Moie: Abbey, Brickworks History and Via dei Tesori

In Moie, three themes offer different starting points for planning your trip: the Romanesque Abbey of Santa Maria delle Moie, the history of the brickworks and the Via dei Tesori. You can focus on sacred art and architectural history, explore the industrial heritage or plan a cycling and walking route along the Esino. Specific details about history, artworks and routes help you distinguish between these interests and tailor your stay to what you want to explore in Moie.

Abbey and Sacred Art

The Abbey of Santa Maria delle Moie is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in the Marche region. It was founded by Benedictine monks and probably built in the first decades of the 12th century. The abbey thus has a clear connection to the history of the order and represents an important regional architectural style. The timing is also important for understanding the history of the place: construction is not attributed to a single confirmed year, but dated to the first decades of the 12th century.

Among the church’s artworks is a 16th-century fresco depicting Saint Anthony the Great. It is located in the central apse of the right-hand aisle. There is also an 18th-century oil painting of the Madonna della Misericordia, regarded as Moie’s patronal image. The two works differ in their medium and date of creation. If you are interested in sacred art, these named subjects and precise dates offer specific points of reference alongside the abbey’s Romanesque architectural history.

Industrial History and Cultural Venues

Moie’s brickworks are also part of the town’s history. They are considered an important example of industrial archaeology in the Vallesina and a place of regional social history and memory. Biblioteca La Fornace is a public library in Moie. It opened in 2007 after a brickworks that had operated until 1966 was repurposed. The former brickworks building now serves as a cultural centre called eFFeMMe23. These details show different aspects of the industrial heritage: the history of the business, the building’s conversion and its current cultural function. Check the library’s visitor services before your trip.

A prominent landmark in this context is the chimney of the former brickworks. It is a local landmark and visible from every point in the town. Alongside the history of its use, it offers a widely visible reminder of the former industrial operation. Together with the brickworks’ importance to industrial archaeology and the social history and memory of the Vallesina, this makes for a distinct focus for travellers interested in the region’s working and cultural history.

The Via dei Tesori and the Feast Day

The Via dei Tesori is an 11-kilometre cycling and walking route from Moie to Jesi, running alongside the Esino River. The network offers different routes depending on distance, direction and whether the route goes uphill or downhill. Parking, refreshment and meeting points are also listed, along with access from the provincial road. Check individual facilities before your trip. One section of the Via dei Tesori runs from the Moie expressway exit to Castelplanio. For planning purposes, it is helpful to distinguish between the details: the 11-kilometre route runs from Moie to Jesi; the section mentioned connects the Moie exit with Castelplanio. The stated distance applies to the route to Jesi, not to the section to Castelplanio.

Moie’s patronal feast is celebrated on 8 September. If you are planning your stay around this date, check for up-to-date information about the feast beforehand. This lets you factor the date into your travel plans and connect Moie’s cultural attractions with a specific event.

Discover more destinations: Montemarciano, Loretello, Morro D'alba, Cerquete, Precicchie, Rustico, Trecastelli, San Marcello.

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