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Farfense Castle (Montefalcone Appennino)

Farfense Castle (Montefalcone Appennino)

Type
Castle or fortress
Municipality
Montefalcone Appennino (FM)

Source: site database, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

The Farfense Castle (Castello Farfense), also known as the Rocca di Montefalcone, overlooks the village of Montefalcone Appennino, in the province of Fermo. Of the old castle, the great tower and the keep (cassero) remain today. They stand on a rocky spur above a sheer drop, with the village in the background and a view toward the Sibillini Mountains. The name recalls the monks of the abbey of Farfa, who in the Middle Ages made Montefalcone an important stronghold of their territory.

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On the map

Points from the site database. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · Protomaps.

History of the Farfense Castle in Montefalcone Appennino

Under the monks of Farfa the village grew considerably, with the construction of a small fort and a school for clerics. The fortress rose on what were probably earlier fortifications of Farfa origin. According to tradition, it was built at the behest of the people of Fermo, who always paid great attention to it. It was an excellent lookout point, close to the border with the Ascoli territories. After obtaining the status of a free commune in 1214, Montefalcone renovated the fortress.

What to see at the Farfense Castle

Originally the fortification consisted of a single ring of walls protecting the fortress, which had a quadrangular tower. Today the great tower and the keep stand out. The tower has been restored.

Along the walls, details of defensive architecture can be seen. The walls have battlements and a few musket loopholes. The entrance was protected by a row of machicolations, of which only a few traces remain. The corbels that supported the walkway are still visible. Some large loopholes open in the east wall, at whose base there is a pronounced sloping batter. This part of the fortress is a later addition.

How to visit the Farfense Castle

The fortress is reached by climbing a ramp that runs alongside the village walls up to the fortress gate. The climb is short and is part of a visit to the village. A clear day is the best choice. The view from Montefalcone ranges from the Maiella and Gran Sasso to Monte Catria, all the way to the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic Sea.

Where the Farfense Castle is located

The castle is in Montefalcone Appennino, in the Marche region. The village stands on top of a sandstone cliff, between the valleys of the Aso and the Tenna. The municipality borders Amandola, Comunanza, Santa Vittoria in Matenano, Smerillo, Monte San Martino and Force.

Around the Farfense Castle in Montefalcone Appennino

In the village, the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, built between 1821 and 1824, is worth a stop. The Museo Comunale di Palazzo Felici is devoted mainly to fossils. It also holds the polyptych by Pietro Alemanno, painted between 1475 and 1480 and restored in 2020. The 15th-century church of Santa Maria delle Scalelle stands above a tunnel dug in the 1830s, among the oldest in Italy. About one kilometer from the village, toward Smerillo, is the church of the convent of San Giovanni in Selva. The forest that covers much of Monte Falcone is a protected floristic area and a Site of Community Importance.

Other fortifications in the area are described on the page on castles of the Sibillini Mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Who built the Farfense Castle?

The first small fort was built by the monks of Farfa. The fortress later rose on what were probably their fortifications. According to tradition, it was built at the behest of the people of Fermo and was renovated after 1214, the year Montefalcone became a free commune.

What remains of the castle of Montefalcone Appennino today?

Of the imposing fortification, the great tower and the keep remain. Stretches of battlemented wall, traces of the machicolations at the entrance, the corbels that supported the walkway and some loopholes can still be seen. The tower has been restored. The east section with the sloping batter is a later addition.

Why is the village called Montefalcone?

The name comes from the falcons that nest on the cliffs around the village, at the top of the mountain. The peregrine falcon is considered the symbol of Montefalcone Appennino. The place name can therefore be read as "mountain of the falcon", referring to the village's position on the cliff facing the Sibillini Mountains.

What is the view like from Montefalcone Appennino?

The village stands on a cliff between the valleys of the Aso and the Tenna and offers an open view toward the Sibillini Mountains. The view can reach the Maiella, Gran Sasso, Monte Catria and the Adriatic Sea. It is best enjoyed on clear days.

Nearby

What to see nearby

Straight-line distances.