From Staffolo, the "Verdicchio's hill" ,
you can admire one of the most beautiful landscapes of the
Esino Valley: the crown of the mountains is dominated by the
Mount St.Vicino.
It is the seat of the Golden Verdicchio, national
prize for gastronomy.
Height 441 m.
History
According to the origin of its name (staffal =
boundary pole, boundary mark), it was a fortified place
situated in a boundary area during the Longobard Dukedom.
In the XVI century, some humanists suggested for its name a
Greek origin from "staphylè" (bunch of grapes).
The toponym Staffol appeared for the first time in 1150.
Differently from all the other castles of this area,
Staffolo never joined, or only occasionally, the rural area
of Jesi; as a result, it remained free with its own
government and rules.
What tovisit
The beautifulcity centre of Staffolo
boasts several proofs of the freedom that existed during the
Communal Age; furthermore, in the nearby, there are some
interesting archaeological finds, dating back to the stone
age and roman era.
A walk around the castle walls enables the
visitor to see the different architectural orders, which are
the result of several restorations along the centuries.
Remarkable are the two churches, dating back to the first
years of the XIII century, that still maintain the original
portal, even if they was restored in 1500-1600. Inside,
there are a polyptych by the so called "Master of
Staffolo" (XIV century) and a predella attributed to
the school of Lotto (Parish Church of St. Egidio), a
painting of Filippo Bellini, from Urbino, another one of
Maffeo Verona and a wooden frame belonged to the Scoccianti
(Church of St. Francis).
The Church of St. Mary of the Castelletta-
keeps the souvenir of the naval battle of Lepanto
(1571), which put an end to the Turkish expansion. Inside
the church, there are four frescos, dating back to the
second half of the XVI century, inscriptions on stone dated
1270 and attributed to the Master Jacopo from Cingoli, two
wall candelabra and a shop frontal of the Scoccianti from
Cupramontana.
Very interesting are also the two turrets (1300) and the two
entrance doors to the city centre: St. Egidio Door (restored
in the XVI century) and St. Martin (XIII century).
Do not forget the beauty of the walks around the countryside
and the stops by the ancient water sources of the Salmagina
and Trocca.
Festivals
The Verdicchio Festival - 1st Sunday of August Gastronomy National Prize "Golden Verdicchio" -
September
