Montegiorgio is part of the territory of Ascoli Piceno and it is in the middle valley of Tenna river. From the “Pincio”
(411 amsl) where the church of San Francesco (Saint Francis) is, one has a perfect view of the landscape, from the Adriatic sea to Mounts Sibillini, from Mount Gran Sasso to Mount Conero.
Montegiorgio has a prehistoric origin and it develops as a flourishing centre in the Middle Age. We have documents that show the presence of Farnesi in this area around year 1000, a period in which the urban conglomeration is called "Mons Sanctae Marie in Georgio" (“Mount of Holy Mary in George”). In 1099 the village was fortified with city walls and later, it was constituted as a Comune. It was allied with the town of Fermo, following its alliances either to the Papacy or to the Empire.
In the middle 13th century many events took place: the Franciscans and the Eremitani di Sant’Agostino (Saint Augustine’s monks) arrived, the monastery of Sisters of Saint Clarissa was built and there was even a hospital that, in 1320, received a donation by Giacomo S. Diotallevi.
In 1357, thanks to its importance and after the edict "Costitutiones Aegidianae", Montegiorgio was part of the territory of the Papacy together with other major cities such as Pesaro and Macerata.
In 1400, eight old maids began their seclusion in the old Benedictine monastery, constituting the new monastery of Saint Chiara. Afterwards, the town was involved in the fights between the Viscounts and the Papacy and the first written proof of the existence of its township can be found in a document of 1433 where it is called "...de terra Montis Georgei ", the name that it has nowadays.
In 1434, it was subdued by the Sforza family but in 1450 it went back to Papacy. In the following years, there are frequent clashes between Montegiorgio and the neighbouring cities, such as Fermo.
After the Spanish of Della Rovere family, in 1528 it was invaded by those mercenaries who destroyed Rome and who, in Montegiorgio, set on fire more than 200 houses.
In 1540, it battled against Belmonte and in the following years it had several internal clashes. On demands of its inhabitants, in 1528 the Cappuccini took place in the town.
At the beginning of 1600, a few Confraternities were born; some of them still exist nowadays. In 1637, the Monastery of Sant’Andrea (Saint Andrew) was built and from 1643 it was used by Franciscan Nuns. In 1651, the Monte di Pietà was founded. In 1726, two nuns of Montegiorgio, paid for a new convent for the Suore Terziarie di Sant'Agostino in contrada San Nicolò. In 1730, there were 15 churches and a "Praeceptor Grammaticae" for teaching.
In 1760, due to a violent fire, the town was almost entirely destroyed as well as a large part of the documentation of the Archivi Comunali.
In 1770, the church of San Michele (Saint Michael), built in 1263, was restored according to the Baroque canons. In 1782, the church of Santi Giovanni e Benedetto (Saints John and Benedict) was built.
At the end of 18th century, the Napoleonic army arrived and it cost to the town more than 1200 scudi (currency) and the larceny of various artistic masterpieces.
Except the years in which Montegiorgio was part of the Austrian Empire (1815) and of the Roman Republic (1849), it remained part of the Papacy until the creation of the Regno d’Italia (Italian Monarchy), in 1860.
In this period, the small church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Saint Mary of Angels) was erected
(1827) on the remaining parts of the ancient church of San Salvatore whose portal, dating 14th century, was used as apse. Probably, in these years, the gallery of the underneath square was finished. In 1846, a Musical Band was created and from 1870 the Church of San Francesco (Saint Francis) was used as town hall. In 1878, on the site of the old Palazzo Comunale was built the Theatre Alaleona, named after
Domenico Alaleona, a very famous musician of Montegiorgio.
|
View form the square close to Palazzo Comunale