Castelleone di Suasa
Discovering Castelleone di Suasa: the history and geography of the Marche municipality
Hello everyone! Today I'll take you on a journey to discover Castelleone di Suasa, a municipality in the Marche region with a population of 1578. The town is located in the province of Ancona and sits atop a hill on the right bank of the Cesano, a river that flows through the municipal territory.
A brief description of the municipality
The medieval name of the town was "Conocla", which referred to the conical shape of the hill before urbanization. Today, the landscape is predominantly hilly, with a plain only at the corresponding location of the Cesano river to the north and the Nevola stream to the south. The highest point is in the locality of "Croce del Termine" at 271 meters above sea level, from which one can enjoy a splendid view of the Cesano valley.
The history of Castelleone di Suasa
But let's talk about the history of Castelleone di Suasa! Here, there is the Roman city of Suasa, founded by the Romans after the Battle of Sentinum in the early 3rd century BC. The city was located along the branch of the ancient Via Flaminia that passed through Sentinum (Sassoferrato) and led to Sena Gallica (Senigallia). Initially, Suasa was only a small judicial center without political autonomy, but in 220 BC the construction of the Via Flaminia shifted the center of regional transportation to the north, in the Metauro valley.
However, in the late Republican period, the city began to expand, becoming a point of reference for the inhabitants of the entire Cesano valley, so much so as to acquire municipal dignity and political autonomy. In the 1st century AD, the city became rich in some important monuments, including an amphitheater, a theater, and a commercial forum.
But the decline of the city began in the 3rd century AD due to the economic and demographic crisis that affected the entire Italian peninsula. In 409 AD, Alaric, King of the Goths, crossed the Cesano valley during the famous sack of Rome in 410 AD. However, life in Suasa continued until the 6th century, when the Gothic War of 535-553 AD hit these areas very brutally.
The collapse of the Roman city of Suasa
The population left the city, which at this point became a quarry of materials for the construction of new settlements on the tops of the surrounding hills. Stones were removed and baked to obtain lime, and all available materials were taken away. The now deserted city collapsed and was buried under a layer of mud brought by the nearby hills. However, the road continues to be used to this day, and the city remains an important testimony to the historical past of the Marche region.
Conclusion
This is the brief history of the municipality of Castelleone di Suasa, which today is a small but charming Marche town surrounded by nature. If you visit this area, don't forget to take a walk among the ruins of the Roman city of Suasa and enjoy the beautiful panorama offered by the surrounding hills!
