ANCIENT VILLAGES

Province of Macerata
PENNA SAN GIOVANNI
Inhabitants 1211
Altitude 700 m ASL
Surface 228,18sq km
Distance
from Macerata 38 km
i
Town hall:
Phone: +39 0733.699003
+39 0733.669119
Mountain Community
Phone: +39 0733.656336
www.comune.
pennasangiovanni.mc.it
comune@
pennasangiovanni.sinp.net
WHERE TO STAY
HOTELS
CAMPSITES
HOLIDAY VILLAGES
COUNTRY HOUSES l
APARTMENT RENTALS
ROOMS TO RENT l
FARM HOLIDAYS l
BED & BREAKFAST l
CARAVAN SITES
YOUTH HOSTELS
MOUNTAIN DEWS
The name Penna probably comes
from the Celtic etymology of
“place, located on high hill,
mountain or fortress “; in the 12 th
century the village was either
called Castel della Penna or
Castello del Monte di San Giovanni.
Considering the evidences
found on this place, the
origins probably date from the 1 st
and 2 nd centuries before Christ,
being a district of the Roman
colony Faleria. In the Middle
Ages the village was fortified and
became the residence of local
Lords. During Manfredi’s occupation
in 1259, the inhabitants
rose up and destroyed the fortress
on the top of the mountain. At the
half of the 13 th century the
fortress was rebuilt by the Da
Varano family, who had taken
possession of the village on behalf
of the Cardinal Albornoz.
From the half of the 15 th century
it was conquered and kept by
Francesco Sforza together with
other nearby castles during two
decades, until it passed under the
rule of the Popedom.
WORTH VISITING
Interesting are the remains of the
ancient ring walls, with the Porta
Marina and Portarella (two
original town gates), located
within the village; on its vault
you can see traces of a 18 th century
fresco. Worth remembering
are the Church of St. Giovanni
Battista, dated 1251-1256, restored
in 1501 and renovated in
Baroque style in 1736. The
Church of St. Francesco (15 th
century) preserves its original
portal and terracotta floor; remarkable
is the adjacent ancient
convent with the cloister and the
portico. In the Town Hall you can
find some remains of the Roman
times and an interesting triptych
representing the Madonna
among St. Rocco, St. Sebastiano,
St. Apollonia and St. Giovanni,
attributed to Crivelli. The Church
of St. Biagio, dated back to the
11 th century, contains a statue of
the Saint. The Church of St.
Giuseppe of 1587 is adorned
with a big stucco rosette and includes
a high bell tower. The
Church of St. Filomena (13 th
century), built in a single aisle,
contains lots of paintings. The
historic Municipal Theatre
“Flora”, built in 1780, can boast
a sandstone portal and frescoes
by Antonio Liozzi. The Fortress
is an ancient sighting-tower, now
in state of ruin. Worth visiting is
the Municipal Picture Gallery of
Contemporary Art.
SOMETHING MORE TO
DISCOVER
A few kilometres away from the
village you can find the picturesque
hamlet of Villa Saline. It
extends up to the sources of the
Salino River, from which healthy
mineral salt-iodic-bromine-sulphur
natural waters well, the natural
healing properties of which
were discovered in 1876.
WORTH TASTING
Local specialities are: virgin
olive oil, vincotto (literally
URBINO
PESARO
ANCONA
MACERATA
PENNA SAN GIOVANNI FERMO
ASCOLI PICENO
cooked wine), “ciauscolo”, honey,
cheese, handmade pasta.
SOMETHING TO DO
The following sport facilities
are available: a multipurpose
ground, a Bocce rink centre and
a multi-purpose sports field
WORTH DISCOVERING
Penna San Giovanni belongs to
the Monti Azzurri Mountain
Community (Comunità Montana
dei Monti Azzurri), a territory
rich in history, culture and natural
beauties. Worth remembering are
the beautiful Park of Villa Salina,
with its lush aquatic vegetations
of natural ponds, and the Park del
Monte, located on a high and
panoramic point.
You can enjoy historical-cultural
and naturalistic trips on foot, by
mountain bike or on horseback
DON’T MISS OUT
Sfilata dei carri allegorici (Carnival
carts parade) - Sunday before
Carnival Tuesday in February;
Giornata della terza età (Old Age
Day) - July; Concerto lirico-vocale
(Lyric-vocal concert) - August,
Sagra della polenta sulla
“spianatora” (Festival of the Polenta
on the “board”) - August;
Tombola di Ferragosto, (15 th August
Bingo); Festa del Patrono S.
Giovanni Battista (Feast of the
Patron Saint, St. Giovanni Battista)
- 24 th June and 29 th August;
Sagra “La Castagnata (Chestnut
Festival) - last Sunday in October,
Concerto di Natale (Christmas
Concert) - December.