Mogliano
Mogliano and Fildesmido da Mogliano
Fildesmido da Mogliano is among the undisputed main actors in the Swabian age of the Marches: staunch pro-Imperialist, man of excellent military skills and, above all, skilful politician and legal scholar. His career began in San Severino, free commune since few years earlier, with the appointment as Podesta in 1199. He managed to take the coveted castle of Pitino from Montecchio (now Treia).
In his Mogliano, he had a massive fortress and a legendary tower built, capable of accommodating more than 300 men.
From 1215 to 1218 Fildesmido was Fermo's Podesta, where he will also be rector in 1249, and then Tolentino's and Macerata's. He was San Salvatore in Aso's acting vicar and for twelve years he was judge of the Farfa Abbey over all the Marches possessions, administering their justice and collecting taxes.
He kept expanding his possessions with beneficial agreements and marriage arrangements between the valleys of Tenna and Chienti. He ended up with over 20 castles, making him one of the most powerful lords of the time; Sarnano became Fildesmido's vassal and obtained the castles of Gualdo, Morico, Loro Picenoand Col di Pietra di Cessapalombo.
His prestige is also clear in the agreement signed with Fermo, one of the most important Marche communes of the time, which asked Fildesmido for military protection in case of war in exchange for some land.
In 1239 king Enzo came to the Marches to bring rebel communes back to the imperial side and Fildesmido's political demise seemed imminent, because he was given the task of defending Farfa Abbey's possessions against the Swabians. Fildesmido's defeat against Rinaldo Acquaviva, leading the imperial army, was very tough. Frederick II himself ordered his vicar Roberto di Castiglione to summon Fildesmido and give him back a few of his castles. A lengthy process with an unknown ending, except for the fact that Fildesmido kept all his properties and, in 1244, divided them between his son Ruggero, who inherited the possessions around Mogliano, and his grandson Rinaldo, who inherited all the fiefs of the Brunforte castle near Sarnano. He was named Rinaldo di Brunforte after this, another fearless and feared pro-Imperial protagonist of the thirteenth century Marche.
IMPORTANT - The town's historical centre, monuments and museums are partially accessible due to the 2016 earthquake. For further information, please write to Marche Region's Tourism freephone number (numeroverde.turismo@regione.marche.it) or contact Mogliano's town hall at +39-0733.559840, e-mail: info@comune.mogliano.mc.it
A journey through Mogliano’s history and art
The town has an eighteenth-century layout. The once mighty fortress built by Fildesmido only left its reconstructed ramparts, which are a real scenic balcony.
The church of St. Gregory the Great features a grand entrance staircase dating back to 1762, while the church of Santa Maria di Piazza housed Lorenzo Lotto's altarpiece, Madonna in gloria e i santi Giovanni Battista, Antonio da Padova, Maria Maddalena e Giuseppe ("Madonna in gloria and saints John the Baptist, Anthony of Padua, Mary Magdalene and Joseph"), now moved to Mogliano's Museum of Sacred Art (MASM), located above the 15th century Oratory of the Madonna della Misericordia. Outside the walls is the Sanctuary of the Holy Crucifix, built by Giuseppe Lucatelli, and the Museo delle Terre Artigiane (Museum of Craftsmen's Lands) which highlights the fine art of wicker, bamboo cane and leather craftsmanship. In the countryside, near the river Ete Morto, is the church of the Holy Crucifix (1579), with a small Renaissance temple, owned by the Confraternita del Sacramento ("Confraternity of the Sacrament").
The IME - The Marches Food and Wine Institute recommends:
Colli Maceratesi Doc
These wines, both red and white, are an expression of native grapes with universal values typical of the area where they are produced. These are the monks' wines, which later became the sharecroppers' wines. The Colli Maceratesi Red wine is pleasant, dry and balanced, while the Colli Maceratesi White wine should be drunk young to enjoy freshness, crispness and fragrance. The taste is dry with soft fresh fruity scents. In areas where the grapes enjoy longer exposure to the sun, the taste has hints of citrus fruits.
Ciauscolo PGI
Ciauscolo, also known as ciavuscolo or ciabuscolo, is certainly a "family jewel" of Marche region's pork butchery. It can be immediately told apart from other cured meats because it is a meat spread. For this reason, many compare it to an extraordinarily tasty pâté. Its scent is delicate, aromatic, typical, firm and spicy. Its origin is lost in the mists of time and goes back to the traditional farming practice of processing pork.
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