Medieval Fortress in Smerillo

History of the Medieval Fortress of Smerillo

The first records of the construction of the Castrum Smerilli date from the early Middle Ages, and in 1192 the name of Count Alberto di Smerillo appears. The settlement was divided into two parts: the cassero, the fortified section, and the village. The fortress was also the residence of noble families.

In the 14th century Smerillo was contested between Fermo and Camerino. On March 3, 1396 the custodians Luzio and Antonio betrayed Fermo and handed the fortress over to Gentile and Rodolfo da Varano of Camerino. The people of Fermo then moved against Smerillo. In 1409 the castle was besieged and taken by the troops of the Kingdom of Naples.

What to see at the Medieval Fortress

Ruins remain. The walls still partly surround the village, and traces of some towers and of the two gates, to the north and south, survive. The remains of the old castle and the fortress are striking. What remains of Porta Nord and the Cassero can also be recognized. From the highest point the view opens over the Lago di San Ruffino. In winter the view reaches the snow-capped peaks of the Sibillini.

How to visit the Medieval Fortress

The ruins can be seen while walking through the village streets. Before visiting, it is worth contacting the town, also because reconstruction work after the 2016 earthquake is under way in Smerillo. Town ordinances still restrict access to the trails below the historic center. The cause is rockfalls from the western face of the rocky spur.

Where the Medieval Fortress is located

Smerillo is in the province of Fermo, in the Marche, in the Fermo hinterland. The fortress occupied a raised position above the village.

Around the Medieval Fortress of Smerillo

The nearest stretch of walls is Porta Nord, well preserved and restored, described on the page Porta Nord (Smerillo). The "Fessa" is a cleft in the Pliocene rock, visited by tourists and paleontology scholars. The church of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Smerillo, in the historic center, reopened after restoration following the 2016 earthquake. From the hamlet of Durano the Fosso delle Anguille can be reached, with small lakes and little waterfalls. Other examples are gathered in castles and fortresses of the Sibillini.