Marche Breaks

In spite of its name, Sant’Elpidio a Mare, is on a hill, between the valleys of rivers Ete and Tenna.

Almost entirely surrounded by medieval walls it preserves, in the old town, interesting monuments and works of art. Its past history is rich of events, now it is an industrial shoe-factory centre and there are more than 15000 inhabitants.

Its ancient name, when the village was built on a hill at the time of the barbarian invasions, was Cluana. In the 7th century, in exchange for donation of a piece of land, some monks consigned the dead bodies of Santo Abate Elpidio and his friends Eustachio and Ennesio to the local inhabitants.

Besieged by Lombard warriors the village was miraculously rescued by the relics of Sant’Elpidio that, according to what the legend said, appeared in the sky asking the inhabitants to defend the village. Ever since the name Sant’Elpidio took the place of Cluana.

In the 14th and 15th centuries Sant’Elpidio a Mare had a great economic development thanks to dynamism of Benedictine monks that enrich the village with monuments, buildings and churches.

During the medieval period, Sant’Elpidio fought against picenum domains but it was repeatedly assaulted and destroyed by Fermo. Rebuilt thanks to the intervention of many Sovereign Pontiffs, Sant’Elpidio became one of the most important centre in the region.

In 1797 the village was attacked and conquered by French troops after the population tried to defend it.

The religious buildings of Sant’Elpidio preserve important art treasures. In the main square we find the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia where is a barrel vault painted in fresco by Pomarancio. Next to the church rises the Gerosolimitana tower, built by the Knights of Malta in the 8th century. Inside another church called “Collegiata”, built in 1639 on ruins of 14th century, there are some paintings by Pomarancio and other artists, and, in the presbytery there is a Romans sarcophagus of the 4th century. In the Town Hall has been prepared a fine collection of pictures where a “polittico” by Vittore Crivelli composed of 18 panels stands out among the rest for its value and beauty.

Numerous folkloristic exhibitions contribute to attract many tourists; the most eccentric of them is called “Contesa del Secchio” which is an hystorical recalling and is takes place on the second Sundays of August.

The competition, contended among three teams that wear historical costumes and are responsible for different wards, go back to the medieval game called “Gioco del Pozzo” excogitated to establish the priority to draw water from the well present in the main square.