Castelsantangelo sul Nera
Castelsantangelo sul Nera## - Let's discover the history of this town in the Marche region
Castelsantangelo sul Nera, also known as Castello in local Marchigiano dialect, is a town in the Marche region that covers an area of about 15 square kilometers and has a population of 236 inhabitants. It is located in the province of Macerata, in the maceratese-fermano-camerte area, and is famous for the sources of the Nera river that are located in its territory and for being the beginning of the Valnerina. In this article, we will discover the history, monuments, and places of interest of this fascinating town.
History
The area where Castelsantangelo sul Nera is located has always been of great interest due to the presence of water, such as the sources of the Nera river and the bottling plant of the Nerea mineral water. Thanks to this, the area has seen frequent prehistoric finds. It is believed that the name of the town, as well as that of its protector, Saint Michael Archangel, may derive from the Lombards, precisely for the presence of the Nera river.
In the Middle Ages, Castelsantangelo sul Nera became an important feudal center and exercised its control over the surrounding territory through the vassalage system. The last of the feudal lords who succeeded in the castle was Tiboldo di Farolfo di Nocria of the Fiordilancia family, who in 1255 renounced his properties and feudal rights in favor of Visso in exchange for the position of Podestà of the Municipality. From this moment on, the history of Castelsantangelo was linked to that of Visso.
During the Battle of Pian Perduto, Castelsantangelo sul Nera clashed with Norcia to secure the lands of Gualdo and Piani di Castelluccio. Despite the strength ratio being 10:1 in favor of the Nursini, the War ended on July 20, 1522, in favor of Castelsantangelo. These deeds are narrated in the eponymous poem composed by Berettaccia, a poet-shepherd of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, who lived in the 17th century.
The town remained a fraction of Visso until 1913 when, with a law implemented only in 1920, Castelsantangelo became an autonomous and independent municipality from Visso.
Monuments and places of interest
Despite the damage caused by the 2016 earthquake, Castelsantangelo sul Nera still has important monuments and places of interest. Among these, there are four churches: the Church of the Holy Spirit, the Church of San Sebastiano, the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi, and the Church of Santo Stefano, with a Romanesque portal and a stone baptismal font from the XIV-XV century.
The Church of the Holy Spirit, located in the main square of the town, was built in the 15th century in a Romanesque style and has an imposing bell tower. The Church of San Sebastiano, located in the hamlet of Gualdo, is a religious building dating back to the 17th century and characterized by a sail bell tower. The Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi, located in the hamlet of San Martino, is a Romanesque church built in the 12th century and deconsecrated in 1967. The Church of Santo Stefano, located in the historical center of the town, has a Romanesque portal and a stone baptismal font from the XIV-XV century.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Castelsantangelo sul Nera is an interesting and fascinating town that preserves an important historical and artistic heritage. Despite the damage caused by the 2016 earthquake, the town continues to be a place of great interest for tourists who want to discover the history and culture of the Marche region.
