Marche Breaks

The town of Monte Giberto rises on a pleasant and panoramic hill at 322 m above sea level. Its territory was inhabited by the Piceni population first and by the Romans afterwards. The first document of a building nucleus on the hill dates back to 1090. It seems that, already before 1166, it was a feudal possession of Giberto (groom of Cecilia and father of Trasmondo), who gave his name to it. The toponym Montegiberto appears for the first time in 1116.

In the 12th century, it was transformed from villa into castle and absorbed the castles of Casale and Podio, situated in the surrounding territory which, between the 12th and 14th centuries, featured twelve churches. Since 1356, it results as a castle belonging to Fermo, which built its town walls with four towers, two of which are still existent, and consequently Monte Giberto followed the same vicissitudes of Fermo.

In 1407 it was subjected to an assault by Braccio of Montone and his allies.

During Napoleon’s government it was part of the district of Petritoli.

In 1860 it became a Commune in the State of Italy when Le Marche was annexed to Kingdom of Italy.

Its urban structure develops along a peculiar compact plan, simple, harmonic and elegant, which converges the urban texture towards the Vittoria square, which bears this name since 1918 and probably was the ancient courtyard of the original castle. The main street cuts into two halves the town and climbs up towards the castle, which is reachable also through a flight of steps originating below the walls and which were the ancient gates to the castle. The square features the elegant 18th century facade of the Town Hall (and the magnificent Sala delle Volte, recently restored), the Church of St Nicolò and the Church of St Giovanni Battista.

The latter keeps inside an interesting canvas dating back to 1062 representing Last Dinner by an unknown author of the Florentine school and a wooden polychrome group “Madonna di Loreto with Child” above the Casetta, also known as “Madonna de li cuppitti” in the local dialect, dating back to XVIII century.

At the entrance of the town there is the Sanctuary of St Maria delle Grazie. The breathtaking panoramic view, the silence of its nights, the summer breeze, its healthy and genuine food, the closeness to the sea and to the mountains and the pleasant footpaths make of Monte Giberto the ideal place to let your body and your spirit rest.

Outside, near the ancient centre, the sanctuary S.Maria delle Grazie stands out in the most recent urban arwea. According to the local tradition.

The origin of the place is connected with the apparition of the Madonna to a girl native of these parts.