Comune di Serra San Quirico
Serra San Quirico, a town of stone resting on a rocky coast, and one that takes on the appearance of a ship, with its bow on the Esino valley. The mountains oversee the ancient fortress, witnesses, over the centuries, to Serra’s history: an important past that time has failed to cancel, and that can still be seen today by carefully observing the civil and religious buildings, the layout of the walled town, the rural centres dotted throughout the territory, filled with examples of culture. Everywhere you look, green plants and pinewoods reign supreme. The mountain is there, in all its beauty, its walks, its gentle, peaceful atmosphere…
The origins of Serra San Quirico date back to fairly remote times due to its key position. The historical documents found locally talk of very ancient times, with tangible signs of Etruscan, Piceno and Roman civilisations, in addition to the discovery of a Gallic Senone necropolis.
It is thought that Serra was founded as a Roman stronghold at the mouth to Gola della Rossa, the compulsory route to Rome, and an extremely important strategic point. A first settlement of men, which was gradually enhanced by buildings and fortifications that grew and consolidated under Rome’s work, until the Barbaric destruction.
In the early Middle Ages, it was incorporated into Ravenna's exarchate, and later into the Carolingian circumscription of the lower Marche. Framed here, Serra awaited the dawn of the eleventh century, when, renewed in structures and spirit, it experienced a rebirth under the energy of monasticism, represented by S. Romualdo Abate. At the foot of the Monti del Sole, Domo rises up, the first of four Serra castles, surrounded by walls that show its nature as ancient fortifications, founded, it is thought, by some Osimo citizens who had fled their town and the Barbarian siege. As we continue on towards the east, we reach Castellaro, previously called Rotorscio, from the name of the Rodossa feudatory. There is an incredibly vast panorama that extends from the Pesaro mountains to the Fermani hills. The few remains of the fort, now ruins really, and a restored part of the ancient castle, tell us of the thousand-year-old history. A little further to the east, at the top of another hill, we have Sasso, a fortified castle dating back to the 1200s. With an ancient tale to tell, it was home to the population’s captain, elected every six months. Serra S. Quirico Stazione, today’s large district resting on the banks of the river Esino and home to an ancient mill, was founded around the church of S. Maria di Loreto, built in the 17th century to welcome travellers who gathered to cross Gola della Rossa, infested with dangerous brigands.
On 18th September 1841, the village had the great honour of the pontifical visit of Gregory XVI, from Loreto, who did not have time to go up to the castle and stopped at the little church of Santa Maria di Loreto, welcomed by a great many faithful. 1865 saw the first train of the Ancona-Rome railway pass through Serra S. Quirico, with people from near and far coming to admire the mark of progress.
