Situated along Gaspare Spontini Street and erected around 1430, it is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. It was consecrated in 1723 and often restored. Later the church was fitted with a marble altar dating back to the seventeenth century, coming from the church of S. Francesco dei Frati Minori of Jesi. Above the front door you can admire a beautiful Baroque-Rococo wooden choir, donated by Gaspare Spontini to the parish church whose priest was his brother Don Antonio.
Erected towards the end of the eighteenth century and designed by Arch. Giannantonio Mengoni with Paolo Isidoro Capponi’s approval.
It holds an altar-piece depicting The Virgin with the Apostles (1620) by Cristoforo Roncalli, known as Pomarancio.
Here you can also admire a cup (1523) from the former church of Santa Maria d'Arco and a marble and wooden baptismal font dating 1708.
In the choir stalls above the front door, you will find the organ built by Feliciano Fedeli from Camerino in 1737 and restored in 1993.
Emperor Frederick II spent his childhood here!
A legend claims that Monte Roberto derives its name from Roberto il Guiscardo (1015-1085), while an historical document of 1079 reports that Roberto was probably a Longobard feudal layman, a "lord of the place”.
Monte Roberto became a real castle only in the course of the thirteenth century.
Visit the ancient Planina ,mentioned by Pliny the Elder, near St. Apollinare Abbey. Important ruins were visible up to the XVIII and XIX centuries: in 1881 a necropolis Piceno (VI century BC) was found in Noceto district and the remains which were then brought to light are now kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Ancona. Do not miss them!
In 1219 Monte Roberto was already part of the County of Jesi until its split in 1808.
Have a walk along G. Leopoardi Street, then the “Borgo”, the historical centre which developed in the XVII and XVIII centuries.
Downstream from Monte Roberto, you can visit Pianello Vallesina which had a remarkable increase in the last sixty years. It is partly divided with the municipality of Castelbellino and it initially grew around the church of Santa Maria del Trivio dating from the XVII century.
Do not forget to visit the church of St. Benedict built in 1921 – 1925.
Distance: km 15
Time advised: an hour and a half
Difficulty: medium
From Piazza Kennedy (Kennedy Square) follow via Trieste (Trieste Street) for about a kilometre and after the third “stop” turn left towards the Vecchia Fornace (Old brick factory).
Take the gravel road alongside the fishing lake until you reach the tarmac road; then turn left and shortly after turn left again onto the white road that leads you back to town.
Turn right and join the S.S. 76; turn left and then right taking the road that leads to the motorway.
Having crossed the level-crossing and the bridge over the River Esino, proceed along the road for about 3 km; then turn left and climb up to Maiolati Spontini.
When you join the village, turn to the left for Colle Celeste.From here go back to the tree-lined avenue and turn right towards the descent.At the junction turn left and join the long descent called Boccolina.
Once crossed the bridge over the River Esino, turn right towards the Vecchio Rotone.
Then turn left and follow the road on the left crossing a small bridge. Go through the railway subway and join the S.S. 76 again. Turn left and you are easily back to Piazza Kennedy.
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Tel. +39 0731778710
Fax. +39 0731778750
Via Nazario Sauro, 1
60034 Cupramontana (AN)
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