Castle Walls and Towers (Montemonaco)

History of the mura castellane e torrioni

The original ring of walls is dated to the 10th century. The towers were added when the castle was built; in 1190 it was under the lordship of the Nobili di Monte Passillo, and it appears as Castrum Mons Monaci in 1283. In the 14th century the walls were enlarged.

Toward the end of the 13th century, the rural settlements at the foot of the Sibillini joined together as a free commune. The people of Montemonaco used the walls to defend their freedoms. With those defenses they drove back attacks from Norcia, Montefortino, Amandola and Arquata del Tronto, and even from Francesco Sforza and Niccolò Piccinino. The fortifications facing west, toward Norcia, are the tallest and most massive.

The walls were broken by three gates: San Giorgio, San Biagio and San Lorenzo. Porta San Biagio in Montemonaco is the best preserved. When the defenses lost their function, some sections were dismantled to build houses.

What to see along the mura castellane e torrioni

Several stretches of wall remain visible, alternating with the towers. Each tower is formed by three walls arranged in a "C" shape. The sandstone facing is partly worn by time and, since the earthquake, shows cracks and collapses.

Next to the walls, the Parco dei Torrioni has been opened, with an open-air theater. Another stretch of wall is incorporated into the church of San Biagio: one of its walls is formed by the town walls, and its bell tower is an old defensive tower.

How to visit the mura castellane e torrioni

The simplest route starts from Piazza Roma and the panoramic terrace. Continue toward the Palazzo Comunale (town hall) and the churches of San Biagio and San Benedetto, then cross the public gardens, where the remains of the walls and the view over the Vettore and Sibilla massifs can be seen. From Porta San Biagio you can leave the historic core to see the fortifications from outside. A road runs alongside them and leads to a terrace overlooking the mountains.

A repair project has been approved for the walls damaged by the earthquake, with structural work and conservative restoration. It is worth asking in advance about the status of the work sites.

Where the mura castellane e torrioni are located

The walls are in Montemonaco, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in Le Marche, on the ridge-top plateau facing Monte Sibilla. They enclose part of the historic center and include many green spaces. The easiest section to find is the one near Porta San Biagio, next to the churches of San Benedetto and San Biagio.

Near the mura castellane e torrioni of Montemonaco

In the historic center are the 14th-century civic tower, the Church of San Benedetto with the silver arm reliquary that holds the saint's relic, and the Museo di Arte Sacra in Montemonaco. Not far away is the Parco Montiguarnieri, created where the fortress once stood. To learn more about the other town walls and gates in the area, see the page on medieval walls and gates in the Sibillini; for the best-preserved gate in Montemonaco there is a dedicated page on Porta San Biagio.