Civitanova Marche

Civitanova Marche
Comune
Comune di Civitanova Marche

View of the port of Civitanova Marche.

Coat of arms

Civitanova within the Province of Macerata
Civitanova Marche

Location of Civitanova Marche in Italy

Coordinates: 43°18′N 13°44′E / 43.300°N 13.733°E / 43.300; 13.733
Country Italy
Region Marche
Province / Metropolitan city Macerata (MC)
Frazioni Civitanova Alta, Fontespina, Maranello, Risorgimento, San Marone, Santa Maria Apparente
Government
 • Mayor Fabrizio Ciarapica (Vince Civitanova)
Area
 • Total 45.8 km2 (17.7 sq mi)
Elevation 3 m (10 ft)
Population (12 March 2017)[1]
 • Total 42,251
 • Density 920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Civitanovesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 62012
Dialing code 0733
Patron saint San Marone
Saint day August 18
Website Official website

Civitanova Marche is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) southeast of Ancona and about 25 km (16 mi) east of Macerata.

Geography

Civitanova Marche borders the municipalities: Montecosaro, Porto Sant'Elpidio, Potenza Picena and Sant'Elpidio a Mare.[2] It counts the hamlets (frazioni) of Civitanova Alta, Fontespina, Maranello, Risorgimento, San Marone and Santa Maria Apparente.

Territory

The territory is heterogeneous. At south, indicatively for Risorgimento, Centro e Santa Maria Apparente hamlets the city lays on the Chienti river floodplain, formed in holocen. Along the coast, Centro, Fontespina and San Gabriele hamlets partially lay on sediments of coastal plain.

The area size is 46,07 km² and has coastal hill shape, the altitude level stands between 3 and 223 m.a.s.l. in Contrada San Savino. The typical "a pettine" shape that distinguishs Marche hills is recognizable by the opposition of Valle del Chienti with the hill group where Civitanova Alta lays, that sweetly downgrates to the sea along the suggestive Palazzaccio road, with and altitude of 100 m a.s.l.

Climate

According to the climatic averages between 1971-2000, the average temeperatus of the coldest month, January, is +5,3 °C, while in the hottest month, August, it is +22,6 °C.

The annual average precipitation is about 740 mm, with a relative minimum in spring and a maximum in fall.

Annual average relative humidity is 76%, with a minimum of 71% in July and a maximum of 82% in November.

History

View of the bayside of Civitanova Marche.

Ancient Age

Prehistorical settlements discovered by archeologists show us that people used to live in Civitanova since Palaeolithic. Civitanova was founded probably around the 8th century BC as Cluana by the Piceni Italic tribe, at the mouth of the Chienti river. The Romans captured it in 268 BC, and, in 50 AD, founded a new settlement, Cluentis Vicus (the current frazione of Civitanova Alta) on a hill near the sea. During the Barbaric invasion, old Cluana was destroyed by the Visigoths and much of the population took refuge in the Vicus.

Middle Ages

Cluentis Vicus succeeds to survive during the Middle Ages and it is mentioned in 1009 as Civitate Nova, Civitas Nova, Civitatem Novam e Nova Civitas. People go live near the coast, on the San Marone hill, where you can find a "Memoria" dedicated to the martyr San Marone protector of Civitanova.

With the arrive of the Franks Cluentis Vicus becomes feudal town. The ancient Aldonesi family (or Aldonensi) in 1075 guarantee, with the bishop of Fermo Pietro I the defense of the city. The it was under the da Varano, Malatesta, Sforza and Visconti.

Modern Age

In 1440, under Francesco Sforza, a new line of walls was built (denominated "Scarpata"), while a fortress was erected to protect the port (the current comunal palace "Cesarini-Sforza" has been built upon its remain). The city, attacked by Turk pirates and struck by inner feuds and by the plague, started to decay from the 16th century.

In 1551 pope Julius III (born Grottammare, not far from Civitanova) nominates Cesarini as Duke, that in 1674 gets the name Cesarini–Sforza, following the marriage between Livia Cesarini and Federico Sforza of Santa Fiora. This event signs a period of renaissance and urban renovation: new wall for the "Città Alta" are built suchs as new roads and palaces. Anyway, this doesn't bring any good to the citizens which continue to live in miserable lives. Among the dukes of Civitanova Virginio Cesarini is to be remembered, italian poet, friend of Galileo Galilei e membre of the Accademia dei Lincei.

During the XVII° and the XVIII° centuries, the "Città Alta" gets renovated, the main square gets ampliated and the church of San Paolo gets built, taking the place of the collogiate of the same name, the civic tower gets substituted by the clock tower.

The port gets bigger and gives place to another small town. In 1782 Civitanova hosts 6057 inhabitants whom 5717 in "Città Alta", while 65 in San Marone and 275 at the port.

Contemporary Age

The twelfth december 1828, pope Leo XII concedes the title of City to the two towns, Civitanova Alta and Civitanova Porto. In 1833 the city counts 8.400 inhabitants.

In 1841 the first church, Saint Paul, gets built in the port and completed in 1853.

In 1913 the fraction of Civitanova Porto gets elevated to indipendent municipal and in 1938 Civitanova Porto e Civitanova Alta become as one with the name of Civitanova Marche.

The following industrial development transforms Civitanova Porto in a location of summer resorts lived by the noble families of the hinterland. Count Pieralberto Conti (1923) builds a racecours and, in 1910, a house in liberty stile financed by his first wife, Countess Augusta Morrone Mozzi.

The city developes itself with new roads, houses, building in libery stile, beaches and ricreative places that gave Civitanova the configuration of a renowned vacation centre.

