Pievefavera
Welcome to Pievefavera
Hello everyone! Today I'm going to talk to you about Pievefavera, a beautiful hamlet in the municipality of Caldarola, in the province of Macerata. This place is of remarkable environmental, landscape, historical and cultural interest.
The Environment and its Oils
The hills around Pievefavera are covered with olive trees and represent the prevalent area of the Coroncina Cultivar, a Marche olive variety that produces a high quality, very fruity, bitter and pungent oil with a scent of artichoke and an intense green color. This oil has a high content of polyphenols and chlorophyll and a good unsaturated/saturated ratio. Besides Coroncina, other olive varieties are present in the area such as Piantone di Mogliano, Orbetana, Oliva grossa di Croce, Ascolana Dura and Moraiolo. These varieties accompany Coroncina in old olive groves and possibly ensure pollination, as most olive varieties are self-sterile and require other compatible varieties.
History
The history of Pievefavera dates back to the thirteenth century, when the castle was built that still retains almost intact its wall structure with three curtains and four towers. Along the southern shore of Lake Caccamo, located under the hills of Pievefavera, there is an archaeological area from the Roman period where structures from the late Republican age are present. Near the archaeological area, there is the Antiquarium where archaeological materials are preserved. In 1883, some archaeological excavations in the Mercatale area unearthed artifacts and a tomb from the Roman period, elements that over the years will corroborate the existence of an ancient Roman settlement called Faveria.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Pievefavera took refuge in impervious locations, protected by castle walls, like many other mountain centers. The germinative cell of the new settlement was the pieve; the oldest documents that explicitly mention the "plebs" are descriptive parchments of the properties of the Abbey of Fiastra dating back to 1170. From this moment on, Pievefavera's history was closely linked to the events of the Municipality of Camerino which, between the thirteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century, realized the largest and most efficient defensive system of the Lower Marche. The strategic position of Pievefavera in defense of the southeastern border, as well as its peculiar direct relationship with the Varano family, which dominated in Camerino for about three centuries, and the importance of the pieve itself in possession (until 1453) of the only baptismal font in the area, decreed the superiority of the fortified village over neighboring ones and its survival over the centuries. The very close bond of Pievefavera with the titular family of the Signoria is attested by several documents.
Conclusions
In short, Pievefavera is a place rich in history, art, and traditions. In addition to the castle and the archaeological area, you can visit the church of Santa Maria Assunta, the small church of San Giovanni Battista, and the various crosses and monuments found along the village streets. For nature lovers, there are walks along the olive hills and by Lake Caccamo. And for those who love good food, you cannot miss the chance to taste the Coroncina Cultivar olive oil. So, if you are looking for a vacation destination, Pievefavera is definitely a winning choice!
