
Colonnara Winery is a cooperative since 1959, devoted himself to the production and diffusion of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi with passion and skill. The winery is one of the symbol of Verdicchio’s versatility and the good combination of tradition and innovation, as evidenced since 1985 by the Cuprese Verdicchio and the red Tornamagno, and Verdicchio Sparkling wines, worked since 70’s. In sparkling wine making Colonnara has gained a lot of awords: an example is Ubaldo Rosi, aworded as third best sparkling wine in Itali for 2013. The passion for wine in Colonnara starts from the vineyard and is savored in the each bottle. The philosophy that guides Colonnara is quality and purity, in order to endorse genuine and traditional flavors on our tables. In the guided tour and tasting in the winery, all of this is immediately acquaintanced, because everyone fell in a family.

Cupramontana was founded probably in the fourth to fifth centuries B.C. and took its name from a temple that stood there dedicated to the goddess Cupra. The town was mentioned by Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy in the Augustan age, as one of the ancient cities of Piceno, and therefore was an important town in Roman times.
Devastated during the Greek-Gothic war, the town was abandoned and its ruins were later used for the construction of firstly fortifications, and later a castle, which was built close to the ancient town but higher on the hill and which was then given the name of Massaccio. From the seventh century Massaccio was part of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto. From the thirteenth century, Massaccio was merged into the county of Jesi becoming until its dissolution in 1808, the most important centre of the county. In the fifteenth century Massaccio was one of the strongholds of the heretical sect of the "Fraticelli"; in 1444 it was occupied by troops of Francesco Sforza and in 1517 it was looted by the militia of the Duke Francesco Maria della Rovere.
Then there followed a long period of peace, during which the town experienced strong population growth combined with cultural development. In 1747 the site of the ancient Roman town of Cupramontana was rediscovered, close to Massaccio. The discovery was made after the correct reading of an inscription on a tablet which had been discovered in 1718 in the archaeological zone. The tablet, referring to 'Cupra Montana' by its ancient name, is today visible on the council buildings.
In 1798 the French troops who had invaded the Papal States plundered the town after the people had displayed stubborn but futile resistance. By decree of Vittorio Emanuele II in 1861, Massaccio regained its ancient name of Cupramontana.

Cupramontana, S. Marco, Calapina, Castelbellino, Monteroberto, Maiolati Spontini, Cupramontana
Distance: km 14
Time advised: 75 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Starting from the parking in front of Colonnara winery, take the road for the historic centre.
Just before arriving at Cupramontana, follow the signs indicating the cemetery . In front of the cemetery, take the avenue on the left . Go through San Marco street and turn left until reaching a junction , then turn right and take the white road. The path becomes flat only for a short distance, then it is narrow again and turns on a slight slope. Turn left and right; at the bottom of a steep slope cross the farmland and then right up to a bar. From here proceed along an old house until reaching a white road.
Follow the steep path to the right (Calapina Street), after about 100 metres turn left and follow the main road for about 500 metres until the junction with the big oak tree. Go straight on for about 100 metres and turn left uphill just before the descent. At the junction take the flat road on the right passing through a fence and a wash-tub and climb up to a big villa with a park; straight down until reaching the tarmac road (S.P. Castelli di Jesi).
Follow the left road that leads to Castelbellino. When you join the village, just before the last houses, turn right uphill to Monteroberto (approx. 800 metres). Then right under the castle walls and go straight up to the Provincial Road (S.P.).
At the junction turn to the right arriving at Maiolati Spontini. Go through the village and take the white road on the left. Continue until you come back to the Provincial Road and follow the signs indicating Cupramontana. After about 1,5 km you are again at the point of departure.