Castles

The ancient Castrum Lavacellarum was built around the eleventh century. By the end of the twelfth century it passed under the rule of Arcevia. It played an important military function on the boundary between the Longobard and the Byzantine possessions. The town still mantains part of its fortification walls and the medieval centre. The church of S.Lorenzo and in particular its altar-piece, reckoned to be a work by Agabiti (1513), are worthy a visit. The church of S.Ansuino is also a remarkable testimony of the Longobard age.

Castiglioni

The castle, built around the year one thousand, passed under the rule of Arcevia in 1208. At the beginning of the fifteenth century it underwent a violent attack from Braccio da Montone at the orders of Arcevia in the attempt to free the castle from the military occupation of the troops of Ludovico Migliorati. It still holds its typical medieval structure. The town wall is well-preserved and so are the two fortified entrance gates.

The parish church houses the painting Madonna del Rosario, a work of 1589 by Ercole Ramazzini.

Caudino

Under the rule of Arcevia from the second half of the thirteenth century, the castle still mantains its ancient urbanistic structure, with many sections of the walls and the old originary entrance gate still uninjuried. During the first half of the fourteenth century an important battle between Ghibellines and Guelphs took place in the castle. The latest were heavily defeated.

Loretello

Probably built before the year one thousand, the castle was at first a possession of the monastery of Fonte Avellana. In 1248 passed under the rule of Arcevia. Loretello is one of the most well-preserved and picturesque castle of the Arcevia area. Its town wall is almost uninjuried, with all the ravelines, the gate and the three-arcade entrance bridge.

Montale

The castle, of medieval origin, was a property of the bishop of Senigallia. In 1289 passed under Arcevia. In the first years of the fifteenth century it was conquered by Braccio da Montone for Arcevia. Montale in its oldest part, still bears remarkable signs of its medieval structure. It may be interesting to visit what remains of the town wall with the ravelins and keeps which,in some parts, are well-preserved. The main church is devoted to S.Sylvester.

Nidastore

The name means net of the goshawks that in the Middle Age they used to train for the hunt. It is one of the oldest and most important castle of the Arcevia area. It was built around the eleventh century and in 1232 passed under the rule of Arcevia. However Nidastore always refused to accept this rule and we have evidence that many rebellions succeeded. In 1430 one of these rebellions caused the complete destruction of the castle, which was consequently rebuilt at the expenses of Arcevia. In 1460 Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini and an enemy of the Church, conquered the castle, after he had defeated under its walls the papal troops, commanded by Bartolomeo Vitelleschi, Bishop of Corneto.

Palazzo

It is one of the most interesting village of the Arcevia area. It is 508 metres above the sea level on the high valley of the river Fenella. In 1130 was given to the monastery of Fonte Avellana. During the Middle Age was a property of the archbishops of Ravenna and later on the bishops of Fossombrone and Senigallia strove for it. After a victorious battle led by Arcevia against the town of Fossombrone at the end of the thirteenth century, it became a dominion of Arcevia and tied its history to that city. Its medieval urbanistic structure and the town wall are almost uninjuried, particularly on the upper side.

Piticchio

Some historians believe that the town was built on the ruins of the roman Pitulum. In 1223 Piticchio, together with Montale, belonged to the Bishop of Senigallia. Arcevia fought against the bishop for the possession of Piticchio and only in 1293 the town passed under its rule. The fortified town wall and the old town centre are still in good conditions. The parish church is devoted to S.Nicol and houses the painting by Ercole Ramazzani La Madonna del Rosario of 1582.

S.Pietro

This is also of medieval origin, it belonged to the monastery of Fonte Avellana and was a motive of contention between the bishops of Fossombrone and Senigallia. In 1248 it surrendered to Arcevia. By the castle stands the sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna di Montevago, whose painting, ruined but still beautiful, is believed to be a work by the painters Piergentile da Matelica and Venanzio da Camerino.