Fossombrone
Encyclopedia
Fossombrone is a town and comune
in the province of Pesaro e Urbino
(Marche
, Italy
).
Near the Furlo Pass, during the Gothic War
, was fought (552) the battle of Taginae
, in which Totila
was overcome by the Byzantine
general, Narses
.
Fossombrone was included in the Donation of Pippin, but remained subject to the Duchy of Spoleto
until 1198, when it passed under Papal rule. The Malatesta
sold it to the famous Federico III da Montefeltro, under whom the city flourished. Also positive for the city was the reign of the della Rovere
dukes, who enlarged it (especially Francesco Maria II
expanded the settlement in the lower area up to the Metauro
river). In 1631 it returned to the Papal States, being annexed to Italy in 1860.
; the Furlo Pass
, constructed by the Emperor Vespasian to shorten the passage of that mountain; and the bridge of Trajan
(115) near Calmazzo, and that of Diocletian
(292), both over the Metaurus.
Other points of interests include:
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Pesaro e Urbino
Province of Pesaro e Urbino
The Province of Pesaro and Urbino is a province in the Marche region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pesaro. It also borders the state of San Marino.-History:...
(Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
).
History
The ancient Roman colony of Forum Sempronii took its name from Gaius Sempronius Gracchus.Near the Furlo Pass, during the Gothic War
Gothic War (535–552)
The Gothic War between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy was fought from 535 until 554 in Italy, Dalmatia, Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica. It is commonly divided into two phases. The first phase lasted from 535 to 540 and ended with the fall of Ravenna and the apparent...
, was fought (552) the battle of Taginae
Battle of Taginae
At the Battle of Taginae in June/July 552, the forces of the Byzantine Empire under Narses broke the power of the Ostrogoths in Italy, and paved the way for the temporary Byzantine reconquest of the Italian Peninsula.From as early as 549 the Emperor Justinian I had planned to dispatch a major army...
, in which Totila
Totila
Totila, original name Baduila was King of the Ostrogoths from 541 to 552 AD. A skilled military and political leader, Totila reversed the tide of Gothic War, recovering by 543 almost all the territories in Italy that the Eastern Roman Empire had captured from his Kingdom in 540.A relative of...
was overcome by the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
general, Narses
Narses
Narses was, with Belisarius, one of the great generals in the service of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I during the "Reconquest" that took place during Justinian's reign....
.
Fossombrone was included in the Donation of Pippin, but remained subject to the Duchy of Spoleto
Duchy of Spoleto
The independent Duchy of Spoleto was a Lombard territory founded about 570 in central Italy by the Lombard dux Faroald.- Lombards :The Lombards, a Germanic people, had invaded Italy in 568 and conquered much of it, establishing a Kingdom divided between several dukes dependent on the King, who had...
until 1198, when it passed under Papal rule. The Malatesta
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
sold it to the famous Federico III da Montefeltro, under whom the city flourished. Also positive for the city was the reign of the della Rovere
Della Rovere
Della Rovere is a noble family of Italy. Coming from modest beginnings in Savona, Liguria, the family rose to prominence through nepotism and ambitious marriages arranged by two Della Rovere popes, Francesco della Rovere, who ruled as Pope Sixtus IV and his nephew Giuliano...
dukes, who enlarged it (especially Francesco Maria II
Francesco Maria II della Rovere
Francesco Maria II della Rovere was the last Duke of Urbino.- Biography :Born at Pesaro, Francesco Maria was the son of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, Count of Montefeltro and Vittoria Farnese, Princess of Parma...
expanded the settlement in the lower area up to the Metauro
Metauro
The Metauro is a river of the Marche, central Italy. It rises in the Apennine Mountains and runs east for 110 km ....
river). In 1631 it returned to the Papal States, being annexed to Italy in 1860.
Main sights
The city and its environs abound in antiquities, especially inscriptions. Noteworthy remains are the statue of the god VertumnusVertumnus
In Roman mythology, Vertumnus — also Vortumnus or Vertimnus — is the god of seasons, change and plant growth, as well as gardens and fruit trees...
; the Furlo Pass
Furlo Pass
thumb|240px|Entrance of the Roman tunnel.The Furlo Pass is a gorge on the ancient Roman road Via Flaminia in the Marche region of central Italy, where it passes near the Candigliano river, an affluence of the Metauro.The gorge was formed between the Pietralata and Paganuccio Mounts by the waters...
, constructed by the Emperor Vespasian to shorten the passage of that mountain; and the bridge of Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
(115) near Calmazzo, and that of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
(292), both over the Metaurus.
Other points of interests include:
- Church of Sant'Agostino (14th century, enlarged in the 18th century). It has a hut-like facade with the coat of arms of the House of MalatestaHouse of MalatestaThe House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
. The interior houses a canvas by Federico ZuccariFederico ZuccariFederico Zuccari, also known as Federigo Zuccaro , was an Italian Mannerist painter and architect, active both in Italy and abroad.-Biography:Zuccari was born at Sant'Angelo in Vado, near Urbino ....
. - Ducal Palace, attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini and Girolamo GengaGirolamo GengaGirolamo Genga was an Italian painter and architect of the late Renaissance, Mannerist style.- Biography :Genga was born in 1507 in a region near Urbino. According mainly to Giorgio Vasari's biography, by age thirteen Genga had gained an apprenticeship in Orvieto under Luca Signorelli...
, and built for Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, brother of the Duke Guidobaldo IIGuidobaldo II della RovereGuidobaldo II della Rovere was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1538 until his death.- Biography :...
. Notable are the Renaissance court and the Cardinal's chapel. - The 16th century Corte Bassa, a residence of the Dukes of UrbinoDukes of UrbinoThe Duchy of Urbino was a sovereign state of northern Italy.The first lords of Urbino were the Montefeltro, who obtained the title of counts from Emperor Frederick II in 1213. The first Duke was Oddantonio, who received the title from Pope Eugene IV in 1443...
. The Corte Bassa is instead from the 13th century, and was later renewed under Federico da Montefeltro with a notable Renaissance façade and pavement. The duke Guidobaldo I soujourned here frequently, and also died here. - Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall, 16th century).
- Palazzo Vescovile ("Bishop's Palace", built from 1479). It has a Renaissance façade with a portico and a Crucifixion fresco attributed to Bartolomeo di Gentile (1493).
- The Cathedral was almost entirely rebuilt in Neo-Classicist style by Cosimo MorelliCosimo MorelliCosimo Morelli was an Italian architect, an exponent of the neoclassical architecture in Italy.-Biography:He was born at Imola. His father, also an architect, studied under Giovanni Domenico Trifogli , who was considered to be one of the Comacini, whose works were much appreciated in northern...
in 1776-1784, but has maintained some Renaissance works in the interior. - Ruins of the Rocca Malatestiana (13th-15th centuries).
Sports
- FC FossombroneFC FossombroneF.C. Fossombrone is an Italian association football located in Fossombrone, Marche. The small club was made popular after it was acquired by Belgian fashion designer Dirk Bikkembergs.-History:...
: famous for its total look and the uniform produced by Dirk BikkembergsDirk BikkembergsDirk Bikkembergs is a Belgian fashion designer.-Early life and designer career:Dirk Bikkembergs was born in Cologne, Germany, In 1982, Bikkembergs graduated, together with other Belgian designers Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, Dirk van Saene, Walter van Beirendonck and Marina Yee...
, a BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
fashion designer.