Marche Breaks

Servigliano is the “Apennines plain”. Its ancient origins date back to the Piceni and Etruscan populations, who wanted to build a town in this area, but then decided: “To the Tiber! To the Tiber! For Tenna’s water is not enough. In the 1st century B.C. the Romans built their villas, the first of them being Servilio, hence the name “possesso Servigliano”.

Around the year 1000 an association of 16 families who were subdued to the ruling of Fermo’s Bishop erected a castle, Castel San Marco, upon the highest hill of the village, which came under the jurisdiction of the committee of Fermo.

In districts Castello, Rocca, Bellico, Chiarmonte, Santa Lucia, San Gualtiero, San Filippo, Castel Belluco, Rocca, San Pietro, Ete, Peschiere, Piana Santa Maria, Castellano, San Cataldo and Valle farmers emulate the Benedictine monks from Farfa and built new houses. In the late 13th century the Roman Gualtiero arrived with his religious and remained there.

In 1454 the Abbot of Farfa di Santa Vittoria in Matenano handed the San Gualtiero plain to the ancient Servigliano community. This is why Servigliano organizes every year the historical commemoration of the “Knightly Tournament” of Castel Clementino, which ends with the “Joust of the Ring”.For two days the village hosts able flag wavers, tough rivals engaged in the “Giostra dell’Anello” (Joust of the Ring), and “re-awakened” medieval characters. They all parade, wearing their precious clothes, to re-evoke a historic event the handing in of the San Gualtiero plain to Servigliano.

On the 1758 the castle started sinking down due to water erosion, until popular support headed by Father Monti asked the conclave Cardinals for help, and in 1769 Pope Clement XIV decided that it should be rebuilt elsewhere.

The new village, called Castel Clementino, began building in 1773 and was completed in 1773 under the reign of Pius VI.

The historic centre lies in a charming valley. The districts still preserve the ancient churches, such as a small temple in Monte di Paese Vecchio, which guards a 16th-century fresco. Servigliano’s town planning is unique, for it was designed in 1774 by Virginio Bracci.

The quadrilateral of houses with arches-doors is in a perfect Neo-classical style. Elegant palaces can be admired through the arches.

The urban plan for the old centre of Servigliano is peculiar because of its formalised structure, planned and executed as a rectangular block of 144x137 metres. Three entrance gates contain the flanked houses, a collegiate church and other classical buildings. There are two main leading axes, the Cardo and the Decumanus, which the buildings all border. They converge in the square in front of the Collegiate of San Marco. Within the ‘squared town’ are decorations and paintings by the Ricci brothers, famous painters from Fermo. This group of buildings runs parallel to the 16th century monastery of the Friars Minor along with the church of Santa Maria del piano, which was widened by Father Mancinelli (the guardian) in the 18th century. Fortunately that did not affect the lovely frescoes of the Madonna con Bambino, Crocifisso con la Madre e San Giovanni, and also Sant’Antonio, all of which are attributed to Brother Giacomo, who dates back to 1468.

The sixteenth century wooden sculpture of the Madonna Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption) and the polychromatic wood engraved crucifix crafted in Venice in 1599 by Cecco di Udine are both very valuable. The remains of Saint Walter, a 13th century local, are kept in a golden shrine dated back to 1403. This was moved from the old village hall to the present collegiate church. The town Hall has an enchanting courtyard with a beautiful council hall within which reside two semi-busts that celebrate the former glory of Pope Clement XIV and Luigi Vecchiotti from Servigliano, the composer of important and valuable music. The parish church of Santa Maria delle Piagge, which is situated at Curetta and built in 1784, has paintings of Our Lady of Consolation and The Education of Mary Child with Sant’Anna and San Gioacchino.

The name Servigliano was taken again by the town in 1863 during the reign of Savoy.