Comunanza

Comunanza and Monte Pasillo’s lords
Count Alberto de Smerillo was the tenant of some lands owned by the monks from the Farfa abbey and became the owner with the support of emperor Frederick Barbarossa during his stay in the Marca.  
The powerful Monte Pasillo dynasty, so called because it lived on the mountain of the same name above today's Comunanza, seems to be born or related to Alberto. Mount Pasillo lies in an area that in 976 was the manorial court of Santa Maria Interamnes. After the Piceno was taken by Rome (299 B.C.), it became part of the Roman settlement of "Interamnia Poletina Piceni".
In 1246 the Lords of Monte Pasillo subdued Monte Fortino, Montemonaco, Monte Falcone, Santa Vittoria, Servigliano, Patrignone, Porchia, Smerillo, Castel Belmonte, Castel Nasuto, Ripavecchia, Poggio Radicone, Villa Gesso and, of course, "Communantia", where they owned vineyards, woods, pastures and mills.
After several fights with Fermo, in 1249, there was the capitulation with the town of Ascoli: brothers Giorgio and Albertino di Monte Pasillo signed an agreement stating that the two would be received as Ascoli citizens, with the promise to live in Ascoli in time of war (their palace with the coat of arms is in via dei Soderini) while in peaceful times they could reside wherever they wanted. 
Noblemen were also required to support Ascoli, in case of need, "with eight armed horses" and recognise Ascoli's believers as their friends as well as having the same enemies. In exchange for these services, Ascoli ordered the cancellation of all duties and gabelles across the entire land owned by Monte Pasillo noblemen (privilege held until 1755) with the extension of the privilege to all their subjects. As a consequence, Ascoli's inhabitants could enjoy the same privileges in the family's lands and castles too.

After the definitive destruction of the Castle of Mount Pasillo, the inhabitants of Ascoli Piceno erected the Castle of "Communantia Montis Passilli Civis Distrecualis Esculi" on the bend of the Aso River, around the Church of Saint Francis, as attested by a notarial deed of 1324. The castle was subject to the city of Ascoli until the Napoleonic era.

IMPORTANT - To visit the museums, please write to Marche Region's Tourism freephone number (numeroverde.turismo@regione.marche.it) or contact Comunanza's town hall at +39-0736.844253, e-mail: urp@comune.comunanza.ap.it

A journey through Comunanza’s history and art

Remains of thermal baths dating back to Roman times tell this town's most ancient history.  The 9th century Church of Santa Maria a Terme was built on the remains of a pagan temple which left tuff and travertine columns; the facade has medieval symbols: plants interweaving with animal and human elements.  
The old town has a typically medieval layout that includes several religious buildings, such as the 17th century St. Anne's Church, and the one dedicated to St. Francis, built on the ruins of a fortified temple overlooking the river. Palazzo Pascali houses the Museum of Sacred Art, which displays goldsmithing artworks, an 18th century processional cross and a 14th century Christ attributed to the famous Ascoli goldsmith Pietro Vannini. Among the paintings, we find San Liborio (St. Liborius) by Giuseppe Ghezzi (1634-1721), who was born in Comunanza and then moved to Rome where he became one of the greatest artists of the Roman Academy of St. Luke and friend of Queen Christina of Sweden. The church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, designed by Pietro Maggi and built in 1831, houses a unique element: the Baroque Monumental Organ with two keyboards, the only one of its kind in Europe for age, size and sound. 

The IME - The Marches Food and Wine Institute recommends:

Saffron
Saffron production brings together several farmers in Cessapalombo and other towns, such as Comunanza. Saffron is a spice obtained from Crocus Sativus' stigmas. It is grown in the Sibillini Mountains and contains an extraordinary amount of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are precious for our health. The flowers are picked patiently at dawn, before the sun is high and the flowers open. Thousands of flowers are then immediately opened by skilful and gentle hands, careful to avoid damaging the stigmas. The pistils, pure saffron in filaments, are taken without breaking them and toasted on a sieve above the embers of almond or oak wood. There are several delicious recipes that employ this little miracle flower.

White truffle
White truffle is a valuable truffle variety, financially and culinary-wise. Its white and greyish-yellow pulp is very distinctive, with tiny white veins. Its surface is smooth and its scent is complex but pleasantly aromatic, unique and recognisable. It mostly lives in symbiosis with oaks, willows and poplars, which influence its colour and the strength of its aroma.

Info:

Comune di Comunanza

Monti Sibillini

I Monti Sibillini sul Web

Marche Tourism: Comunanza