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Montegridolfo
Montegridolfo
Located at the extreme edge of Romagna region, Montegridolfo was the one who guarded the border that separates from Marche region. It was born on a rocky hill and used as a refuge during the invasions that occurred in ancient times. Historically it became a landmark contended among Malatesta, Montefeltro, Borgia, the Venetians and the Church.
Though its short territorial extent, Montegridolfo mantained the same number of inhabitants for centuries, precisely 950 in the year 1500 reaching 1000 nowadays.
The town structured with its typical districts recalls of an harmonious community. It is composed of three centers: the castle facing southward while the parish of San Pietro northward and Madonna del Trebbio.
The castle hosts the town hall offices and seems to dominate the rest of the territory. San Pietro is placed in the center position while Trebbio pulls itself out of it. (Del Monte Monte: History of Montegridolfo, 1913).
Located at the extreme edge of Romagna region, Montegridolfo was the one who guarded the border that separates from Marche region. It was born on a rocky hill and used as a refuge during the invasions that occurred in ancient times. Historically it became a landmark contended among Malatesta, Montefeltro, Borgia, the Venetians and the Church.
Though its short territorial extent, Montegridolfo mantained the same number of inhabitants for centuries, precisely 950 in the year 1500 reaching 1000 nowadays.
The town structured with its typical districts recalls of an harmonious community. It is composed of three centers: the castle facing southward while the parish of San Pietro northward and Madonna del Trebbio.
The castle hosts the town hall offices and seems to dominate the rest of the territory. San Pietro is placed in the center position while Trebbio pulls itself out of it. (Del Monte Monte: History of Montegridolfo, 1913).
Around year 1600 an historian wrote: “ Montegridolfo is inhabited by very intelligent people, of good manners, and very good language (Adimari R.: Rimini site, 1616).
Montegridolfo was also home of Pope Clemente XIV, who suppressed the powerful society of Jesus and, during the few years of his pontificate, reestablished the international prestige of the Church.
The village proudly kept the southerner Romagna speech pattern and traditions, besides the flourishing culture of its neighbour Montefeltro. Indeed Montegridolfo hosted paintings by Pompeo Morganti from Fano, Guido Cagnacci's from Santarcangelo and by other talented artists coming from schools of both sides.
However, here can be found unmistakable characteristics of the old "Little Rome", firstly named Romanìola, then Romandiola and finally Romagna. Today Montegridolfo is a land rich in ideals and of a distinct, strong identity.
What to visit
It can be visited the walled village, which kept unaltered since1338, date of its reconstruction according to a medieval plan, ordered by Galeotto Matatesta. It is surrounded by thick walls including the clock tower; three narrow streets run among fully restored small houses, so as to give the impression that life of the old times hasn't gone lost.
The Town Hall is located next to the Tower and farther from here can be found Palazzo Viviani, earlier an old mansion while nowadays turned into a prestigious hotel. Viviani Chapel and the Statue of the Black Virgin are the remains of the Church of S. Agostino (dating back to thirteenth century) destroyed during the battle of the Gothic Line (1944).
At the foot of the walls the Church of S. Rocco, built in the fourteenth century, hosts
a beautiful painting by Guido Cagnacci, master of seduction (approx. 1620). The painting depicts the Virgin with the child being adored by saints Rocco, Giacinto and Sebastiano showing its effeminate features, the pose and the brightness of the flesh.
There are also two frescoes dating back to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Next door can be found the Gothic Line Museum (World War II), which took back possession of the name given by Hitler to the line of defense installed between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian area, Gotenlinie, Line of the Goths. Weapons, propaganda printings lead back to the battle of Montegridolfo (August 31, 1944), when Lt. Gerard Ross Norton, earned the british highest honor.
Downhill there's the Church of S Pietro, rebuilt after the damage occurred during World War II: inside it can be admired a magnificent fresco of the fifteenth century. At last the itineray brings to Trebbio(from the Latin trivium, a place devoted to religious ceremonies in ancient times), where stands the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin, built after the apparition in 1548. Here the painting by Pompeo Morganti depicts the vision of the Virgin and the Castle of Montegridolfo, clearly visible for its walls and tower.
Link:
Montegridolfo
Linea dei Goti
