Rome in the Footsteps of an XVIIIth Century Traveller

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(left) Castle of Montefiore Conca built by the Malatesta; (right) Rocca (Monte)Feltresca in Monte Cerignone

The hills of Montefeltro are characterized by the castles and towers which protected even the smallest settlements. The rivalry between the Malatesta of Rimini and the da Montefeltro of Urbino was the main cause behind such a large number of fortifications.

Macerata Feltria: view of il Castello

Macerata Feltria (Feltria is added to distinguish it from another larger town by the same name, south of Ancona) is a sleepy small town in the heart of Montefeltro, five miles north of Sassocorvaro. The modern settlement does not bear evidence of fortifications because it is situated in il Borgo, a neighbourhood outside the walls. A short walk leads to il Castello, the fortified medieval town at the top of a hill which is protected by a ravine.

(left) Arco dei Pelasgi; (right) main square

Macerata was founded in the XIth century and its name most likely derived from macerie (ruins), because it was built with materials from a nearby ancient Roman town. Perhaps because some stones of its walls look so old and are poorly placed together the only access to the town has been named after the Pelasgi, a term the Greeks used for any ancient and primitive tribe, including those who lived on Limnos, who are said to have established colonies on the Adriatic Sea coast. Notwithstanding its small dimension, Macerata has the structure of a town with palaces and a church in the main square.

(left) Palazzo del Podestà; (right) portal; (inset) coats of arms on the left side of the portal; the left one is probably of the Malatesta

The access to the upper part of il Castello was controlled by Palazzo del Podestà, the residence of the podestà, a foreigner who was given authority to rule the town for a short period of time. The Malatesta acquired control over Macerata and other towns (e.g. Ascoli) by being appointed podestà repetitively.

(left) Palazzo del Podestà: detail of the access to the upper town; (right) tower with a clock set on the Italian Hour

Macerata was conquered by Federico da Montefeltro in 1459, but Sigismondo Malatesta managed to recover its former possession, because a second conquest of Macerata by Federico is recorded in 1463; the inhabitants had to pay 1,000 florins (a golden coin minted in Florence) to avoid their town being sacked. In the following year Pope Pius II formally assigned Macerata to Federico.

S. Giuseppe: (left) portal; (right) main altar (XVIth century)

Macerata was part of the Duchy of Urbino until 1631 when the latter became a direct possession of the Papal State. In general it was a period of economic development and il Borgo, the neighbourhood outside the walls grew in size. S. Giuseppe, the main church of il Castello was embellished with an expensive altar dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Because the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was introduced after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, the altar is dated late XVIth century.

(left) S. Chiara; (right) 1396 Crucifix by Olivuccio di Ciccarello (aka Carlo da Camerino)

Macerata was included in the diocese of San Leo. Because that town was very small, some of its bishops preferred to reside at Macerata. The town had four other churches and a nunnery of Poor Clares in addition to S. Giuseppe.

Views of the countryside

The image used as background for this page shows a relief on Palazzo del Podestà showing an eight-pointed star which most likely was the coat of arms of Macerata at that time.

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