Croce: Castle, Church Art and Historic Trails

Castello di Croce and Its Fortifications

The Castello di Croce is a fortification built by the da Varano family. The entrance to the Castello di Croce has a pointed arch and leads into a small courtyard with a cistern. A pointed arch is an arch that tapers upwards, while a cistern is used to collect water. In the southern part of the Castello di Croce, the area is occupied by a church that may have been established only later. The eastern defensive wall of the Castello di Croce is considered the largest among the castles in the surrounding area. A defensive wall is the fortified wall structure of a complex and is therefore one of the immediately recognizable architectural elements of the Castello di Croce.

Visible Traces in the Municipality of Caldarola

In the municipality of Caldarola, the remains of the fortifications at Croce are still visible despite the earthquakes. The Cammino Francescano della Marca passes through the entire municipality of Caldarola and also touches the ancient Castello di Croce. Along this route, the Castello di Croce thus serves as a specific historical reference point within the municipality of Caldarola.

Cammino Francescano and Circular Trail

The Cammino Francescano della Marca is 167 km long in total. 24% runs along paths, 36% along unpaved roads and 40% on asphalt. Asphalt therefore accounts for the largest individual surface category; paths and unpaved roads are listed separately as additional types of route. The circular trail “Le vie dei castelli” passes through the noteworthy hamlets of Vestignano, Croce, Pievefavera and Valcimarra. Croce is therefore one of the four explicitly included hamlets on this circular trail.

Chiesa di Santa Croce and Its Frescoes

The Chiesa di Santa Croce probably has very ancient origins dating back to the time of the Benedictines. Around 1600, Simone De Magistris created a fresco in the Chiesa di Santa Croce depicting Saint Anthony the Abbot and Saint Venantius. A fresco is a mural painted onto fresh plaster. During restoration work in 2003, 15th-century frescoes were discovered in the Chiesa di Santa Croce, depicting Christ being carried by God the Father, as well as a saint. The Chiesa di Santa Croce thus contains both a fresco created around 1600 and frescoes from the 15th century.

Chiesa di San Sebastiano in Castiglione di Croce

In the nearby village of Castiglione di Croce, the Chiesa di San Sebastiano was first documented in 1527. The year 1527 therefore marks the earliest documented mention of this church and adds an independent point of reference to the historical traces around Croce.

Other places in the same higher-level area: Bolognola, Sarnano, Frontignano, Fiastra.

For the higher-level travel overview: Macerata.