10 Things to do in Urbisaglia That You Shouldn't Miss

The Abbey of Fiastra was founded by Cistercian monks coming from the Abbey of Chiaravalle of Milan: twelve monks arrived on 12 November 1142 and started the construction of the Abbey. The Abbey flourished in the following three centuries, it became one of the most important monasteries in Middle Italy and its lands and properties extended over the territory of Le Marche as far as Emilia Romagna (Rimini) and Umbria (Foligno, Spoleto). The very good state of preservation of the entire building complex will let you admire an example of the typically Cistercian architecture which is based on simplicity and humility, in full accordance with St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s reformation of monastic life.

The remains of the ancient Roman city Urbs Salvia spread over an area of about 40 hectares. On the highest point of the site is the freshwater Reservoir, two long tunnels which secured a permanent water supply for the urban settlement.Proceeding downwards, the imposing Roman Theatre, built on a Greek model, and a niched building.At the foot of the hill is the Sanctuary complex dedicated to goddess Salus Augusta, where you can still see frescoes in the 3rd Pompeian style. Just outside the city walls, two funeral monuments and the Amphitheatre, one of the best preserved examples of this type in Le Marche.

The medieval fortress of Urbisaglia was a military fortification erected by the town of Tolentino at the beginning of the 16th century. It has a trapezoidal shape with the longest side facing away from the town in order to better face potential attacks. There are four corner towers, a gate tower and a keep where the garrison Tolentino had imposed on Urbisaglia resided. Indeed, the fortress' main function, other than to control the surrounding areas, was to guard the town and to prevent any rebellious acts from the citizens of Urbisaglia, who resented Tolentino's power over them.