Fabriano 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 ...

'' of

Ancona province 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, t ...

in the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

region of the

Marche Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...

, at

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as '' orthometric heights''. The ...

. It lies in the

Esino The Esino (, la, Aesis) is a river in the Marche region of central Italy. Geography The source of the river is east of Monte Penna in the province of Macerata near the border with the province of Ancona. The river flows east past Esanatoglia and ...

valley upstream and southwest of

Jesi Jesi, also spelled Iesi (), is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Ancona in Marche, Italy. It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left (north) bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriati ...

; and east-northeast of Fossato di Vico and east of

Gubbio Gubbio () is an Italian town and ''comune'' in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia ( Umbria). It is located on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennines. History The city's origins are very ancie ...

(both in

Umbria it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , ...

). Its location on the main highway and rail line from Umbria to the Adriatic make it a mid-sized regional center in the

Apennines The Apennines or Apennine Mountains (; grc-gre, links=no, Ἀπέννινα ὄρη or Ἀπέννινον ὄρος; la, Appenninus or – a singular with plural meaning;''Apenninus'' (Greek or ) has the form of an adjective, which wou ...

. Fabriano is the headquarters of the giant appliance maker

Indesit Indesit Company (; ) was an Italian company based in Fabriano, Ancona. It was one of the leading European manufacturers and distributors of major domestic appliances (washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, cookers, hoods, ove ...

(partly owned by

Whirlpool A whirlpool is a body of rotating water produced by opposing currents or a current running into an obstacle. Small whirlpools form when a bath or a sink is draining. More powerful ones formed in seas or oceans may be called maelstroms ( ). ''Vo ...

). Fabriano, with Roma, Parma, Torino and Carrara, is an Italian

creative city The creative city is a concept that argues creativity should be considered a strategic factor in urban development. In addition to cities being efficient and fair, a creative city provides places, experiences, and opportunities to foster creativi ...

(UNESCO). The town is in the category ''Folk Arts'' (for the Fabriano's handmade paper production).

History

Fabriano appears to have been founded in the early Middle Ages by the inhabitants of a small Roman town south at Attiggio (Latin ''Attidium''), of which some slight remains and inscriptions are extant. Fabriano itself was one of the earliest places in Europe to make high-quality

paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre e ...

on an industrial scale, starting in the 13th century, and the town even today has a reputation for fine

watermark A watermark is an identifying image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light (or when viewed by reflected light, atop a dark background), caused by thickness or density variations ...

ed paper. This led to Fabriano's prosperity in the

Late Middle Ages The Late Middle Ages or Late Medieval Period was the period of European history lasting from AD 1300 to 1500. The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period (and in much of Europe, the Ren ...

and the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass id ...

, and was also one of the factors that led to the establishment of nearby

Foligno Foligno (; Southern Umbrian: ''Fuligno'') is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system. It is located s ...

in Umbria as one of the earliest printing centers in Italy in the 15th century, from 1470 onwards.

Geography

The municipality borders with Cerreto d'Esi, Costacciaro ( PG),

Esanatoglia Esanatoglia is a town and ''comune'' in the Marche, Italy. History According to the legend, Esus, the Celtic God of war, would be the origin of the name of the Esino river, on whose shores a town, ''Aesa'', is presumed to have been founded in Ro ...

( MC), Fiuminata (MC), Fossato di Vico (PG), Genga,

Gualdo Tadino Gualdo Tadino (Latin: ''Tadinum'') is an ancient town of Italy, in the province of Perugia in northeastern Umbria, on the lower flanks of Monte Penna, a mountain of the Apennines. It is NE of Perugia. History Gualdo has a long history and was o ...

(PG),

Matelica Matelica is a (municipality) of the Province of Macerata in the Italian region of Marche. Located about southwest of Ancona and west of Macerata, it extends over an area of . Geography Matelica lies in an ample valley where the Braccano cree ...

(MC),

Nocera Umbra Nocera Umbra is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Perugia, Italy, 15 kilometers north of Foligno, at an altitude of 520 m above sea-level. The ''comune'', covering an area of 157.19 km², is one of the largest in Umbria. History Ancie ...

(PG), Poggio San Vicino (MC),

Sassoferrato Sassoferrato is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Ancona in the Marche region of central-eastern Italy. History To the south of the town lie the ruins of the ancient Sentinum, on the Via Flaminia. The castle above the town is mentioned ...

Serra San Quirico Serra San Quirico is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region Marche, located about southwest of Ancona Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population ...

and Sigillo (PG).

''Frazioni''

The hamlets (''

frazioni A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...

