Scapezzano: Medieval Village and Church Art

Scapezzano is an old walled village with medieval towers and defensive walls. To get a sense of the local highlights, it is worth looking at two distinct aspects: the fortifications and the parish church of San Giovanni Battista. There are also viewpoints in the surrounding area, along with recurring religious and cultural events. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether in architectural history, art, landscape, or events.

City Walls and Military Architecture

The surviving ring of walls is roughly trapezoidal. Four corner towers and a fortified gate tower define the layout. West of the gate tower is a round defensive tower equipped to counter firearms. The approximate shape and different types of tower can be read as elements of a unified whole: the ring forms the outer boundary, the fortified gate marks an entrance, and the western round tower has an explicitly stated defensive function. This makes it possible to distinguish the different parts of the fortifications rather than treating all the towers as identical structures. The description of the village as an old walled settlement is made tangible by the surviving ring of walls: not only individual towers but also the course of the fortifications remain discernible.

San Giovanni Battista: Building History and Fresco

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista was built in the late 18th century on the site of an older medieval church. The history of a medieval predecessor and the later church thus come together at this site. The church preserves a detached fragment of a fresco, which was returned to its original location. It depicts the face of the Eternal Father surrounded by angels and is attributed to the school of Giovanni Santi, Raphael’s father. For travelers interested in art, two aspects are important: the specific subject of the image and the journey of the fragment, which returned to its original location after being detached. The combination of a medieval predecessor, a late-18th-century building, and a fresco fragment offers a different perspective on local history from the fortifications; here, the focus is on the sequence of construction and a specific image.

Views and the Giacomelli Connection

Scapezzano lies on a hill, offering views of the Adriatic coast and the surrounding hills. In clear weather, the panorama stretches as far as the mountains of Catria, Nerone, and San Vicino, as well as Vettore. The Giacomelli viewpoints are also located near the walled village. Photographer Mario Giacomelli captured the views of hills and sea from there; they inspired some of his best-known works. The landscape around Scapezzano is therefore connected to a specific photographic reference: the hilltop panorama describes the wide view from the village, while the nearby viewpoints recall Giacomelli and his work.

Religious Traditions and the Festa Castellana

Saint Filippo Neri is the patron saint of Scapezzano; his feast day is observed on May 26. The community particularly venerates the Madonna della Speranza, whose feast is held on the third Sunday in September. This means that a fixed calendar date and a movable Sunday observance both feature in the annual calendar. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these traditions, this distinction will help when checking the calendar.

The traditional Festa Castellana is also held every year. Its program includes a medieval procession, a camp with falconers, archery stations, chess matches, and a market featuring craftspeople and medieval exhibitors. The range of activities extends from the procession and camp to games and the market. The Festa Castellana concludes with the Palio dell’Oca, a competition between four contrade. Exact event dates and individual program items may vary, so check the dates and current program before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Staffolo, Monsano, Castelferretti, Campodonico, Monte San Vito, Chiaravalle, Rocca Priora, Morro D'alba.

For the broader travel overview: Ancona.