ANCIENT VILLAGES

Province of Ascoli Piceno
Inhabitants 973
Altitude 395
Surface 27,2 sq km
Distance from
Ascoli Piceno 24 km
i
Town hall:
Phone: +39 0736.374122
Mountain Community
Phone: +39 0736.844526
+39 0736.844379
www.provincia.ap.it/Rotella
com.rotella@libero.it
WHERE TO STAY
HOTELS l
CAMPSITES
HOLIDAY VILLAGES
COUNTRY HOUSES
APARTMENT RENTALS
ROOMS TO RENT
FARM HOLIDAYS
BED & BREAKFAST
CARAVAN SITES
YOUTH HOSTELS
MOUNTAIN DEWS
Rotella lies at the foot of the
Mount Ascensione, known as
Monte Nero in ancient times,
due to its thick woods and chestnut
groves. There are three hypothesis
about the origins of its
name: the round shape of the
ground, the name of the Roman
consul Rutilio, or the kneecap
“rotula”, term used for an ancient
shield. Two rivers flow
across the town, the Tesino River
and the Oste stream. The origin
of this small town dates
1204, founded by the Benedictine
monks. It is mentioned as
one of the Farfensi possessions
of St. Vittoria in Matenano. In
1357 the Cardinal Albornoz in
the Egidiane Constitutions considered
it among the towns, that
have always belonged to the
Farfense Abbey. Following the
reforms, implemented in response
to the Council of Trento,
it was assigned to the diocese of
Ripatransone in 1571.
WORTH VISITING
In the charming historic centre
you can visit the Civic Clock
Tower (15 th century), historic
bell tower of the Church of S.
Maria, that collapsed in 1755,
the Baroque Church of SS.
Maria and Lorenzo (18 th century);
inside are a polychrome terracotta
Pietà, made in the 15 th
century and a marble bust of the
Eternal Father; the big Church
of St. Viviana, known as
Madonna dell’Icona (18 th century)
for a polychrome plaster
of the 16 th century representing
ROTELLA
the Virgin with Child; the
Church houses the Diocesan
Museum of Sacred Art. Worth
visiting are also Poggio Canosa,
ancient medieval village, with
the harmonious parish church of
S. Lucia, which preserves four
precious paintings by Pietro
Alemanno and where you can
visit a Naturalistic Museum;
Castel di Croce, typical medieval
town, with its impressive
tower, in a strategic and
panoramic position, and the
beautiful Church of St. Severino;
Capradosso, famous for the
Oratory of Verdiente with frescoes
of 14 th century, the Sanctuary
of Montemisio with an old
oak tree and the characteristic
Church of San Rocco.
SOMETHING MORE TO
DISCOVER
The magical Mount Ascensione,
covered with woods, inspired
lots of legends. Worth
visiting is also the new part of
the town, with buildings, that
show a lively economy with important
food and leather production.
WORTH DISCOVERING
There are floristic protected areas:
together with the Mount Ascensione,
the territory includes
other protected floristic areas,
like chestnuts groves a, Bosco di
Rovetino, with oaks, hornbeam,
maple, manna ashes, mushrooms
and many paths. Worth
seeing is the natural phenomenon
of “Vulcanelli” of mud, that
URBINO
PESARO
ANCONA
MACERATA
FERMO
ROTELLA
ASCOLI PICENO
occurs in the countryside of
Rotella during the months of
September and October.
DON’T MISS OUT
Fiera del 1 maggio (Fair of the
1 st of May) - 1 st May; Sagre gastronomiche
e serate danzanti
(Folk dancing and gastronomic
festivals) - July and August;
Festa della Beata M. A. Pallotta
(Feast of the Blessed M.A. Pallotta)
commemorating the miracle
of the fountain that pours
wine - August; Festa e Fiera di
S. Lorenzo (Feast and Fair of St.
Lorenzo) - 10 th August; Festa
Madonna della Consolazione
(Feast of the Madonna della
consolazione) at the Sanctuary
of Montemisio - 15 th August;
Processione delle Canestrelle
(Procession of the Canestrelle) -
second Sunday in August; Festa
di Santa Viviana (Feast of St. Viviana)
- last Sunday in August;
Sagra della castagna (Chestnut
Festival) of the Mount Ascensione
- October.