ANCIENT VILLAGES

Province of Ascoli Piceno
Inhabitants 619
Altitude 878 m ASL
Surface 48,59 sq km
Distance from
Ascoli Piceno 33 km
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Town hall:
Phone: +39 0736.806122
Mountain Community
Phone: +39 0736.251747
Monti Sibillini National Park:
Phone: +39 0737.972711
www.provincia.ap.it/Montegallo
com.montegallo@provincia.ap.it
www.sibillini.net
WHERE TO STAY
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HOLIDAY VILLAGES
COUNTRY HOUSES l
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FARM HOLIDAYS l
BED & BREAKFAST l
CARAVAN SITES
YOUTH HOSTELS
MOUNTAIN DEWS l
The place is mentioned in the
Egidiane Constitutions of 1357,
as Mons Sanctae Mariae in Gallo.
In 1378 it’s remembered as
land of St. Maria in Lapide. Only
in 1580 it was called Montegallo.
In ancient times Pelasgi, Marsi
and Sabini lived there. It came
under the Farfense rule in the 8 th
century. According to some historians,
it was Marco Gallo, an
envoy of Carlo Magno, who
founded the Castle of St. Maria
in Lapide, which is still immersed
in the bush vegetation
between Balzo and Fonditore.
During the 15 th century the walls
of this castrum gave origin to
Balzo, that is now the seat of the
administrative municipality. In
1250 it obtained the citizenship
of Ascoli, in exchange of keeping
a citizen of Ascoli Piceno as lord
of the castle and of an annual
tribute to the Palio, in the anniversary
of St. Emidio. Today,
the municipality has 27 hamlets
which depends on Balzo, seat of
the Municipal government, hosted
in the 17 th century Town Hall
Palace.
WORTH VISITING
As evidence of its noble past you
can see a Shrine by the Church of
St. Maria in Lapide, an old Farfense
Church, nestled in the
bushes between Balzo and Fonditore,
the Church of St. Maria in
Pantano, better known as the
Church of Sibille for the Bonfini’s
frescoes of the 17 th century,
dedicated to these mysterious female
figures, the Churches of St.
MONTEGALLO
Bernardino and St. Angelo, with
a portal of the 16 th century. Worth
visiting is also the temple dedicated
to Madonna in the hamlet
Collicello, the Museum of Rural
Civilization in the hamlet Uscerno
and the Monastery of St.
Francesco in the hamlet Corsara.
SOMETHING MORE TO
DISCOVER
The C.E.A. (Centre for Environmental
Education) is very active;
its seat is located in Palazzetto
Branconio (17 th century) and
manages the territory, including
the Taliani pinewood and a naturalist
path.
WORTH TASTING
Worth remembering is the production
of honey in the hamlet
Acetito, excellent dishes based
on local mushrooms, lamb and
wild boar meat.
SOMETHING TO DO
The following sport facilities are
available: a soccer field, an outdoor
pool and a children’s playground
in the pine forest
equipped with recreational facilities.
WORTH DISCOVERING
The territory, characterized by
numerous sources of mineral water,
is rich in a particular and unusual
flora: hornbeam, fir, maple,
oak, chestnut, pine, daffodils,
tulips, edelweiss and gentian.
Worth visiting is the House of
Blessed Marco in Fonditore. The
place is ideal for naturalistic
URBINO
PESARO
ANCONA
MACERATA
MONTEGALLO
FERMO
ASCOLI PICENO
trips: 30km of paths on horseback,
by mountain bike and on
foot. In particular, there are interesting
paths in direction of Santa
Maria in Pantano to the top of the
Mount Vettore, or to the Mount
Sibilla, the Pit of Colleluce
(source Fluvione), the sandstone
cliff in Corbara, the valley of
Pantano, the Mill of Uscerno and
the famous Trail of reapers (Sentiero
dei mietitori).
DON’T MISS OUT
Festa patronale di S. Bernardino
(Feast of the Patron Saint, St.
Bernardino) - 20 th May; Fiera in
frazione Balzo (Fair In the hamlet
Balzo) - 12 th August; Fiera
del miele (Honey fair) in the
hamlet Abetito - September; Raduno
dei cavalli (Horse meeting)
in the hamlet Colle - August/September;
patronal festivals in the
different hamlets in summer; Sagra
della Castagna (Chestnut
festival) in the hamlet Uscerno -
October.
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