Arcevia

Arcevia rises on a hill called Monte Chisciano, an offshoot of the pre-appennine mountain chain along the Umbrian-side of the Marche region. Surrounded by greenery, it dominates the Misa valley. Much of the territory is included within the Natural Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi, where environment and traces of man blend to offer landscapes, which seem suspended in time. The archaeological areas, the fortified historical core, the art collections and the castles that surround it make Arcevia, the ancient Rocca Contrada, one of the most interesting art cities of the Marche region.

The walls extend for about a mile. Its current form was commissioned by Francesco Sforza, who had it fortified by Roberto da San Severino with an efficient system of towers and walkways. Four ancient fortified entrances are still preserved: Porta Sant’Agostino, Porta Santa Lucia, Porta San Pietro (or Porta del Forno) and Porta del Sasso. Remains of the Cassero, the fortress wanted by Cardinal Albornoz, are visible at the highest point of Mount Chisciano.

The Collegiate Church of San Medardo is a real museum. Rebuilt on the primitive church in 1634, it preserves works by Luca Signorelli, Giovanni and Mattia Della Robbia, Simone Cantarini, Ercole Ramazzani, Claudio Ridolfi and many other artists of the XVI-XX centuries.

Works by Ridolfi are also found in the church of Sant’Agata and in the Augustinian church of Santa Maria, which also houses an „Annunciation“ by Mattia della Robbia. The stucco decoration of the church of San Francesco is remarkable.

The State Archaeological Museum is housed in the cloister of the former convent of San Francesco. It is one of the few museums in the Marche region with prehistoric and protohistoric materials.

In the former convent, there is also the „San Francesco“ Cultural Centre, which houses a precious and ancient historical archive and a collection of contemporary works by artists Edgardo Mannucci, Quirino Ruggeri, Bruno D’Arcevia and Giuseppe Gigli.

At the top of the hill lies the Park „Giacomo Leopardi“, once the botanical garden of the forestry corps. Among picturesque trails and picturesque pitches, you can admire (and smell) rare and protected species.

It is worth to follow the beautiful itinerary throughout the nine castles of Arcevia: Avacelli, Castiglioni, Caudino, Loretello, Montale, Nidastore, Palazzo, Piticchio and San Pietro. Intact in their medieval appearance, they also contain works by Ercole Ramazzani, mannerist artist (XVI cent.), native of Rocca Contrada.

Arcevia is also renowned for its gastronomic tradition, based on meat dishes, on the norcineria and on the preparation of desserts, which can be combined with the local production of Verdicchio and Rosso Piceno. In recent times, the cultivation of the octophile mays, an autochthonous variety that had disappeared, has been reintroduced.

In February „A Sunday for Polenta“ is held, an event created to enhance the local mays, while the last Sunday of September, from the thirties of the twentieth century, there is the characteristic „Grape Festival“.

Informazioni

POPULATION: 4400 inhabitants approx.
SURFACE: 126,40 sqm.
HEIGHT: 535 m. above sea level.