Ostra Vetere: Churches, Monastery and Earthen Architecture

Cultural themes to help you plan your trip

Ostra Vetere’s cultural themes range from church and monastery history to specific works of art, Roman archaeology and rural architecture. If you are looking for a hotel in Ostra Vetere, this range can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your trip: are you more interested in architectural history, religious art, archaeological remains or an example of traditional residential architecture? The places below each represent a different perspective.

Monastery, churches and urban layout

The Polo Museale Terra di Montenovo is located in the former monastery of Santa Lucia. From the late Middle Ages until the 19th century, the monastery was home to the Poor Clares. Here, the building’s current museum function is linked to its former use as a monastery. For travellers interested in the history of religious buildings, this span of time offers a distinctive point of entry.

In terms of size and visual impact, Santa Maria della Piazza is the main church in the historic centre. It was formerly the seat of a Benedictine abbey, was founded in 1444 and was subsequently completely rebuilt twice. Porta IV agosto is another specific landmark for navigating the medieval town layout: it is one of three entrances to Ostra Vetere’s medieval centre.

Other churches offer their own points of interest. The Chiostro di San Francesco features a 15th-century complex. The Chiesa di S. Lucia is richly adorned with valuable Baroque decorations. The Chiesa del SS. Crocifisso was built in the 16th century and incorporated an existing wayside shrine. These examples differ in their architectural form, decoration and incorporation of an older religious feature.

A specific work of art can be found in the Chiesa di S. Croce: behind the main altar is a Crucifixion with Saints by Claudio Ridolfi, known as “il Veronese”. The subject of the painting, its location within the church and the artist are all identified here. This provides a different art-historical point of reference from the information about the other churches’ founding, architectural form and decoration.

Palazzo Marulli, Le Muracce and Casa di Terra

Palazzo Marulli is in the historic centre of Ostra Vetere, within the old medieval walls. It houses a museum, an antiquarium, a library and an archive. As an important centre of historical, artistic and popular identity and culture, it is significant for both the local community and visitors. Its cultural profile thus encompasses several institutions in one building.

The archaeological site of Le Muracce is in the vicinity of Ostra Vetere, on the left bank of the Misa, and includes the remains of the Roman city of Ostra. Its subject therefore differs from that of the buildings in the historic centre: the focus here is an ancient city and its surviving remains.

Casa di Terra in Ostra Vetere is one of the few surviving original rural homes in the Marche. It is built entirely of clay and straw and is very well preserved. The key difference in perspective when comparing it with the churches is that the focus here is an original rural house type and its building materials, rather than a religious building or a single work of art.

Discover more destinations: Morro D'alba, Castelfidardo, Poggio San Marcello, San Paolo Di Jesi, Castelplanio, Monsano, Campodonico, Monte Roberto

For the broader travel overview: Ancona.