Castelleone di Suasa is a town and ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' within the

Province of Ancona The province of Ancona ( it, provincia di Ancona) is a province in the Marche region of central Italy. Its capital is the city of Ancona, and the province borders the Adriatic Sea. The city of Ancona is also the capital of Marche. To the north, ...

, in the Marche region of

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. It is well known for the archaeological park of Suasa, an ancient Roman town. Rising on a hill near the river Cesano, Castelleone di Suasa is also called "green town" because of its flourishing nursery activity. Below the medieval castle there are the remains of the Roman municipality of Suasa, that rose along the branch of the via Flaminia that led to ''Sena Gallica'' (

Senigallia Senigallia (or Sinigaglia in Old Italian, Romagnol: ''S’nigaja'') is a ''comune'' and port town on Italy's Adriatic coast. It is situated in the province of Ancona in the Marche region and lies approximately 30 kilometers north-west of the pro ...

). Since 1987 the Archaeological Superintendence of the Regione of Marche, has started a programme of excavations that has allowed the discovery of the ancient basalt street, the commercial

forum Forum or The Forum (plural forums or fora) may refer to: Common uses * Forum (legal), designated space for public expression in the United States *Forum (Roman), open public space within a Roman city **Roman Forum, most famous example *Internet ...

, two sepulchre areas, the

amphitheatre An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...

and, above all, the rich patrician dwelling that has become Archaeological Park.

Main sights

*The Compiano-

Della Rovere The House of Della Rovere (; literally "of the oak tree") was a noble family of Italy. It had humble origins in Savona, in Liguria, and acquired power and influence through nepotism and ambitious marriages arranged by two Della Rovere popes: F ...

palace, seat of the archaeological museum, is situated in the historical centre. It possesses a beautiful sixteenth century portal and a lovely courtyard. *Church of SS. Pietro e Paolo, from the second half of 16th century. It houses a work attributed to Viviani (16th century) and one signed by

Ascanio Casola ''Ascanio'' is a grand opera in five acts and seven tableaux by composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The opera's French libretto, by Louis Gallet, is based on the 1852 play ''Benvenuto Cellini'' by French playwright Paul Meurice which was in turn base ...

(1674). Outside the town there is the rural Chapel of San Martino, where an early canvas by the painter

Ercole Ramazzani Ercole Ramazzani (1530-1598) was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period. He was born at Rocca Contrada (modern Arcevia, then part of the Papal States), and was a follower of the styles of Pietro Perugino and Raphael. He is asserted ...

(16th century) is displayed. From the medieval village it is possible to descend to the valley below (Pian Volpello zone), where the archaeological area of Suasa is located.

Traditions and events

The "Forgiveness Feast", the most important religious event of the year, takes place during the spring season, followed by the Fair on the successive Monday. The

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' L., from Latin ''cepa'' meaning "onion"), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus ''Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onio ...

was one of the most important foods in the local economy (the "Castelleonesi" were famous as "onion growers"), and therefore for some years now the appointment of major attraction has become the ''Festa della Cipolla'' ("Onion Festival"), on the first weekend in September: the feast foresees itinerant shows and gastronomic stands with curious and succulent recipes based on onion.

References

Cities and towns in the Marche Castles in Italy {{Marche-geo-stub