Cupramontana is an Italian town of 4 458 inhabitants in the province of Ancona in the Marche region.
By plane
Located 30 minutes from Cupramontana is the Raffaello
Sanzio airport in Falconara (Ancona).
By car
A14 motorway exit
Ancona-Nord. SS76 for Rome, exit Cupramontana.
On the train
The closest train stations are Jesi and Castelplanio-Cupramontana.
Church and Abbey of San Firmano, c.da San Firmano, 12. Romanesque
construction dating back to 986 AD. with lunette of the portal in
relief. In the crypt there is a terracotta by Ambrogio della Robbia from
1526; in the sacristy there is a wooden crucifix.
Abbey Church of
Beato Angelo, via Badiacolli, 9. Monastic complex, mentioned for the
first time in 1180, but certainly older, was constantly of Camaldolese
obedience. Architecturally it is made up of Roman-Gothic structures,
dating back to the centuries. XXII - XIII, restored in 1973. No traces
remain of the ancient church having been completely rebuilt in 1853.
Inside, in addition to the body of Blessed Angelo Urbani, martyred in
1429, there is a valuable canvas Coronation of the Virgin, painted by
Pier Francesco Fiorentino in 1496.
Church of S. Maria della
Misericordia, via Roma, 27. Rebuilt to a design by Luigi Bellonci (1765
- 1839), a pupil of Capponi, at the beginning of the 19th century.
Inside, the fresco depicting the Madonna della Misericordia by Dionisio,
Girolamo and Gioacchino Nardini of S. Angelo in Vado, 1497, is
noteworthy. The other canvases and decorations are by the cuprensi
painters Corrado Corradi sen. (1781 - 1852), Giovanni Fazi (1838 - 1926)
and Raul Bartoli (1910 - 1994). During the reconstruction, in 1809, a
fifteenth-century fresco was found (now kept in the local Cassa di
Risparmio) in the wall under the other fresco by the Nardini brothers;
it was kept in Palazzo Rossetti before being brought to its current
location. It precedes the painting of the Nardinis (1497) by a few
decades, has elegant and gentle forms and was commissioned by the
Confraternity of the S.S. Sacramento and the Community of Massaccio.
3 Church of San Leonardo, Piazza IV Novembre, 17-18. It was built to a
design by Cristoforo Moriconi in 1760; it stands on the site of the
first church built in 1151. Inside you can admire the Circumcision
(1615), a masterpiece by Antonio Sarti from Jesi (1580 - 1647); Madonna
and Child Enthroned known as della Colonna, canvas on wood (1492) by
Marcantonio di Andrea di Jesi; frontal in sculpted wood (1681) by Andrea
Scoccianti, the Cuprense defined "Raffaello delle Fogliarelle"; San
Filippo or the suffrage of Pietro Paolo Aquilini and the Immaculate
Conception of Clemens Kapp (17th century). In the rectory are kept a
processional cross in silver and embossed copper from the 17th century.
XIV, a seventeenth-century silver monstrance and carved and gilded
wooden glory cards by Andrea Scoccianti.
Cave Museums (MIG), Via
Giacomo Leopardi. Museum complex in the Caves of the Convent of Santa
Caterina, which includes the International Museum of Labels.
The
Label Museum develops for a good part of the museum itinerary. In it
there are graphic panels and the display of the best known labels. There
are also reproductions of historical posters regarding the grape
festival
In the EnoCupra you can taste the local wines.
The "Horto
de i Semplici" is a monastic garden where beneficial plants are grown.
Grape Festival, from Thursday to the first Sunday of October
Infiorata del Corpus Domini, on Thursday of the second week after
Pentecost
Feast of S. Eleuterio, on May 26th
Ancient Origins (Pre-Roman Period)
The foundations of Cupramontana
trace back to the Piceni people, an ancient Italic tribe that inhabited
the Marche region. Archaeological evidence suggests the settlement was
established between the 6th and 5th centuries BC, likely as a center of
worship centered around a temple dedicated to Cupra, the Picene goddess
of fertility, beauty, and agriculture. This deity, often associated with
bountiful harvests and the land's productivity, gave the town its
original name, Cupra Montana (meaning "Cupra of the Mountains"). The
site's strategic location on elevated terrain provided natural defenses
and overlooked fertile valleys, ideal for early agriculture, including
early grape cultivation that foreshadowed its later wine fame. Classical
authors like Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy referenced it as one of the
prominent cities in the ancient Piceno territory, highlighting its
significance in pre-Roman Italy. Ruins from this era, including remnants
of the temple and other structures, have been identified through
excavations, with a key inscription discovered in 1718 aiding in
pinpointing the ancient location in 1747.
