Monterubbiano is a medieval village in the Marche, in the province of Fermo. Its origin dates back to the year 1000 and, although it has lost most of its fortifications, with the exception of the Cassero and some parts of the walls, it has well preserved its medieval centre.
Every year the event “Sciò la Pica” recalls the ancient colonization of the Picene tribes by the Sabines, who came to the Marche region under the guidance of a pica, or woodpecker. The re-enactment, which combines pagan tradition with religious motives, takes place during the period of Pentecost. From the top of a hill more than 400 meters above sea level, the panoramic views of the village range from the Sibillini mountains, also known as the blue mountains, to the Adriatic Sea.
Monterubbiano has been awarded the orange flag by the Touring Club.
The main places of interest are:
- le ancient access doors: Porta del Pero and Porta San Basso
- the Castle walls, built by Francesco Sforza in 1433
- the Ghetto of the Jews dating back to the 16th century
- the Town hall of 1300, in Romanesque-Gothic style. Before the construction of the town hall, the meetings were held in the cold periods in the church Romanesque church of Santa Maria dei Letterati (commonly called Collegiata), while in the hot ones directly in the square
- the Art Gallery
- the Archaeological Museum
- the Theatre dedicated to Vincenzo Pagani
- the ten churches in the village, among which Santa Maria dei Letterati, known precisely as such as the Collegiate Church, which contains a canvas and three tablets of the native Pagani and the thirteenth-century church of the SS. John the Baptist and Evangelist, with frescoes of the ‘300, ‘400, ‘500
- Polo cultural St. Francis (XII century), seat of the new civic museum
archaeological, library, educational laboratory, conference room and botanical garden.
Another of the riches of the country is the park of San Rocco, characterized by a vast Italian garden, from which on clear days you can glimpse the coasts of Croatia.
Where to eat
As for the daily organization, there’s a small supermarket in the center with all the basic necessities, a greengrocer with fresh fruit and vegetables, a store of fresh pasta and gastronomy Sfoglia e Mattarello that offers, among other things, also local specialities like fried noodles, fried olives and creams, and then Le Fornare a bakery with excellent local breads, pizzas and pastries.
In the Park of San Rocco there is a restaurant – pizzeria Il Coccaro where you can enjoy the local specialities sitting on a beautiful panoramic terrace. In Moresco, one kilometer from Monterubbiano, a new restaurant 10_83.moresco in a beautiful square that resembles a film set.