'') of Fabriano are: Albacina, Argignano, Attiggio, Bassano, Bastia, Belvedere, Borgo Tufico, Cacciano, Ca' Maiano, Campodiegoli, Campodonico, Cancelli, Cantia, Castelletta, Ceresola, Ciaramella, Coccore, Collamato, Collegiglioni, Colle Paganello, Cupo, Fontanaldo, Grotte, Marena, Marenella, Marischio, Melano, Moscano, Nebbiano, Paterno, Poggio San Romualdo, Rufano beach, Precicchie, Rocchetta, Rucce, San Donato, San Giovanni, San Michele, San Pietro, Sant'Elia, Serradica, Valgiubbola, Vallemontagnana, Valleremita, Vallina, Varano, Viacce, Vigne.

Main sights

Fabriano's wealth and commitment to the fine arts in the late medieval period have left it with many monuments.

Churches

* Fabriano Cathedral, dedicated to San Venanzio ( Saint Venantius) (14th century, rebuilt in 1607–17). From the Baroque restoration are the stucco decoration of the interior and the canvasses by Gregorio Preti,

Salvator Rosa Salvator Rosa (1615 –1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticized landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into the early 19th ...

, Giovanni Francesco Guerrieri,

Giuseppe Puglia Giuseppe Puglia (1600–1636) was an Italian painter, born in Rome. He was also known as ''Giuseppe del Bastaro''. According to Baglioni, flourished chiefly during the pontificate of Urban VIII. There are several of his works in churches at R ...

and

Orazio Gentileschi Orazio Lomi Gentileschi (1563–1639) was an Italian painter. Born in Tuscany, he began his career in Rome, painting in a Mannerist style, much of his work consisting of painting the figures within the decorative schemes of other artists. After ...

. To the original Cathedral belong the polygonal apse, the cloister and the St Lawrence Chapel with frescoes by Allegretto di Nuzio (c. 1360). Also important are the frescoes with ''Stories of the True Cross'' by the Folignate painter

Giovanni di Corraduccio Giovanni di Corraduccio, also called Giovanni Mazaforte, (active circa 1404-1437) was an Italian painter of the Gothic style, active mainly in Umbria and Marche. He was born in Foligno. Based on documents, he is thought to have worked in Assisi ...

(1415). * San Filippo Neri - Church in 14th century attached to hospital, converted to oratory of the Philippines in 1628 *San Domenico * Santi Biagio e Romualdo * Sant'Onofrio - Church rebuilt in 1727 *The Benedictine Abbey *St Augustine * Santa Caterina da Siena - Present church erected 1508 *Collegiata of St. Nicholas *Santa Maria del Piangato *St Benedict *Oratory of the GonfaloneGuida, page 154.

Other buildings

*''Palazzo del Podestà'' (1255) built in white stone from Vallemontagnana and subsequently modified several times. It has a distinctive bridge structure, a memory of the stream which once flowed under it. The central arcade has frescoes from the 13th-14th centuries portraying warriors, and an enigmatic

Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune or ''Rota Fortunae'' has been a concept and metaphor since ancient times referring to the capricious nature of Fate. Wheel of Fortune may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Art * ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (Burne-Jo ...

moved by a feminine figure. *Sturinalto Fountain (1285), designed by Jacopo di Grondolo, who was inspired by the Fontana Maggiore in Perugia. *Communal Palace (c. 1350, rebuilt in 1690). It was the residence of the Chiavelli family, lords of the city until 1435. In the courtyard is a ''lapidarium'' with fragments of buildings of the ancient Roman cities of ''Attidium'' ( Attiggio), ''Tuficum'' ( Borgo Tufico) and ''

Sentinum Sentinum was an ancient town located in the Marche region of Italy. It was situated at low elevation about a kilometre south of the present-day town of Sassoferrato. The ruins of Sentinum were partially excavated in 1890 and the results of the arc ...

'' (

). * Pinacoteca Civica Bruno Malajoli displayed in the former Hospital (Spedale di Santa Maria del Buon Gesù) - The hospital was first built in 1456. The art collection of the Pinacoteca were moved here in 1994. The collection contains works by Rainaldetto di Ranuccio of Spoleto, Master of San Agostino, Master of San Emiliano, Master of the Magi ( Fra Giovanni di Bartolomeo), Maestro dei Beati Becchetti, Puccio di Simone,

Allegretto Nuzi Allegretto Nuzi or ''Allegretto di Nuzio'' (1315–1373) was an Italian painter, active in a Gothic style mainly around Fabriano, in the Province of Ancona. Biography Nuzi was probably trained in Fabriano by local masters, including the so-calle ...

