Monastery of Santa Caterina
Located in Via San Francesco, within the town walls, existence of the monastery is recorded in 1000AD, as a Benedictine nunnery of St. Marta and Maddalena. In 1581 began a period of great enlargement, so that by the 1700s, it was decided to build a new grand monastery with splendid round church which was built by the Arcangelo Vici and opened in 1751.
Grotte of Santa Caterina (basements of Santa Caterina)
In 1896, secret passages were discovered linking the ancient monastery of Santa Caterina to outside the walls. These were tunnels built in the fourteen and fifteenth centuries to give access to reach safety in the town walls.
The origins of the castle are to be dated back to the thirteenth century as the chronicles report speaking about a “villa” over the hill which was under the feudal jurisdiction of the bishop of Jesi.
Take a gander inside San Marcello al Poggio, a small Romanesque Benedectine church where a fresco of the crucifixion was found.
It dates back to the XV century and surely belonged to Fabriano school. Snap a photo of it, restored and displayed in the parish church.
Admire the Gothic Crypt dating back to 1300 in the church of Santa Maria del Monte, situated along Gioncare Street, a few kilometers from Poggio San Marcello.
In 1261 the Castle of Poggio San Marcello was already a well organized urban centre and became part of Jesi in 1301. It was under its jurisdiction, as an important document of 1530 reported. It is the most ancient parchment attesting the participation of Poggio San Marcello to the traditional “Palio di San Floriano”, on the feast of Jesi’s patron, St. Florian.
The local historical archives report that Poggio San Marcello was under the rule of Jesi, even if a certain autonomy was granted. It lasted until the fall of "Ancien Regime" in Marche, after the Napoleonic invasion of territory of the Papal States.
In 1926 the municipality of Poggio San Marcello was abolished and considered hamlet of Castelplanio. But in 1947 it gained its independence again.
Enjoy a tour inside the castle walls where the beautiful buildings witness the intense life during the 1600s and 1700s.
The Town Hall, built in 1772 and designed by Andrea Vici of Rocca Contrada (now Arcevia), has been recently restored and has a frescoed ceiling with beautiful decorations. Do not forget to visit it!
Distance: km 21
Time advised: 4 hours (on foot); an hour (by car)
Difficulty: medium
From the archaeological area in Cupramontana, take the road which leads to Follonica, San Paolo until Staffolo.
Along the route, you can visit the ancient Roman aqueduct of Cupramontana (also called “Barlozzo” referring to the sect “Fraticelli”) and the medieval church of San Michele.
Not far from it , the vineyards of Follonica give birth to one of the best Verdicchio doc wines.
The ancient castle of Follonica is famous for its mysterious and legendary events.
At Contrada Battinebbia you can find the Vulcanelli di Fango (small volcanoes of mud) and a precious source rich in minerals, called “Acquasalata”, renowned for its miraculous and therapeutic properties.
Passing through San Paolo di Jesi, you can easily reach Staffolo where its Museo del vino (Wine museum) houses a wide collection of artifacts of winemaking tradition.
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Tel. +39 0731778710
Fax. +39 0731778750
Via Nazario Sauro, 1
60034 Cupramontana (AN)
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