Altidona
Altidona: history and origin of the name
Altidona, an ancient municipality in the province of Fermo, boasts a millenary history dating back to about 150,000 years ago. The territory was inhabited by the Pelasgians, the Piceni and the Romans. Later, Altidona belonged first to the Farfa Abbey in Sabina, then to Fermo. The toponym "Altidona" could derive from the Latin expression "alta domina," but there are also other theories about it. Inside the village, there are the medieval walls of the castle, the church of Santa Maria with its imposing bell tower, and the Belvedere, a medieval watchtower that offers a panoramic view of the Valle dell'Aso.
The village of brick makers
Altidona is famous for being the village of brick makers. Furnaces were already found in the area during Roman times, but the furnacing skills of the inhabitants of Altidona date back to the 19th century. It was precisely in this era that Raffaele Bagalini began his entrepreneurial activity. Bagalini had a great dream: to create jobs and development for the village through the production of Terracotta. In 1880, he already had two furnaces in operation, and ten years later, he built a Hoffmann-type furnace, an innovative system for the time that allowed continuous-cycle production. However, Raffaele Bagalini died at the age of only 56, but his legacy continued to be passed down from brick makers to their children. In the early 1900s, the village had more than 100 brick makers in the historic center of Altidona.
Artistic and cultural heritage
Altidona boasts a remarkable artistic and cultural heritage. Inside the church of Santa Maria, there is a polyptych by Cortese depicting the Madonna on a throne surrounded by Saints. In the same church, there is also a panel attributed to Vincenzo Pagani depicting the Madonna and Child, two saints, and a donor. Moreover, the village has preserved ancient alleys that lead to picturesque views and the Belvedere, from which one can overlook the Valle dell'Aso and enjoy a breathtaking view.
Events and traditions
Altidona has numerous traditions that date back to ancient times. Among the most important is the feast of San Ciriaco and Santa Maria, which takes place at the end of August and includes a procession in which the faithful carry the simulacra of the two saints on their shoulders. During the feast, there are also musical shows and fireworks. Another important event is the Race of the Candles, which takes place on April 25th and involves a competition among the three districts of the village, each represented by a giant candle carried on shoulder by the candle makers.
Cuisine and typical products
The cuisine of Altidona is typical of the Marche region, based on meat dishes, such as porchetta, and local products, such as the cacio di fossa cheese and egg pasta. The village is especially famous for its traditional sweets, including cicerchiata, sweet calcioni with cooked grape must, and sweet pizza with cooked grape must. Moreover, Altidona is known for the production of wine, especially the Rosso Piceno DOC, produced with Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes.
In summary, Altidona is a small village with great traditions and a long history. Its main attractions include the ancient walls of the castle, the church of Santa Maria, the Belvedere, and the numerous culinary and folkloric traditions that characterize the life of the village. The production of Terracotta and the figure of Raffaele Bagalini gave rise to a great legacy that continues to be passed down by the brick makers of Altidona.
