ANCIENT VILLAGES

Province of Macerata
Inhabitants 640
Altitude 484 m ASL
Surface 23,6 sq km
Distance
from Macerata 38 km
i
Town hall:
Phone: +39 0737.641184
Mountain Community
Phone: +39 0733.637245
www.comune.gagliole.mc.it
comune@gagliole.sinp.net
WHERE TO STAY
HOTELS
CAMPSITES
HOLIDAY VILLAGES
COUNTRY HOUSES
APARTMENT RENTALS l
ROOMS TO RENT
FARM HOLIDAYS l
BED & BREAKFAST
CARAVAN SITES
YOUTH HOSTELS
MOUNTAIN DEWS
The history of Gagliole begins
with prehistoric settlements of
the ancient people of the Palaeolithic
and Neolithic period,
traces of which have been
found in different occasions in
the valley of Potenza and on the
hill of Colle Marte. The territory
experienced the influence of
the Roman civilization, too, but
no evidence of that time is left.
During the Early Middle Ages,
the so called Pieve di St. Zenone,
today know as St. Maria
della Pieve, arose in the valley.
Around the 12 th century, the
fortified Castle, initially composed
by one tower and ring
walls only, was built on the hill,
which Gagliole occupies nowadays.
In the 13 th century Gentile
Da Varano arranged the enlargement
of the castle, with the
addiction of walls, gates and
keeps towers and the building
of a fortress in the highest point.
Today the fortress is one of the
most important evidences of
the medieval military architecture
of the Marche. The village
preserves its original medieval
town structure with the castle
and the walls.
WORTH VISITING
The Castle of Gagliole was
built by the Da Varano family
in the 14 th century; interesting
are its ring walls with mighty
keeps to the west and the gate to
the south. The parish Church of
St. Michele Arcangelo, recently
restored, has a beautiful brick
portal and preserves a wooden
GAGLIOLE
polychrome statue of St. Sebastiano
(16 th century). The
Church of St. Giuseppe of the
16 th century preserves a polychrome
wooden crucifix of the
16 th century and a fresco with a
A. De Magistris’ Nativity of
1530. About 3km away from
here, you can find the hermit’s
Church of St. Maria delle Macchie,
dating from the 11 th and
12 th centuries with annexed
Convent and small cloister with
brick columns; worth remembering
are the brick decorations
and numerous paintings, including
two Madonna by
Lorenzo Salimbeni. The original
painting of the Madonna
della Macchie is preserved in
the Church of St. Lorenzo in
Torreto. The Church of St.
Maria della Pieve, important
Romanesque building, preserves
an interesting fresco of
the 16 th century, representing a
Madonna with Child.
WORTH TASTING
Local specialities are: honey,
bread, handmade pasta (“tagliatelle”
and “vincisgrassi”), the
wine Verdicchio doc, traditional
sausages, among which is the
famous ciauscolo, cakes (crescia,
Frustingo, Easter ringshaped
cakes).
SOMETHING TO DO
The following sport facilities are
available: multi-purpose sports
ground, tennis courts, Buoles
(Italian Bocce) rinks and cycle
paths for mountain biking.
URBINO
PESARO
GAGLIOLE
ANCONA
MACERATA
FERMO
ASCOLI PICENO
WORTH DISCOVERING
The ancient Castle of Gagliole
is the starting point for different
excursions: you can go up to
Prati (1000m above the sea level),
a big green land of great naturalistic
interest with a wonderful
panorama. Hike to the wild
Valley dell’Elce, a natural area
covered by oak forests, to visit
the Grotta dell’Elce e del Sasso
Pozzo, or appreciate the karst
intermittent springs.
DON’T MISS OUT
Pellegrinaggio alla Madonna
delle Macchie (Pilgrimage to
the Madonna delle Macchie) -
night of 30 th April; Torneo di
calcio a cinque (Five-a-side
football tournament) - July;
Rassegna del Teatro Dialettale
(Dialect Theater Show) - August;
Serata “Blues festival”
(Blues Festival) - August; Manifestazioni
ricreative e culturali
(Recreative and cultural
Events) - Summer.
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