MATELICA
MARCHE OM S S. SEVERINO
.7
GAGLIOLE
7
S.S
56
URBISAGLIA
.2
S.S
TOLENTINO CASTELRAIMONDO
PIORACO
. 36
1
COLMURANO
S.S
FIUMINATA
BELFORTE DEL CHIENTI P S. GINESIO RIPE CAMERINO
R SEFRO
O S. GINESIO CESSAPALOMBO
NOCERA UMBRA
.7 S.S
MUCCIA
6
GUALDO
PIEVEBOVIGLIANA E DI CHIENTI SERRAVALLE
9
ITINERARY
ESANATOGLIA
MATELICA CASTELRAIMONDO PIORACO SAN SEVERINO MARCHE CAMERINO MUCCIA PIEVEBOVIGLIANA PIEVE TORINA VISSO CASTELSANTANGELO SUL NERA FIASTRA ACQUACANINA BOLOGNOLA
PIEVE TORINA SARNANO
MONTECAVALLO
MACERETO BOLOGNOLA
O FOLIGNO ROMA
USSITA MONTEFORTINO
VISSO MONTEMONACO
CASTELSANTANGELO SUL NERA
n this enchanting mountainous corner of Marche, the courageous decision to devote oneself to artistic craftwork has often represented the only way to avoid the dreaded emigration. It has been a hard road to travel, but the results have not been long in coming. The fruits of this labour can be admired, in the summer, in the ancient Rocca dei Da Varano, at the foot of Camerino, the evocative exhibition hall for a selection of the most representative artistic craftwork products made in the region. It is good to see that a building, long used to defend people, has been transformed into a place that safeguards the ancient traditions and centuries-old processing techniques. Along the itinerary described there are not many workshops. Considering its history, the long cultural tradition and the extraordinary beauty of the landscape, the territory could host many more. The quality of the workmanship, however, is always excellent: Matelica and Castelraimondo stand out for textile processing and antique furniture restoration, Muccia is well-known for wrought iron, as is Camerino, where there are also workshops for book and furniture restoration, whilst San Severino Marche is a centre for theatre scene decoration. Particularly significant is paper-working in Pioraco, the origins of which date back to the 16th century. Pievebovigliana is a textile production centre combining the ancient loom weaving techniques with traditional decorative patterns, including real and imaginary animals, stars, diamonds and scenes in movement like those depicting the “saltarello”, a Marche folk dance.
USEFUL INFORMATION
I
MARKET FAIRS Matelica: Antiques and souvenirs market, July and August. San Severino Marche: Second-Hand Clothes Market, fifth Sunday in the month and 8 December; Exhibition of Productive Activities of San Severino, September. Camerino: Craftwork Market Fair at Rocca da Varano, July and August Muccia: Second-Hand Clothes Market, August. Fiastra: Good Things Market, May. MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONS Pioraco: Museum of Paper and Filigree. Sefro: “Florindo Ferretti” Rural Civilisation Collection. San Severino Marche: “Oberdan Poletti” Territorial Museum. Pieve Torina: Museum of Our Land and Mill on the River. HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTS Camerino: Corsa alla Spada (Sword Race) and Palio, May. San Severino Marche: Palio dei Castelli, June. Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Visso, Ussita: Torneo delle Guaite (Tournament between Districts), end of July. TYPICAL PRODUCTS Of particular quality is the Verdicchio di Matelica DOCG, a white wine with a delicate fragrance. The area of the Monti Sibillini, like almost all the mountainous territory in Marche, produces excellent pecorini (sheep’s cheeses), delicious honey and exquisite lamb. Visso is renowned for its ciauscolo (salami sausage), Camerino for its cold pork meats, San Severino Marche for its snails, baked and in roast pork. The whole area is an important place for the production of a typical mistrà, a liquor based on aniseed (the Varnelli of Pievebovigliana is famous) and other herbs from the mountains around. The black truffle of Ussita, Visso and Castelsantangelo sul Nera is excellent. Noteworthy among cakes are the pannociato and the torrone (nougat) of Camerino.