Ecomuseo della Valle dell'Aso

Altidona, a small walled village just 4 km from the Adriatic Sea in the province of Fermo, is surprising for the extraordinary preservation of its urban layout, which has remained virtually unchanged since the 13th century. Protected by solid brick walls, interrupted by four access gates, the castle was built on a natural spur by the Farfensi monks and the Benedictines of Montecassino.
Its recent history is closely linked to that of Fermo, of which it was reported in 1507 to be one of the second-ranking castles. Its past, marked by episodes of rebellion and pride, has given the village a strong and independent identity, derived precisely from its character as a “rustic and turbulent castle.”
One obvious peculiarity is the village’s toponymy: except for the main street dedicated to Dante Alighieri, the streets do not bear the names of national heroes, but retain ancient names that tell the story of the village’s daily life, such as via Pesa, via Forno, and via Stella. Other names pay tribute to local historical figures, including Agostino Felici (De Felicibus), a celebrated surgeon who published the workEnchyridion chirurgicumin Altidona in 1704, and Fidi Basilio, a Jesuit and university professor born in 1540 who promoted the founding of the College of Fermo in 1587.
Strolling through the alleys of Altidona is an immersive experience that interweaves history, art and landscape. The axis of the main street, like an ideal telescope, connects the Town Hall Square to the sea horizon of the Adriatic Sea. Churches, the theater, the Artists’ House, the Provincial Photo Library, the old Kindergarten-these places make up the cultural soul of the village, one of the founding members of the Aso Valley Ecomuseum and an active guardian of its identities.