Find out Montegallo
Notice
the info below was written before the earthquake of 08.26.2016.
Info
Montegallo, formerly Mons Sanctae Mariae in Lapide (1357), is located on the east side of Monte Vettore. Its territory, crossed by the Fluvione and Rio streams, has an area of about 4,900 hectares and is divided into 23 hamlets; it is like a puzzle, made up of environmental typologies ranging from the hills (450 m. a.s.l.) to the mountains (2,476 m. a.s.l. of M. Vettore). The administrative headquarters of the municipality is located in the hamlet of Balzo which, since the end of the century. XVI, was both politically and geographically its center. The splendid landscapes, its natural and historical beauties have stimulated the tourist economy, supported by sheep farming and the production of typical products such as cheeses, cured meats, honey, mushrooms and chestnuts. The presence of the mountains also allows the practice of several winter and mountain sports.
What to see
Historic center of Montegallo
The castle probably stood near the church of S. Maria in Lapide. It was built in the century. VIII and abandoned in the sec. XIV. Within its vast territory, the municipality of Montegallo preserves many interesting historic buildings: the Casone Bonelli hamlet. Corbara of the century XVI, the Palazzetto Branconi hamlet Leap in sandstone from the 17th century, the Canonica house in the hamlet Uscerno built in 1569 and the Parish church of S. Savino, the eighteenth-century palaces of the Mazzoni family and the Sebastiani family fraz. Piano, the hermitage of S. Francesco in the hamlet Corbara, the sixteenth-century tower-house in the hamlet Founder, probably the birthplace of Blessed Marco founder and reformer of the Monti di Pietà, the churches of other hamlets such as Castro, Abetito, Interprete, Propezzano, Rigo.
Church of Santa Maria in Lapide - Fraz. Uscerno
The building (a Latin cross with a single nave) stands along the course of the Rio stream and was rebuilt around the middle of the century. XV. Inside there is a crypt, probably of the century. IX and keeps a bronze bell always of the century. XV.
Church of S. Bernardino - Fraz. Balzo
It was built in the 16th century. about seventeenth. Inside there are some paintings and the main marble altar.
Church of Santa Maria in Pantano - Fraz. Interprete
The church (a single nave with cross vaults ) is of medieval origin (perhaps from the 9th century); inside we find frescoes of the century. XVI by Martino Bonfini da Patrignone, depicting the Sibyls.
It is also called by the name of S. Maria delle Sibille. It was originally part of a monastery (perhaps destroyed in the 1600s) dependent on the Farfa family and was a place of refuge for wayfarers and pilgrims on an ancient transhumance route.
History
Since 1250, the community of Montegallo was linked to the city of Ascoli. In the century XVI, thanks to its geographical position and connection with the other cities of the Sibillini Mountains, its economy is flourishing and vital and had its center in a fortified settlement that stood on the nearby height of Mount.
