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Castles
and medieval old towns
in
Vallesina
When
travelling through Vallesina (the valley of the river Esino), one becomes
immediately aware of the dominant panorama: a series of historic centres
protected with solid and generally well preserved curtain walls, situated
high on the peaks of hills.
Each
stone of this fortified complex of centres in Vallesina narrates a long
history. The powerful Commune of Jesi, at the beginning of conquest of its
"Contado", helped the construction of "castles" in various subjugated localities for purpose of
defence.
There
was a real need for those castles
with solid town walls, since they shared the destiny of Jesi and were thus
involved in war among the biggest communes of the Marches which lasted
several long years.
All
the castles of Contado were successfully defended between the 13th
and the 15th century, meaning that the curtain walls were built
in 1300 and in 1400. Many of them were erected on the sites of the Roman
ramparts or are the result of consolidation of more ancient towers and
walls from the beginning of the 1st millennium, when the first
inhabited and fortified "castra"
appeared.
The
fortifications from the beginning of the Middle Ages could not resist new
artillery introduced in the 15th century, because they were
dimensioned for attacks of cavalry and infantry.
Starting
from 1400, numerous primitive structures were therefore adapted to resist
being under fire.
The
towers function as joints of this defence system, which presents also
communications trench, machicolations and, very often, a moat. Inside
curtain walls there is almost always another, smaller fortified nucleus,
as the last defence in a decisive battle.
The
defence systems of Apiro, Cingoli and Cupramontana are complete, with
curtain walls and aftercastle or a fortress.
In
other centres, the defence system consisted in walls of the castle more or
less reinforced with towers and bastions.
Usually,
the major centres would adopt a polygonal form, while small centres were
often closed inside an oval form of walls.
In
the mountain zone, irregular stone blocks were used. On the other hand,
towards the coast the most frequently used material was brick, while in
the middle pre-Apennine zone the material was often mixed.
On
the town walls, sometimes even on the towers of those walled centres,
dwellings were constructed. The outer walls are however recognisable.
The
main gate almost always opens to the South, while to the North there is
very often a keep.
Porticoed
parapet is the most interesting feature of the walls. A part from
everything else, beautiful view spreads over the valley from its large
arches. All the houses inside the castle face the one and only square.
© 2001
Liberation Ventures Ltd.
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