Urbisaglia

What to know

Set on a hill in the valley of the Fiastra, in the Macerata area, Urbisaglia rises on the site of the ancient Roman city of Urbs Salvia, one of the most important centres of the region in the imperial age. The grandiose archaeological remains - among them the amphitheatre and the theatre - make it a unique place, where millennial history surfaces among the fields and hills, restoring the image of a city once flourishing and powerful. Destroyed by the Visigoths of Alaric, the Roman city was abandoned and the community moved higher up, giving rise to the fortified medieval village, encircled by walls and dominated by a mighty Rocca. Bound for centuries to the Papal State and to the nearby abbey of Fiastra, Urbisaglia preserves a rich historical and scenic heritage, the fruit of the layering of different epochs and civilisations. Awarded the Orange Flag of the Touring Club, it is today a destination for those who love archaeology and nature, capable of uniting within a few kilometres an archaeological park, a medieval village and the nearby nature reserve of the Abbadia di Fiastra, in a landscape of rare harmony. The gentle cultivated hills, the woods and the watercourses that surround the village compose a serene and luminous scene, where the Roman and medieval past converses with the Marche countryside, offering those who arrive a journey through time amid memory, art and nature, far from contemporary frenzy and close to the authentic essence of this land, where the seasons slowly mark the life of the fields and the silence of the hills invites contemplation and discovery.

What to see

The main attraction is the Parco Archeologico di Urbs Salvia, the most extensive in the Marche, with the Roman amphitheatre, the theatre, the frescoed cryptoporticus, the temple and the walls, immersed in the greenery of a landscape that heightens their allure. In the medieval village the Rocca stands out, an imposing fortress that houses the museum and offers panoramas over the valley of the Fiastra and the surrounding hills. Worth seeing are the Museo Archeologico Statale, which gathers the finds of the ancient city, and the churches of the historic centre, guardians of works and memories of devotion. Not far away, the Riserva Naturale dell'Abbadia di Fiastra safeguards the splendid Cistercian abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra, immersed in an age-old wood ideal for walks in the shade of imposing oaks and along silent paths. All around extends a gentle landscape of cultivated hills, amid archaeological, naturalistic and cycle-touring itineraries that invite a slow discovery of the territory. Urbisaglia is an ideal starting point for discovering the Roman and medieval history of the Macerata area, uniting culture, nature and tranquillity in a territory of great charm. Walking among the remains of the ancient city and the alleyways of the fortified village, the visitor makes a fascinating journey through time, where the millennial stones and the green of the countryside together recount a history over two thousand years long, in a continuous dialogue between civilisation and landscape that makes Urbisaglia one of the most fascinating archaeological and naturalistic destinations of the entire Marche hinterland.

What to eat

The cuisine of Urbisaglia is the genuine fare of the Macerata hinterland, rich in hand-made pastas and peasant flavours, the fruit of an agricultural tradition deeply rooted in the territory. The symbolic dish is vincisgrassi, the sumptuous lasagna with ragù, together with tagliatelle, cappelletti in brodo and passatelli, ever-present on festive tables. Among the main courses are roast meats, coniglio in porchetta and local cured meats, first and foremost the spreadable ciauscolo, accompanied by sheep's cheeses and the wild greens grown in the valley's vegetable gardens. There is no lack of dishes enriched with truffle and the mushrooms of the hills, which the territory yields in several seasons. Giving character to the table are the wines of the Colli Maceratesi and the Rosso Piceno, produced in the area, together with the extra virgin olive oil of the surrounding hills. Among the desserts one savours crostate, ciambelloni and the biscuits of tradition, often linked to the feasts and anniversaries of the peasant calendar. The village festivals celebrate these typical products, offering the chance to rediscover the hospitality and authentic flavours of the Marche countryside in the farm holiday establishments and trattorias of the territory, where the warmth of the people and the simplicity of home cooking transform every meal into a moment of authentic conviviality, amid traditions handed down and zero-kilometre produce grown with care and passion by the local farms, guardians of ancient flavours and of a deep bond with their own land.