Camerino

Camerino is a small town with 6906 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in the province of Macerata, Marche region of Italy.

The city is located in the Apennines, on the border between the Marche and Umbria, between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Chienti. The territory of the municipality covers 129 km ². Patron saint of the city is San Venanzio.

The municipal area vineyards are approved for the production of the famous white wine Verdicchio di Matelica.

History

In 309 BC the city was for the first time, mentioned in documents as part of an agreement with Rome. Near the city of the Battle of Camerinum found in the Third Samnitenkrieg around the year 295 BC instead, in which the Romans were defeated by the opposing Samnite - Etruscan- Gallic coalition.

In 1377 the city by Pope Gregory XI. explained to the university town after had been established since the beginning of the 13th century schools of law, medicine and literature. 1444 the 16 -year-old Giulio Cesare da Varano ruler of Camerino, he developed the structure unchanged to this day in the city. In 1502 he was murdered by Cesare Borgia, who now took over and there the " Rocca dei Borgia " (Castle of the Borgia ) was built. However, In 1503 Giovanni Varano could take the city back in possession and govern the duchy until 1527.

After his death, the Duchy of Camerino fell through his heiress Giulia Varano to her husband, Francesco Maria della Rovere, Duke of Urbino ( 1508-1538 ).

In 1540 was the sixteen year old Ottavio Farnese Pope Paul III by his grandfather. raised in a secret consistory hereditary Duke of Camerino and the Lords of Nepi. However, he had already in 1545 - on the occasion of the elevation of his father, Pier Luigi Farnese II Duke of Parma and Piacenza to waive this duchy and was compensated from it by the cession of the Duchy of Castro.

After 1545 Camerino was under the direct control of the Holy See and was the residence of an Apostolic Delegation, but this led to a long period of stability and a slow decline of the importance of the city.

The earthquakes of past centuries taught repeatedly to great damage, yet the former flower of the Duchy is still recognizable.

Attractions

The center of Camerino is dominated by the Ducal Palace, it consists of three formerly separate buildings that were brought together by Giulio Cesare: Palazzo Gentile from the 13th century, Palazzo Venanzio from the 14th century and the Palazzo Nuovo from the 15th century. From 1489-1492 Cesare was to create the gardens below the palace. With the end of the reign of the family as the building Varano went on to the University of the city, today there is the law school in the palace. The courtyard ( " Quadriportico ") with the monumental access to the Cathedral Square and some of the rooms on the ground floor and basement are open to the public.

Opposite the palace is the unadorned cathedral, which was seriously damaged in an earthquake in 1997, but is available again today. The Pinakothek in the monastery of San Domenico houses works from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Camerino is surrounded by a ring striking castles, outstanding the northerly Rocca d' Ajella with its two characteristic towers with battlements. Under the rule of da Varano, the castles were part of a military defense system, whose roots date back to the year 1382.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Ugo Betti, Italian playwright
• Answin of Camerino, an Italian bishop, feast day March 13
• Camilla Battista Varano, mystic, abbess and Blessed

Associated with the city of personalities

• Buralli John of Parma, died on March 19, 1289 in Camerino