Discovering the places of Monte Giberto: a walking itinerary among art, history, flavours and beautiful views.
The Marche, a region in central Italy, is surprising for the variety of its territory and landscapes.
Today, we are in the Marca Fermana, a territory with beautiful panoramas ranging from the Adriatic Sea to the Sibillini mountains, passing through gentle hills.
Immersed in the peace and tranquillity of this splendid landscape, we can discover many rich villages in history and art.
Today, we take you to Monte Giberto, a picturesque medieval village with an ancient history.
Are you ready to discover this small village's art, traditions, flavours and splendid views?
A walk through the ancient village of Monte Giberto
Walking through the alleys and squares of Monte Giberto takes us back in time.
This village's ancient history can be experienced among palaces, churches, and the remains of the ancient medieval walls.
In this itinerary, we will discover the most important places and buildings in Monte Giberto in stages and, as we stroll, admire the breathtaking views that surround it.
From Piazza della Vittoria to the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, skirting the ancient medieval walls and passing by panoramic terraces, we will discover valuable historical and cultural attractions and also have time to savour the excellent local dishes.
Let's discover together Monte Giberto, an authentic village far from the hectic pace of the city, where art, history, ancient traditions and tasty flavours blend with stupendous landscapes.
First stop: Piazza della Vittoria, the medieval heart of the village
Having parked the car near the ancient medieval walls, we enter the hamlet of Monte Giberto.
We are immediately enveloped in its medieval atmosphere.
Walking through the alleys, surrounded by ancient stone buildings, we reach the heart of the village: Piazza della Vittoria.
This square contains two very important historical buildings: the Church of San Nicolò and the Palazzo Comunale.
The church of San Nicolò is the largest in the historic centre. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Monte Giberto, St Nicholas of Bari, also known as San Nicolò.
This church, in a neoclassical style with late Baroque elements, preserves several remarkable works of art.
As we enter, we can admire several valuable paintings, including "Our Lady of Loreto and the Saints" and the "Crucifixion", probably painted by Gilberto Todini, a painter from Monte Gibert.
In addition, this church houses the statue of San Nicolò and that of the Madonna del Pianto or Desolata, as well as one of Monte Giberto's three precious organs, a 1797 organ made by Gaetano Callido.
Next to the church is the Town Hall, a 13th-century building with a bell tower and a clock on the façade.
On the ground floor, we can visit a historical site of Monte Giberto: the Sala delle Volte (the Hall of Vaults).
With its vaulted ceiling, this beautiful room is now used for community events and ceremonies. It houses the permanent exhibition of Siro Ciarrocchi Devotional Medals.
Siro Ciarrocchi, an artist and collector from Monte Giberto, donated his precious collection of 10,000 devotional medals to the municipality of Monte Giberto.
This exhibition, unique in terms of the number of medals and the subjects represented, is a cultural and historical attraction not to be missed.
The first stage of our walk-in, Monte Giberto, has already revealed some hidden treasures of this small village!
Second stop: the Church of San Giovanni and the Belvedere
Leaving the square, we turn the corner and immediately find another vital church in the old town: the Church of San Giovanni.
This 13th-century church, renovated in 18th-century style, is also surprising for the art it contains.
We find some stucco statues of Prophets and a precious painting depicting the Madonna with Child and Saints.
Looking up, we can admire the splendid frescoes decorating the apse, and finally, we can listen to the sound of the ancient organ made by Vincenzo Paci.
After leaving the Church of San Giovanni, a small door in front of us leads to a beautiful balcony.
We have arrived at the Belvedere, and from here, we enjoy a splendid panorama of the green hills of the Marca Fermana as far as the sea.
Third stage: discovering the tasty flavours of Monte Giberto
After a morning of art, culture and history, it is time to take a break and discover the flavours of this area.
Sitting at a table in the old town centre, we browse the menu, which features the delicious typical dishes of Monte Giberto.
The excellent gastronomy of Monte Giberto stems from the peasant traditions and particular characteristics of this territory, which allow the cultivation of high-quality typical products.
Among the first courses, we find pasta made with Jervicella wheat, a type of wheat with excellent nutritional characteristics, discovered in Monte Giberto and cultivated throughout the area.
We cannot miss the famous "vincisgrassi", a tasty variant of lasagne, and "i Frascarelli", one of the oldest traditional country dishes.
Other typical dishes include "polenta", accompanied by various condiments, and "lu pizzotto", a rough bread with sultanas and dried figs.
An excellent local wine, such as a glass of Rosso Piceno or a fresh white wine such as Falerio, cannot be missed on the table.
At this point, we just have to enjoy a delicious lunch and the cosy atmosphere of this restaurant in the historic centre!
Fourth stop: the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie and the ancient springs
After a tasty lunch, we continue our walk among the places of Monte Giberto and head towards a place of devotion very dear to the people of Monte Giberto: the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie.
Located a few steps from the medieval walls, the Sanctuary is a place of great historical and cultural importance.
The present building dates back to 1757, and the exterior is striking for its beautiful portico.
We can admire works of great artistic value, primarily the Madonna delle Grazie with Child statue.
The frescoes decorating the apse and several canvases are also of great beauty. In addition, this church houses the third most valuable organ in Monte Giberto.
Leaving the Sanctuary via a short path, we reach the Antiche Fonti, a testimony to the village's ancient history.
Here stood the old village fountain, later converted into a washhouse and drinking trough for animals.
Nowadays, we can see the well and the basin where the water used to flow.
Fifth stage: Pinetina Park, the last stage of the itinerary among the places of Monte Giberto
We are now at the final stage of our itinerary, and to end on a high note, we will go to Pinetina.This park extends partly along the castle walls.
The Pinetina is a meeting place for the people of Monte Giberto, and festivals and cultural events organised by the municipality and local associations also take place here.
In this green space, there is another suggestive viewpoint from which to admire beautiful landscapes from the south and west.
There is no better way to end our itinerary: relaxing in the greenery admiring a splendid sunset on the Marche hills.
The walking itinerary among the places of Monte Giberto is an enthralling experience with unique views.
It is a slow-paced journey in which we can discover this picturesque village's history, ancient traditions and hidden treasures.