Civitanova was diocesan centre. According to the Catholic Church tradition the title of the suppressed diocesies is given to the bishops destined at diocesan adiministrations or diplomatic functions. Today, the owner of the ancient diocesy is Arch Bishop Claudio Maria Celli.

Main sights.

Ducal Palace (Palazzo Cesarini-Sforza)

Ducal Palace Cesarini Sforza has been built in the 16th century upon the remains of a pre-existing building. The palace has been reshaped in the 19th century. Inside some Pellegrino Tibaldi frescoes of the 16th century have been conserved. The year of the first renovation coincides to the cession of Civitanova, in 1551, by Pope Julius III to the roman noble Giuliano Cesarini for a debt contracted by the Apostolic Camera. During the following century the palace gets named Palazzo Ducale Cesarini-Sforza following the marriage between Livia Cesarini e Federico Sforza di Santa Fiora which took place in 1674. The palace, recently restructured, is situated in Piazza della Libertà of Civitanova Alta.

Palazzo Cesarini-Sforza (Civitanova Porto)

Palazzo Cesarini-Sforza was built in 1862 upon the remains of a 15th century fortress. The Palace overlooks "Piazza XX Settembre" where at the bottom there are gardens which conserve the fountain that once decorated the centre of the square.

Palazzo della Delegazione

Built in 1867 according to the project of engineer Guglielmo Prosperi and realized by the Basile brothers, it has three floors oriented towards the square of Civitanova Alta. Ground floor, characterized by a loggia with the ingress at the centre, hosts the roman gravestone where ancient Civitanova name Cluentensis Vicus is carved. Wide stairs lead to the board room frescoed with Aeneid depictions dedicated to the poet Annibal Caro as well as portraits of noble citizens.

Lido Cluana

Over the gardens of Piazza XX Settembre there are the elegant liberty buildings of Lido Cluana, reworked during the fascist period with the add of fascist flagpoles that can be observed even today.

Villa Conti

Villa Conti is a liberty villa built in 1910, completely destroyed during World War II and consequently rebuilt. Located between Civitanova Alta and Civitanova Porto, characterized by a park with an italian garden. Next to the villa there is a neo-gothic church which is the reproduction of Cappuccini Nuovi of Macerata. In the crypt of San Micheal Arch Angel Church there are the tombs of counts Conti as well as the tomb of the lirical singer Francisca Solari, second wife of Pier Alberto Conti.

On the property, there is a 15th century tower and the San Micheal luxury palace, rare example of art nouveau on the Macerata provence. The luxury palace is perfectly conserved and it's built according to architect Paolo Sironi project.

Villa Eugenia

Villa Eugenia is located on San Marone hamlet, commissioned by Napoleon I in 1797. The villa is currently in miserable conditions, and because of this it can't be visited by anyone. Empress Eugenia Montjo, wife of Napoleon III used to live there.

15th century walls

Perfectly conserved, these walls are a good example of military reinessance architecture. Commissioned in 1440 by the Sforza family along with the four S.Paolo, Girone, Mercato and S.Angelo doors.

Sanctuary of San Marone

The church is located on San Marone hamlet, in the lower part of the city. Originally in Romanesque style, erected on the location of the protector martyr. The sanctuary has a central naive as well as two lateral ones and conserves ancient architectural remains; the façade has a lunette in the main gate where there is the depiction of the Vergin with Child between San Marone and Santa Domitilla, work realized at the end of the 19th century by Sigismondo Nardi. The remains of the saint are conserved under the altar. In this sanctuary, the 13 May 1823, Sante Possenti, governor of the Papal States and Agnese Frisciotti of Civitanova got married.

Saint Augustine Church

The original structure of the church belongs to the XIII° century. During the 18th century the church has been reworked and entitled to Saint Augustine. The restructuration has allowed the construction of the dome at the centre of the transept and the new chapels with altars along the naive.

Saint Francis Church

The church, erected during the 14th century and reworked during the 18th century, the original structure conserves the gothic portal, remains of the romanesque-gothic decotarion of the sides and the bell tower. Currently it is used as a multimedia space, for conferences and exhibitions.

Collegiatate of Saint Paul Apostle

Saint Paul Apostle Church has been built during the 17th century and it is located on the ancient collegiate. On the inside of the church there are: a font dated 1423 related according to the tradition to San Marone, a Nativity of Mary by Andrea Briotti (1561) and a Crucifixion by Durante Nobili da Caldarola (1508-1578). In 9 April 1801,Countess Nobildonna Agnese Frisciotti gets baptized.

Christ King Church

Main church of the city. Modern building whose construction began in 1933 according to the project of Gustavo Steiner and finished in the Eighties, the church distinguishs itself for its stained-glass window and for the bell tower projected by architect Dante Tssotti. The bell tower serves as a lighthouse as well, indicating the letters C and M in Morse Code, initials of Civitanova Marche.

Culture

Library

Theaters

Cinema

In 1978 Stelvio Massi directed half of his movie "Un poliziotto scomodo" with Maurizio Merli.

Among the renowned citizens of Civitanova, the first place goes to Annibal Caro, writer, translator, playwright and poet. His most famous work was the translation in hendecasyllabic of the Aeneid by Virgil. Furthermore he translated the Poetics by Aristotle, Daphnis and Chloe by Longus and Epistulae morales ad Lucilium by Seneca

International relations

Civitanova Marche is twinned with:[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  2. ↑ 42402 Civitanova Marche on OpenStreetMap
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Civitanova Marche - Twin Towns". © 2008 Comune di CIVITANOVA MARCHE - Piazza XX Settembre n.93 - 62012 - Civitanova Marche (MC). Retrieved 2008-12-04.
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