Il Palazzo: Cultural History of the Municipality of Force

Il Palazzo is part of the municipality of Force. This means that the cultural themes of the municipal area can also be part of your travel plans: in Force, they range from medieval building remains to 20th-century architecture. Churches, works of art, and local traditions each offer a different focus.

Churches and Building History in Force

The Chiesa di San Francesco stands on the site of the Franciscan monastery built in 1272. Construction of the church began in 1882, based on a design by architect Giuseppe Sacconi. The 13th-century bell tower and two lion figures serving as supports remain from the former monastery site. This place thus brings together the history of the monastery, medieval building elements, and a later church building.

The history of the fortifications can also be seen on several scales. The Porta San Francesco was one of three gateways into Force; the wall around the town was almost eight kilometres long in total. The Porta-torre di San Francesco dates from the 18th century. The Collegiata di S. Paolo, in turn, is located in the highest part of Force. Only its 12th-century Romanesque apse remains. A comparison of the building phases therefore spans this medieval apse, the bell tower, and the church built in 1882.

Art and Museums

A triptych painted for the Chiesa di San Francesco has since been separated. The central panel, known as the “Madonna di Force,” is kept in the Vatican Museums; a faithful reproduction is in the church in Force. A smaller panel from the central section of the predella can be seen in the Louvre in Paris. The history of the artwork thus links the church in Force with two panels in major art collections.

The Museo del Rame and the Musei Sistini are housed in the Palazzo Canestrari. Admission to the palazzo is free and it is accessible to visitors with disabilities; ask the institution for information about visiting hours. A museum visit can therefore be considered as a focus in its own right, alongside the history of churches and art.

The Villino Verrucci represents a different architectural era: it was built in 1935 in the Liberty style at the request of architect Ernesto Verrucci Bey. Admission is free, but there are architectural barriers. Take this limitation into account when planning your visit.

More Cultural Highlights

Beneath the church of San Francesco, in a series of caves, is a large artistic, mechanical nativity scene. It was conceived in 1992 and covers an area of 250 square metres. The work combines a religious depiction with mechanical design, setting it apart from the historic buildings and panel paintings that are also among Force’s cultural highlights.

The Casa Nativa della Beatrice Maria Assunta Pallotta is another notable place of remembrance: it is the birthplace of Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta. Along with the churches and museums, it broadens the picture of the municipality’s religious history.

A local tradition is “Antichi Sapori per le vie del Borgo,” celebrated every year in August. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the specific dates for the year in question.

Discover more destinations: San Silvestro, Monteprandone, Force, Grottammare, Uscerno, Monsampolo Del Tronto, Piane Vecchie, Cossignano

For the wider travel overview: Ascoli Piceno.