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Poggio San Marcello

Must-see places

Culture

Church of Saint Marcellus and Saint Mary of the Mount

San Marcello: Scholars acknowledge the existence of the "Romanesque Monastic" Church of San Marcello dating back to the 12th century. It is first mentioned in the "Rationes" (records) of 1290 and was rebuilt between 1400 and 1500. It still stands today on the hilltop overlooking the castle and the curtain wall, and was the first parish church of Poggio. The small town is defined as a "Villa" (village/settlement) in 1289: during the second half of the 13th century, the inhabited area was still located on the hilltop around the aforementioned Church of San Marcello. The fresco on the side, dating back to the 16th century which decorated the church, belongs to the school of Beato Angelico or the Fabrianesi (artists from Fabriano) and is inspired by the prototype of the "Crucifix of the Just Blood." Santa Maria del Monte: From the publication of the "Carte di Fonte Avellana" (Documents of Fonte Avellana), there is news of the Church of Santa Maria del Monte as early as 1130 in the area of "Colmontano," which incorporates the word "Colle" (hill) to define the Poggio and the word "Montano" (of the mountain/mount) to identify the Church of the Mount. Nowadays, Santa Maria del Monte only has remains from the 16th century, as restorations to the farmhouse and the little church itself only allow for the sight of an old wall of what was the former "Place of Worship" dedicated to the Madonna del Monte since the 12th century. Santa Maria del Monte is a point of interest for the Renaissance Image of the Madonna placed on a Renaissance canopy, which tradition holds to be the protector of women in childbirth. Furthermore, inside the small church, we can find a holy water font combined with three marble stones dating back to the eighteenth century.
Suggested itineraries

Explore Our Region: Recommended Tourist Routes to Discover and Cherish the Local Heritage.

Urban Path
FROM GATE TO GATE – A walk inside the castle walls
Through the entrance gate, the village gradually unveils itself, enveloped in an ancient and intimate atmosphere. There is no clamor of the modern city to be heard outside the walls, only the quiet breath of a place that has preserved its history intact. Continuing along the path, you arrive at the Church of Saint Nicolò, a place of worship that is simple yet rich in history. Its interior welcomes visitors in an atmosphere of peace, with its sober naves and decorations that tell the story of past devotion. Here, the people of the village would gather for solemn occasions, surrounded by rituals and prayers that still seem to echo through the walls. A little further on, you encounter the Town Hall, a building that still today represents the heart of the village's administrative life. With its austere facade and interior rooms once filled with the decisions of the community, the palace stands as a witness to the local government that, over the centuries, regulated the life of the village through edicts, meetings, and proclamations. The narrow cobbled streets wind their way between the stone houses of the villagers, with heavy wooden doors and small windows, almost as if to protect against the weather and the passage of time. Here lived craftsmen, merchants, and farmers, whose voices once filled these now silent alleys. Some of these houses still bear carved coats of arms or faded frescoes, reminders of the industrious past of the community. As you continue through the alleys, with glimpses of stone and flower-filled corners, the walk leads to the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, the final stop before crossing the castle threshold once more. The sanctuary, with its elegant simplicity, has preserved centuries of faith and devotion. Upon entering, the soft glow of candles lights the altar, where the icon of Our Lady of Soccorso watches over travelers and the villagers. It is a place of reflection, a final farewell before leaving the walls and returning to the present. With one last glance at the stone buildings and the alleys that intertwine behind you, you pass through the gate again, taking with you the images and stories of a village that still lives in its time, suspended between the past and the present.
PR MARCHE FESR 2021/2027
ASSE 1 - OS 1.2 - AZIONE 1.2.2 - Intervento 1.2.2.2
Titolo progetto: Poggio San Marcello: dove il tempo si ferma tra le colline incantate delle Marche CUP: E21E24000150002 CIG: B5637E1C0D