello di Loretello - Arcevia (AN) November Castello di Palazzo - Arcevia (AN) www.piticchio.it 53 Luca Signorelli, Battesimo di Cristo, Chiesa di San Medardo Castello di Piticchio - Arcevia (AN) Arcevia (AN)

ARCEVIA: THE DELLA ROBBIA FAMILy AND THE MASTERS OF PLASTICIzATION FROM THE MARCHE Arcevia holds precious glazed furniture and paintings of the sixteenth century, a unicum in the history of the Della Robbia family in the region Marche for its extraordinary concentration. In the old town centre, the collegiate church of St. Medard is home to the majestic altar of Giovanni Della Robbia, a frontal and a beautiful crucifix glazed by Mattia Della Robbia, a nativity scene of a Marche workshop and two painted statues of St. Catherine and the Magdalene, also works by Della Robbia, whereas in the church of S. Maria del Soccorso you can admire a monumental glazed altar depicting the Annunciation by Mattia Della Robbia. In the castle of Avacelli the church of San Lorenzo holds a Crucifix and a spectacular painted terracotta altar depicting the Madonna of the Rosary and Mercy, work of a Marche Fra’ Mattia della Robbia, Annunciazione, workshop influenced by the Della Robbia family. Chiesa Santa Maria del Soccorso Arcevia (AN)

Arcevia (AN) 55 duCal itineraries. the da Varano family: fortresses, Castles and PalaCes

The Da Varano family ruled Camerino from the mid thirteenth century until 1539. During the Giulio Cesare da Varano’s rule (1464-1502), Camerino enjoyed a flourishing period. He showed his grandeur in his military enterprises. There are actually many fortresses surrounding Camerino and its neighbourhood: the Fortress Borgesca (Camerino), the Fortress Varano (Sfercia di Camerino) the Fortress Aiello (Castelraimondo), the Castle of Lanciano (Castelraimondo) and Beldiletto (Pievebovigliana). The Fortress Borgesca was built in 1503 upon Cesare Borgia’s orde, to protect the western slopes of the hills where the town stood; it still retains two towers and the keep. The fortress was separated from the town by a precipice that was bridged using an arduous drawbridge. The Fortress Varano, built in the early twelfth century, was the fortified residence of the Da Varano family. It features much of its original structure: the white limestone entrance; the majestic underground building with barrel vaults, connecting the two wings of the fortress and probably overlooked by rooms and small towers; the low tower in the eastern corner and the adjoining building. Today, after careful restoration, the Fortress Varano of Camerino has rooms for permanent exhibitions and hosts the Exhibition Centre of the INFO Artigianato Artistico (“artistic handicraft centre”). Commune of Camerino The name of the Fortress Aiello, built in 1382, derives from the www.comune.camerino.mc.it Latin “agellum”, meaning “small field”: in fact, the fortress is Tourist information located at about 400 m. above sea level on a hill that dominates Phone number +39 0737 632534 the surrounding landscape. Giovanni da Varano promoted the EVENTS construction of the Castle Lanciano and oversaw, in particular, the building of the intagliata, a distinctive 12-km trench dug in Camerino: Historical pageant of the “Corsa alla Spada e Palio” the ground and filled with trees to protect the north-eastern May border of Camerino. Giulio Cesare Varano gave the castle to his www.corsaspada.camerino.sinp.net wife Giovanna who restored it around 1489, transforming it into Camerino: International Festival of music and chamber theatre a castle-residence in the Renaissance style. It now houses the August museum “Maria Sofia Giustiniani Bandini”. www.camerinofestival.it The Castle of Beldiletto, built between 1371 and 1381, is square- Pievebovigliana: “Feste Triennali” in San Maroto shaped and has corner towers. Inside is a courtyard with arcade, www.propieve.it with octagonal pillars and round pointed arches in red and white Pievebovigliana: Chestnut Festival October stone. The remains of a vast cycle of frescoes depicting knights www.propieve.it are to be seen in the castle’s largest room, evoking the literary Rocca Varano - Loc. Sfercia - Camerino (MC) 57 Rocca di Aiello - Camerino (MC) culture of the poems of chivalry. The Ducal Pal- In Esanatoglia, the Varano family built a forti- decision made by Giovanni Varano (Camilla’s ace of Camerino is among the notable build- fied residence in the fourteenth century (now grandfather) who, during the renovation of ings of civil architecture built by the Da Varano the Palazzo Comunale, or Municipal Building). the town’s walls, placed a number of religious family, and is now home to the University. It Following an earthquake in 1997, restoration communities for defending the town gates. has an original section, which was rebuilt in the work was carried out which unearthed a unique Another example of religious architecture es- late fourteenth century. It was extended and pictorial cycle of jousters on horseback. tablished by Giulio Cesare Varano is the Tem- completed in the mid-to-late fifteenth century The Da Varano family also founded religious ple of the Annunciation, built between 1493 in the Renaissance style. The whole building is buildings such as the Monastery of Santa Maria and 1508 on the site of a former church - Santa centred around a wonderful square-porticoed Nova in Camerino, which was later dedicated Maria dei Vignali - where, according to legend, courtyard accessed by several rooms, includ- to St. Clare. a visual representation of Our Lady took refuge, ing the Sala degli Sposi (“hall of the newly- The history of the Monastery has always been fleeing from the house of a blasphemer. weds”) with fifteenth century frescoes. associated with the Varano lineage and with the

