San Ginesio
San Ginesio
A small town of Roman origin, San Ginesio was invaded by the Goths and the Lombards. It was a very strong castle that could face much larger communes, thanks to continuous economic growth fostered by its wool shops, dye-works, and spinning mills nurtured by a territory rich with water sources.
After declaring its independence, it came up against the powerful Brunforte di Sarnano family, supporters of Frederick II and Manfred of Sicily.
It surrendered to the army of Manfred, who severely damaged its walls at the hands of his vicar Percivalle Doria.
After receiving forgiveness and returning to support the Empire, it was granted some concessions by the new imperial vicar Enrico da Ventimiglia.
When the Swabians stepped away from Italy, new fights against Fermo began, but the pope put an end to the conflicts by entrusting San Ginesio to the Da Varano family from Camerino, who established their authority by taking advantage of the internal disputes among the noble families of the town.
The urban center created in this period represented an almost unique case in Marche’s setting for its typical Northern European architecture after the settlement of many Germanic and Dutch communities.
In the mid-15th century, a close bond with the city of Siena was established when a large group of people from San Ginesio, exiled from their city, sought refuge in the Tuscan city by enlisting in the civil guard. Loved by the Sienese for their loyalty and skills, they were helped by some city officials to reconcile with San Ginesio. The endeavor was successful and the exiles returned home accompanied by some of Siena’s highest authorities who offered a precious crucifix, now kept in the Collegiate Church of San Ginesio.
IMPORTANT - San Ginesio’s historical center, monuments and museums can only be partially visited. For further information, please write to the Marche Region’s Tourism freephone number (numeroverde.turismo@regione.marche.it) or contact the Municipality of San Ginesio at +39 0733 652056, email: info@sanginesio.sinp.net
A journey through San Ginesio’s history and art
With its characteristic amber color due to the sandstone which it was built with, the town can be accessed by the Porta Picena, which leads to the Ospedale dei Pellegrini (Hospital of Pilgrims) or Ospedale di San Paolo, built at the end of the 13th century with solemn stone arches where pilgrims going to Rome or Loreto found rest. The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta — declared a “National Monument of High Antiquity” — was founded in 1098 and shows its peculiar terracotta façade divided into two parts: the lower Romanesque part and the upper Flamboyant Gothic part, realized by Enrico Alemanno in 1421, the only example of this style in Marche. The internal structure has three naves with arches and a remarkable canvas with the Madonna della Misericordia (Virgin of Mercy) by Pietro Alemanno, 1485, and works by Pomarancio, Federico Zuccari, Adolfo De Carolis, and Simone de Magistris. On the altar, the remains of San Ginesio (Saint Genesius). In the crypt, alongside frescoes dedicated to San Biagio (Saint Blaise), there is a 1406 cycle by Lorenzo Salimbeni. In the central square, a statue is dedicated to fellow countryman Alberico Gentili (San Ginesio, 1552 – London, 1608), the father of international law. The Civic Art Gallery was set up in the former church of San Sebastiano in the 14th century and houses paintings by Stefano Folchetti, Simone De Magistris, and Vincenzo Pagani. The “Scipione Gentili” Civic Museum is housed in the former Romanesque church of San Sebastiano (14th century) and offers works from the second half of the 15th century to the late 17th century.
Among the woods of Mount Ragolo, the Hermitage of San Liberato was founded in the 13th century by the lords of Brunforte in honor of their Franciscan ancestor born in Loro Piceno between 1215 and 1218 who abandoned his rich family to become a Franciscan friar following in the footsteps of the saint of Assisi.
Today’s monastery is the result of the reconstruction of 1421, when it incorporated the convent that still houses the Franciscans and welcomes many tourists. The church of Santa Maria delle Macchie is one of the churches founded by the Confraternity of San Benedetto before the year 1000, with an unusual crypt divided into seven small naves with decorated capitals from the Roman era.
The IME - The Marches Food and Wine Institute recommends:
San Ginesio DOC
A soft red wine with hints of sour cherry and slight spicy notes of black pepper. Produced in a very scenic area, marked by outstanding historical landmarks, San Ginesio Doc glorifies two native local grape varieties: Sangiovese and Vernaccia Nera. San Ginesio has kept a centuries-old relationship with Siena and the choice to make Sangiovese wine essentially stems from this "blood relationship" with Tuscany, just as Vernaccia Nera has always belonged to the farming culture of these enchanting places.
Polentone
San Ginesio’s “polentone” is a typical local dish made with quarantino corn flour (almost impossible to be found elsewhere) and served with meat (pork, veal, or chicken) sauce or bland with sausage, pork ribs, mushrooms, and with the addition of pecorino cheese accompanied by San Ginesio DOC red wine.
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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