Culture and Archeology

Museums:

The Umbria-Marche history, of the area of the Apennines, is still mostly unknown. It is a land full of anthropic and faunal remains still undiscovered.

In Collecurti and Cesi (municipality of Serravalle di Chienti), two excavations brought to light the remains of animals dating from about 500.000 years. Fossil remains of Mammuthus (Archidiskodon vestinus meridionalis), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus antiquus), rhinoceros (cf. Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis) African elephant (Elephas sp.), saber-toothed tiger, bears, small deers (Pseudodama) , large deers (Megaceroides verticornis) of 900.00 years. These are some of the remains that you can see at the recent MUPA “Paleontological Museum of Serravalle di Chienti (MC)”. Besides, the museum collection has numerous anthropic remains dating from the Upper Palaeolithic period (45.000-30.000 years); they all come from an excavation carried out on the village of Fonte delle Mattinate (Serravalle di Chienti).

In the Archaeological Museum of Perugia we can find 18 axes of the Bronze Age, found on the western slope of Mount Trella and dated to the Early Bronze Age (XVII-XIX centuries AC).
Also, interesting is the necropolis of Taverne de Serravalle di Chienti, that has been barely studied; from protohistorical times and the remains of two of their graves are kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Ancona.

In the MAC, “Museo Archeologico di Colfiorito,” we can find remains dating from the Early Iron Age (approx. 1400 BC) to the Late Middle Ages. Most are the result of the plestinans tribe (Umbrian), from their origins to the Romanization and to testify the introduction of Plestia in the great web of cultural exchanges between Etruria, Magna Grecia and Greece, due to its favorable position as a crossroads between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian.

Recommend, also, to visit the Archeological Museum of Nocera – Umbra and the art gallery / Civic Museum of Saint Francis of Assisi, where we can see amazing findings from the area. Visiting these two museums we can travel from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, protohistory, between Umbrians and Romans up to the Medieval era. You can observe the remains of excavations carried out by the Archaeological Soprintenza in the residential complex of Roman times Campodarco-Zingaretti, with its amazing stucco. The dedicated section to the Lombard period is large and important.

Places of interest:
“I Castellieri” protohistoric fortified villages. Some are circular, other helical and others follow the shape of the crest of the hill. The inner surface varies between 400 and 800 m2. They are in an elevated position, controlling the territory. Traveling down, you will have an historical point of view, 3.000 years old, and you can enjoy an incredible view of the whole territory. Do not miss the Mount Orve , the Mount Trella and the Arvello.

Archaeological site of Plestia: Includes a Roman villa and the Basilica of Plestia, which is still used and is visitable. Its origin is due the cult of the goddess Cupra, pre-Christian goddess of water and fertility. A votive offering in goddess’s temple was found, now in the Archaeological Museum of Foligno, and four bronze sheets dedicated to the goddess from the fourth century BC, in the language of the Umbrians. It is worth visiting the fascinating crypt.
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_Santa_Maria_di_Pistia

The “Botte dei Varano”: A piece of Roman engineering of major importance, held in Gallery with blocks of sponged travertine placed dry. It is a unique vestige in the region of Marche. The work of improving the swampy area initiated by the Romans, was concluded by the Varano of Camerino in 1464 and gives its name to the place we know today. La Botte is completely underground and inside the Chienti river rises.

In the municipality of Serravalle di Chienti, you can also visit the church of Serravalle with frescoes by the painter DeMagistris, Acquapagana Church, Madonna del Piano Church, the Dignano Church and the Convent of Brogliano. In this last one, took place in the fourteenth century AC a Franciscan important reform called “Zoccolanti“.

We recommend visiting the many sources of water, fountains,  (water troughs for livestock) scattered throughout the territory, stone witnesses of the rustic culture of the area; in them you can appreciate the purity of water and the silence of nature.