Ecomuseo della Valle dell'Aso

Monterinaldo is a friendly town of about 400 inhabitants. A legendary tale is used to explain the origin of the name of this municipality: three brothers, Pietro, Elpidio and Rinaldo, sons of a Norman count, are said to have founded the castles of Monsampietro Morico, S. Elpidio Morico and Monte Rinaldo. An unconfirmed native explanation, on the other hand, attributes its foundation to one Rinaldo Morico, illegitimate son of Rinaldo di Monteverde, the latter actually existing and lord of Fermo in the years 1376-79. The town stands on three hills between the Aso River valley and the Ete Vivo River valley, halfway between the Adriatic Sea and the Sibillini Mountains. Today Monte Rinaldo presents itself as an important cultural, food and wine, natural and scenic destination in the Marche region. The historic center is medieval, circumscribed within the walls that run around the square where Palazzo Giustiniani and the Civic Tower are located, a center enriched by churches and a stupendous belvedere. Not far from the historic center is the archaeological area La Cuma. The area consists of a Hellenistic-era sanctuary and numerous Roman-era remains. The Cuma occupies the western slope of the hill leading to Monte Rinaldo and the complex consists of the portico, the temple and a third structure interposed between the two. The main monuments within the area are from the late Republican period (2nd-1st century BC). The area is one of the most striking archaeological sites in the entire Marche region. Architectural remains from the late Republican period were identified in 1957, which are still being archaeologically investigated by scholars. It remains uncertain what historical and archaeological context the complex can be placed in, as well as the deity to whom it was dedicated, although the presence of several elements such as the well, gutters, and other artifacts would suggest a relationship with water-related rituals of theSanatio.