Roman Period (From
Colonization to Decline)
Following the Roman conquest of the Piceni
in the 3rd century BC, Cupramontana was integrated into the Roman
Republic and later the Empire. During the Augustan age (late 1st century
BC to early 1st century AD), it flourished as an important municipium,
benefiting from Roman engineering and administration. Archaeological
remains from this period include sections of an aqueduct, thermal baths,
and other infrastructure, underscoring its role as a prosperous rural
center. The town's economy likely revolved around agriculture, with
early viticulture practices that laid the groundwork for the Verdicchio
wine tradition—though the grape variety itself is believed to have
medieval roots, Roman-era wine production in the area is
well-documented. The settlement's prominence waned in the late Roman
Empire, culminating in its devastation during the Gothic War (535–554
AD) between the Byzantine Greeks and the Ostrogoths, led by figures like
Belisarius and Totila. This conflict left the town in ruins, prompting
inhabitants to abandon the lowland site and seek refuge in higher, more
defensible areas.
Early Middle Ages (Barbarian Invasions and
Lombard Rule)
The fall of the Western Roman Empire brought waves of
barbarian invasions to the region. To escape pillaging by groups such as
the Lombards and others, survivors relocated to nearby hilltop sites
like Poggio Cupro, where they built fortified structures surrounded by
medieval walls (later restored in the early 16th century). By the 7th
century, the area fell under the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto, marking a
shift to feudal governance. The original Roman ruins were repurposed for
constructing a new castle on elevated ground, which was renamed
Massaccio (derived from "massa," meaning a rural estate or heap of
ruins). This period also saw the emergence of monastic influences, with
the establishment of religious sites that would define the town's
spiritual landscape.
A notable development was the arrival of the
"White Friars" (so-called due to their white habits), who founded the
Camaldolese order in the 11th century. They inhabited the Eremo dei
Frati Bianchi, a hermitage carved into tuff caves in the surrounding
woods, complete with a miraculous fountain reputed to heal eye ailments.
Nearby, the Abbazia del Beato Angelo, an 11th-century Romanesque abbey,
became linked to legends of Beato Angelo, a hermit, and stories of
heretics and friars, reflecting the era's religious fervor and
conflicts. Poggio Cupro itself evolved into a fortified monastic
monastery, with churches featuring early artworks like a 1460 fresco of
Saint Floriano—the oldest in the Marche region—and a wooden statue of
Christ.
High Middle Ages to Renaissance (Feudal Integration and
Conflicts)
From the 13th century, Massaccio was incorporated into the
County of Jesi, becoming its most significant center until the county's
dissolution in 1808. This integration brought administrative stability
but also religious turbulence; in the 15th century, the town served as a
stronghold for the Fraticelli, a heretical Franciscan sect advocating
extreme poverty, which drew papal condemnation. The era was marked by
military strife: in 1444, troops under Francesco Sforza, the future Duke
of Milan, occupied the town during the Italian Wars. In 1517, it endured
looting by the forces of Duke Francesco Maria della Rovere amid papal
conflicts.
Despite these upheavals, the late Renaissance ushered in a
prolonged period of peace, fostering population growth and cultural
advancement. The historic center expanded with gates like Porta Vecchia
(the primary entrance until 1500), Porta Nuova, and the 18th-century
Porta San Lorenzo. Religious architecture flourished, including the
18th-century Churches of San Lorenzo and San Leonardo, the latter
housing a 15th-century miraculous image of Mary credited with protecting
the town from plagues and invasions. Historical archives dating back to
the 15th century preserve land records, offering insights into feudal
life.
Modern Era (From Napoleonic Times to Present)
The late
18th century brought renewed conflict with the French invasion of the
Papal States in 1798. The townspeople mounted fierce resistance but were
ultimately plundered by Napoleonic forces. Following Italy's
unification, in 1861, King Vittorio Emanuele II decreed the restoration
of the ancient name Cupramontana, symbolizing a revival of its classical
heritage.
The 19th and 20th centuries saw economic focus shift toward
viticulture, solidifying Cupramontana's status as the heart of
Verdicchio production, with vineyards at elevations around 1,181 feet
contributing to the wine's distinctive quality. Notable figures emerged,
such as Luigi Bartolini (1892–1963), a local painter, writer, and poet
whose manuscript inspired Vittorio de Sica's film Bicycle Thieves
(1948). Social pioneers like Fiorina, the first woman in town to obtain
a driving license in the 1930s, established businesses including an
osteria (1933), gas station (1953), and wine canteen (1937), reflecting
evolving gender roles.
In the 20th century, urban changes included
the demolition of narrow alleys in the central Piazza IV Novembre by
1938 (now marked by white lines on the ground) to create open spaces.
Today, cultural institutions like the MIG (Museums in Grotta), housed in
the cellars of the Saint Caterina Monastery, feature the International
Wine Label Museum, blending history with enotourism. The town hosts
annual events, guided tours of Roman settlements and springs, and
symbols like a red bench inaugurated in 2018 to combat violence against
women. Cupramontana's history, from ancient fertility cults to modern
wine prestige, illustrates a resilient community deeply tied to its land
and traditions.
