ANCIENT VILLAGES

Province of Ancona
Inhabitants 1979
Altitude 320 m ASL
Surface 72,35 sq km
Distance
from Ancona 65 km
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Town hall: Phone: +39 0732.973014
Mountain Community
Phone: +39 0732.6952
Frasassi Consortium :
Phone: +39 0732.97211
www.comune.genga.an.it
comunicazione@comune.genga.an.it
grotte@frasassi.com
www.parcogolarossa.it
WHERE TO STAY
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CAMPSITES
HOLIDAY VILLAGES
COUNTRY HOUSES
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BED & BREAKFAST l
CARAVAN SITES l
YOUTH HOSTELS l
MOUNTAIN DEWS
The Castle of Genga is located
in the heart of the Gola della
Rossa and Frasassi Natural Regional
Park; its origin is tightly
connected with Pierosara (old
Longobard stewarddom of Castelpetroso)
and to the Monastery
of St. Vittore. In the borgo,
that experienced a very flourishing
period between the 10 th and
the 11 th century thanks to the
Counts of Genga, who dominated
over the territory until 1816,
the feudal Palace and the impressive
medieval town walls
are still preserved. Annibale della
Genga, later Pope Leo XII
was born here. Anyway, the history
of the territory goes further
back in the past, as several fragments
of prehistoric stone and
pottery manufacture found out
in Donatelli - Colleponi, Pianacci
and Pianello, Genga’s hamlets,
prove.
WORTH VISITING
The Gorge of Frasassi is a real
marvel of nature. Discovered in
1971, the caves wind about 20
km into the mountain and represent
one of the most interesting
and known karstic complex in
Italy. Not far from the caves rises
the Benedictine Abbey of St.
Vittore delle Chiuse, one of the
most important Romanesque
monuments in the region.
The annexed Speleo-paleontological
Museum houses the famous
ichtthyosaur, a sea reptile
living 150 millions years ago.
With its charming location, in
the heart of the Gorge of Frasas-
GENGA
si, the neoclassical Octagonal
Temple was created by Valadier
on Pope Leo XII’s commission;
not far from it is the old Hermitage
of St. Maria infra saxa,
dug in a natural cave into the
mountain. Genga offers the
tourist the impressive Palazzo
dei Conti della Genga, as well as
the Parish Church of St. Maria
Assunta and, not far away, the
Pieve of St. Clemente, currently
turned into an interesting Museum
of Sacred Arts, which houses
a very valuable collection. In the
hamlet Pianello you will find the
biggest Protovillanovan Necropolis
of the region. Other archaeological
sites and charming
medieval churches, like the old
Church of St. Ansovino in Avacelli,
are also to find in the territory.
SOMETHING MORE TO
DISCOVER
The name Genga possibly derives
from the Lombard word
Zinka, or from genga, meaning
tuff, or from the German word
Gang, in the meaning of underground
passage. The area is actually
extremely characterized
by underground caves, like
Grotta dei Baffoni, Grotta del
Mezzogiorno, Grotta del Prete,
Grotta Leonardo.
WORTH TASTING
Excellent sausages, salami and
ham variety, that goes perfectly
with the local brown bread;
Tagliatelle, hand made with
rolling-pin (local word “ra-
URBINO
PESARO
GENGA
ANCONA
MACERATA
FERMO
ASCOLI PICENO
sagnolo”), the “crescia”, kind of
“bread pizza” to be roasted in
the fire coals, slugs and “polenta”
with wild boar ragù-sauce.
SOMETHING TO DO
Genga is the perfect place to relax:
the Terme of St. Vittore, famous
and well equipped thermal
centre, offer treatments with
natural mineral waters, welling
about 400 metres from the centre.
Rowing opportunities at Lago
Fossi.
WORTH DISCOVERING
The Gola della Rossa and
Frasassi Natural Regional Park
includes several protected areas:
the floristic are of Valle Scappuccia,
the area of the Gorge of
Frasassi, along the course of the
Sentino River and the WWF Oasis
of Valmontagnana. This area,
with high crests, panoramic
tracks, century-old forests, is
ideal for trekking (e.g. Sentiero
dei Gradoni) and climbing
lovers, as well as for rafting,
horse-riding and mountain bike
practisers.
DON’T MISS OUT
Sacro Incanto, concerts held in
the Monastery of the Frasassi
Gorge - June; Vetrina dell’artigianato
artistico (Exhibition of
artistic handicrafts) - from the
last week of July to the end of
August; Presepe vivente (Staging
of the Nativity) in the
Frasassi cave - Christmas time.
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