, Francescuccio di Cecco Ghissi, Master of Fossato, Master of San Verecondo,

Ottaviano Nelli Ottaviano Nelli (1375–1444?) was an Italian painter of the early Quattrocento. Nelli primarily painted frescoes, but also panel paintings. He had several pupils and two painters were influenced by him. Biography He was born in Gubbio in Um ...

, Master of Staffolo,

Antonio da Fabriano Antonio da Fabriano (active in mid 15th century) was an Italian painter, active in the Region of Marche. The dates of his birth and death are uncertain. A ''Coronation of the Virgin'' in the Casa Morichi is attributed to him; and also a ''St Je ...

Bicci di Lorenzo Bicci di Lorenzo (1373–1452) was an Italian painter and sculptor, active in Florence. He was born in Florence in 1373, the son of the painter, Lorenzo di Bicci, whose workshop he joined. He married in 1418, and in 1424 was registered in the Gui ...

Neri di Bicci Neri di Bicci (1419–1491) was an Italian painter active in his native Florence. A prolific painter of mainly religious themes, he studied under his father, Bicci di Lorenzo, who had in turn studied under his father, Lorenzo di Bicci. The th ...

;

Bernardino di Mariotto Bernardino Di Mariotto dello Stagno (Perugia, circa 1478 - Perugia, 1566) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period. Biography He trained first under either Lodovico di Angelo Mattioli of Perugia or Fiorenzo di Lorenzo, and later worked ...

Filippo da Verona Filippo da Verona (16th century) was an Italian painter of the early-Renaissance period. He painted in a style recalling Giambattista Cima, and is the author of a ''Virgin and Child'' in the Academy of Arts in Turin, a replica of which is in the ...

, Venanzio da Camerino and Piergentile da Matelica,

Simone de Magistris Simone de Magistris (known from 1555–1613) was an Italian painter and sculptor. Born at Caldarola, Marche, he was the son of Giovanni Andrea de Magistris Simone de Magistris (known from 1555–1613) was an Italian painter and sculptor. Born a ...

, Domiziano Domiziani,

Girolamo Girolamo is an Italian variant of the name Hieronymus. Its English equivalent is Jerome. It may refer to: * Girolamo Cardano (1501–1576), Italian Renaissance mathematician, physician, astrologer and gambler * Girolamo Cassar (c. 1520 – afte ...

or Giacomo Nardini, Andrea Boscoli,

, Ambrogio Monaco,

Francesco Podesti Francesco Podesti (21 March 1800 – 10 February 1895) was an Italian painter, active in a Romantic style. Together with Francesco Hayez and Giuseppe Bezzuoli, he is considered one of the greatest Italian painters of the first half of the 19th ce ...

, and

Gentile da Fabriano Gentile da Fabriano ( – 1427) was an Italian painter known for his participation in the International Gothic painter style. He worked in various places in central Italy, mostly in Tuscany. His best-known works are his ''Adoration of the Magi'' ...

. *Loggiato of St. Francis (c. 1450) *Vasari Portico (1316) * Paper and Watermark Museum Fabriano * Villa Marchese del Grillo

Personalities

Totila Totila, original name Baduila (died 1 July 552), was the penultimate King of the Ostrogoths, reigning from 541 to 552 AD. A skilled military and political leader, Totila reversed the tide of the Gothic War, recovering by 543 almost all the t ...

, penultimate king of the Ostrogoths, suffered his defeat at Taginae near Fabriano on 1 July 552 AD. *

, 15th-century painter, whose most famous work, an oil painting of the Epiphany, is in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. * Saint

John dal Bastone Blessed John dal Bastone or Bl. John of the Staff, born Giovanni Bonello Botegoni (24 March 1200 – 24 March 1290), is a Blessed of the Roman Catholic Church. Biography John was born in Paterno, Fabriano, Italy. His father Bonello and mothe ...

12th-century Silvestrine monk, born in Paterno. *

Francesco Stelluti Francesco Stelluti (12 January 1577, in Fabriano – November 1652, in Rome) was an Italian polymath who worked in the fields of mathematics, microscopy, literature, and astronomy. Along with Federico Cesi, Anastasio de Filiis and Johannes van Heec ...

, co-founder of the

Accademia dei Lincei The Accademia dei Lincei (; literally the "Academy of the Lynx-Eyed", but anglicised as the Lincean Academy) is one of the oldest and most prestigious European scientific institutions, located at the Palazzo Corsini, Rome, Palazzo Corsini on the Vi ...

, born in Fabriano in 1577 * Jessica Rizzo (born 1964), an actress and businesswoman.

References

*''(Incorporates text from Bill Thayer's Gazetteer of Italy, by permission.)''

External links

Fabriano official websiteFabriano Storica - history, art, culture, legend, curiosityMade in Fabriano Academy