Cupramontana is a small comune (municipality) situated in the
Province of Ancona within the Marche region of central Italy. It lies
approximately 35 kilometers southwest of the regional capital, Ancona,
at coordinates 43°27′N 13°7′E. The town occupies a total area of about
26.9 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 505 meters above sea
level, making it a classic hilltop settlement typical of the Marche
hinterland. With a population of around 4,628 residents and a density of
172 inhabitants per square kilometer, it borders neighboring
municipalities such as Apiro, Maiolati Spontini, Mergo, Monte Roberto,
Rosora, San Paolo di Jesi, Serra San Quirico, and Staffolo.
Geographically, Cupramontana is positioned in the Vallesina area, a
fertile valley shaped by the Esino River, which contributes to its
agricultural prominence. This location places it strategically between
the Adriatic Sea to the east (about 45 minutes away by car) and the
rugged Apennine Mountains to the west, offering panoramic views that
encompass coastal plains, rolling hills, and distant mountain peaks.
Topography and Landscape
The topography of Cupramontana is
characterized by gentle, undulating hills that form part of the broader
Marche landscape, which transitions from coastal lowlands to inland
elevations. The town itself is perched on a prominent hill, with its
historic center reaching up to about 550 meters in some spots, providing
a commanding vantage point over the surrounding countryside. This
elevated position creates a terraced effect, where buildings cascade
down slopes interspersed with green spaces and agricultural plots. The
area is predominantly rural, with a mosaic of cultivated fields,
vineyards, and olive groves dominating the vistas. Known as the "capital
of Verdicchio" wine, the landscape is heavily influenced by viticulture,
featuring extensive vineyards that carpet the hillsides and contribute
to the region's "green-gold" aesthetic. Ancient olive trees dot the
terrain, adding to the Mediterranean charm, while patches of woodland
and open fields provide habitat for local flora and fauna. The hilly
terrain supports a variety of microenvironments, from sun-exposed slopes
ideal for grape cultivation to shaded valleys that retain moisture. From
the highest points in the town, views extend westward to the snow-capped
Apennines in winter and eastward to the shimmering Adriatic coastline on
clear days, emphasizing Cupramontana's role as a gateway between
maritime and mountainous zones. This setting makes it an ideal spot for
eco-tourism, hiking, and exploring the natural beauty of central Italy's
interior.
Climate
Cupramontana experiences a warm and
temperate climate, classified under the Köppen-Geiger system as Cfa
(humid subtropical), with significant rainfall throughout the year—even
in the driest months. Annual temperatures typically range from a low of
about 34°F (1°C) in winter to highs of 85°F (29°C) in summer, rarely
dipping below 27°F (-3°C) or exceeding 94°F (34°C). Winters (December to
February) are cool and damp, with average highs around 48°F (9°C) and
lows near 36°F (2°C), occasionally bringing frost or light snow due to
the elevation. Summers (June to August) are warm and breezy, with highs
averaging 85-88°F (29-31°C) and lows around 67°F (19°C), moderated by
the hilltop location and proximity to the sea. Precipitation is fairly
consistent, totaling about 800-900 mm annually, with the wettest period
in spring (April averaging 87 mm or 3.4 inches) and the driest in
midsummer (July around 50 mm or 2 inches). This climate pattern supports
the area's viticulture, as the combination of ample rain, mild
temperatures, and hilly breezes helps prevent vine diseases while
promoting grape ripening. Winds from the Adriatic can bring humidity,
while occasional foehn-like effects from the Apennines add warmth and
dryness.
Natural Features and Surrounding Areas
The natural
surroundings of Cupramontana are defined by its integration into the
Esino Valley ecosystem, where the river's influence creates fertile
soils rich in clay and limestone—perfect for wine production.
Biodiversity is evident in the mix of cultivated lands and semi-natural
habitats, including oak woodlands, wild herbs, and seasonal wildflowers
that bloom across the hills in spring. The area is part of a larger
network of protected landscapes in Marche, though not a national park
itself, and supports wildlife such as birds of prey, foxes, and various
insects beneficial to agriculture. Nearby, the Riviera del Conero
coastal area offers contrasting beaches and cliffs, while the Apennines
provide opportunities for mountain excursions. Human activity has shaped
the geography through terracing and irrigation systems dating back to
Roman times, as Cupramontana traces its origins to an ancient settlement
dedicated to the goddess Cupra, associated with fertility—a fitting nod
to its lush, productive terrain. Overall, the geography fosters a "slow
tourism" ethos, emphasizing sustainable exploration of its verdant,
vine-clad hills.
Cupramontana is a production center of Verdicchio dei Castelli di
Jesi, thanks to the fertility of the soil and the favorable climate, it
has an economic activity based mainly on viticulture, but also on
agriculture in general and crafts.
Cupramontana is part of the
circuit of the Cities of Oil and Cities of Wine and since December 2011
it has been awarded the Green Flag for agricultural merits.