Giovanni Angelo di Antonio, Esanatoglia (MC) Castello di Beldiletto (Pievebovigliana) (MC) Annunciazione, Pinacoteca Civica “Girolamo di Giovanni” Camerino (MC)

58 59 duCal itineraries. federiCo da montefeltro and the montefeltro and della roVere residenCes

The towns and landscape of the northern shown that his paintings still portrait the ac- Marche Region are still marked by the cultural tual Montefeltro landscapes, that can be seen activity of Federico da Montefeltro over five wandering among the hills and valleys of the hundred years ago (, June 7, 1422 - Metauro and Marecchia rivers. Federico as- Ferrara, September 10, 1482). He was an Ital- signed to the Sienese architect and military ian troop commander, mercenary captain of engineer Francesco di Giorgio Martini the task fortune and famous Renaissance lord, Count of implementing his defensive construction of Montefeltro, Urbino and Castel Durante; he projects and, in doing so, Francesco deeply ruled over many other places, rising to the rank changed the traditional conception of military of Duke of Urbino from 1474 until his death. He engineering, leaving a lasting impression on deployed the huge profits from his military cam- the landscape over time. His most famous paigns to maintain a splendid court, to set up achievement is the Ducal Palace in Urbino, a one of the period’s most famous libraries and splendid example of civil architecture. He built to reinforce the military defence of his state, by the Ducal Palace in nearby Urbania, with the building and renovating fortresses and castles. beautiful spiral ramp inside the cylindrical tow- Piero della Francesca was one of the artists er. The Fortress of Fossombrone was trans- who worked at Federico’s court, and he played formed by Martini into a complex fortress, with a leading role in that area: recent research has the inclusion of the imposing “caput carenato”

INFO Commune of Urbino www.comune.urbino.ps.it www.terradelduca.it www.terredipiero.it

EVENS Urbania: National Day of the Epiphany January www.labefana.com Urbino: Ancient Music Festival July www.fima-online.org Urbino: The Feast of the Duke and the Courtesan’s Tournament 3rd Sunday of August www.urbino-rievocazionistoriche.it Urbino: Festival of the kite 1st Sunday of September Rocca di Monte Cerignone (PU) www.festaquilone.it Palazzo Ducale - Urbino (PU) 61 or ravelin fortification structure. TheFortress military stronghold on bordering lands from Montecerignone preserves its ancient medi- the twelfth century, was transformed into a eval structure, alongside the typically Renais- noble residence by the powerful families that sance elements introduced by Martini. The succeeded one another in ruling the territory, Ubaldinesca Fortress of Sassocorvaro, still including the Della Rovere. Lucrezia Borgia fully intact, combines robust military construc- and Francesca da Rimini stayed at the castle. tion with the typical features of the aristocratic This was probably the location of the tragic residence. At Sassocorvaro, Martini refined the love story between Paolo and Francesca, told prototype of the circular fortress, whose main by Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy. The function was to deflect the stone balls shot Sforza Castle of Pesaro, known as Villa Im- from the bombard cannon. In Frontone there periale, was transformed in 1530 at the behest is also a fortress designed by Martini, whose of the Della Rovere family, and the Palazzo shape resembles a ship’s prow. The Fortress Nuovo (“New Palace”) was added, renowned Mondavio is a remarkable stronghold, with its for its beautiful interiors filled with frescoes. keep on polygonal foundations, and the typical Senigallia boasts its fifteenth centuryFortress series of trap doors and battlements. Roveresca, a model military fortification typi- During the Della Rovere family’s lordship, cal of lowland strongholds. It was built in 1450 the Marche Region enjoyed a flourishing pe- by Giovanni della Rovere, who became lord of riod. The Fortress of Gradara, created as a Senigallia in 1474.

Palazzo Ducale - Urbania (PU)

Castello di Frontone (PU) Rocca Ubaldinesca di Sassocorvaro (PU) Sant’Angelo in Vado (PU)

62 63 information – farmhouse aCCommodation

The Marche Region is the ideal destination for Agriturist Marche is an association which sup- those who love nature, colourful flora, well-kept plies information on vacancies, prices and of- farms, lush landscapes as well as a rich and fers of its members (www.agriturist.marche.it). widespread architectural and cultural heritage Terranostra, including 171 agriturismi, promotes and, not least, appreciate an imaginative and quality accommodation as well as production flavoursome cuisine. Hospitality and accom- methods and systems which are environmentally modation in the Marche Region is varied: there and eco-friendly (www.terranostra.it). is a wide choice of hotels, residences, bed “Agrivacanze” develops typical products and & breakfasts and apartments. Experiencing improves the rural environment (www.agriva- farmhouse holidays (agriturismi) is a unique canze.it) way of tasting the typical food and wines of Turismo Verde, supported by the “Confedera- the Marche Region. It ensures guests that they zione Italiana Agricoltori” (Italian Farmers Asso- are getting a genuinely-classified farm holiday, ciation), is an Association joining 121 members; and offers the possibility to visit the hinterland in order to widen the offe, the guide-book on and the main tourist attractions of the region. Agriturismi includes also information on the There are nearly 800 farm holiday resort ac- most striking museums and fishing tourism commodations and more than 300 country (www.turismoverde.it). houses, aimed at creating an integration among farms, typical products and guarantee of qual- ity tourism service. Four trade Associations in the Marche Region foster, support and promote agriturismi in the region, besides optimising and exploiting its country heritage.

Free distribution, Edition 2013 64