History

Matelica enumerates a rich archaeological patrimony.

The first establishment goes back to prehistoric epoch: middle Paleolith and superior Paleolith. It was inhabited by the Piceni (among the 9th and the 4th century b.c.). In 664 became a roman municipium.

The Roman installation brought a notable economic prosperity. It came subsequently conquered by the longobards.

In 1394, Matelica  passed on under the direct authority of the Holy See and was assigned by the pope to the Ottoni family that exercised its power until almost the end of the 16th century.

The return under the direct dominion of the Church brought Matelica to a slow decadence,  being left just with a florid commerce and the production of “panni di lana” (cloths wool) which was initiated in the year  5oo when was under the authority of the Ottoni family.

The city guards different monumental buildings of remarkable historical and cultural entity, traces of its past.

Matelica has had a good raising of the agriculture in the last years with the production of the “Verdicchio di Matelica”, typical doc wine.

 Natural Landscape

Matelica is set among two mountains (S. Vicino and Monte Gemmo), which are part of one of the two parallel mountain range of the Alto Esino: to west we see the dorsal umbro-marchigiana chain with the most known peaks of the Maggio mountain (1361mt.), Puro mountain (1155 mt.), Nero mountain (1410mt.), Cafaggio mountain (1116 mt.); to east the inside Marche’s mountain chain with S. Vicino mountain (1479 mt.), Cipollata mountain (1195 mt.), La Forcella mountain (1149 mt.) and Canfaito mountain (1114 mt.).

The river Esino goes down from the Cafaggio mountain joing up to the steam Giano after having crossed the town of Fabriano (known as the city of the paper). The river widen with the tributary  of “historical course”  Sentino .

The Sentino river, born in Umbria territory enters the Marche crossing imposing and suggestive rocky environments ad La Gola of Cromo, the one of Catria and the one of Frasassi, rich of Karst hollow and termal springs of sulphureous waters.

Buildings of historical interest

• Piazza Enrico Mattei
• Monumental fountain (beginning of 17th century)
• Loggiato (Arcade)

Places of great interest to visit

Museums:

• Archaeological museum  -  Finaguerra Palace
• Piersanti Museum  -  Piersanti Palace
• Pinacoteca  -  Finaguerra Palace