Matelica
| Matelica | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Comune di Matelica | ||
Piazza Enrico Mattei
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 Matelica
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| Coordinates: 43°15′23.71″N 13°0′34.54″E / 43.2565861°N 13.0095944°ECoordinates: 43°15′23.71″N 13°0′34.54″E / 43.2565861°N 13.0095944°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Marche | |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Province of Macerata (MC) | |
| Frazioni | Balzani, Braccano, Castiglione, Cavalieri, Colferraio, Collepere, Colli, Grimaldi, Mistriano, Pezze, Piane, Poggeto, San Nicola, Terricoli, Valbona, Vinano | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 81.04 km2 (31.29 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 354 m (1,161 ft) | |
| Population (Dec. 2013) | ||
| • Total | 10,129 | |
| • Density | 120/km2 (320/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Matelicesi | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 62024 | |
| Dialing code | 0737 | |
| Patron saint | Sant'Adriano | |
| Saint day | September 16th | |
| Website | Official website | |
Matelica is a comune (municipality) of the Province of Macerata in the Italian region of Marche. Located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of Ancona and 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of Macerata, it extends over an area of 81.04 square kilometres (31.29 sq mi) and has a population of 10,129 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2013).
Matelica lies in an ample valley where the Braccano creek joins the Esino river, dominated by the town from an eastern ravine. The valley, roughly in the north–south direction, is delimited on the east and west sides by Apennines’ sub-ranges, whose highest peaks are respectively Mount Gemmo at 719 metres (2,359 ft) and Mount San Vicino at 1,479 metres (4,852 ft), compared to the 354 metres (1,161 ft) above sea-level of the city centre. The old part of town presents a relatively well-preserved urban structure dating largely from the Middle Ages, and is punctuated by several monumental palazzi and churches from different periods. The local Piersanti Museum hosts a rich collection of artworks. Matelica borders on the following municipalities: Apiro, Castelraimondo, Cerreto d'Esi, Esanatoglia, Fabriano, Fiuminata, Gagliole, Poggio San Vicino, San Severino Marche.
The first human settlements in the area can be traced to the Umbri and Picentes and date back to the 1st millennium BC. Later, under Roman rule, Matelica became a municipium (70 BC). Starting from the 5th century AD, it was seat of a Bishop, who for a while remained the only authority, after the fall of the Roman Empire. The town was then annexed to the Byzantine Empire (552). Destroyed by Longobards in 578, it was subsequently joined to the bishopric of Camerino. From the 9th century, Matelica was under the indirect rule of the Holy Roman Empire (while belonging formally to the Papal States), then becoming a free municipality in 1160. In 1174, it was again obliterated, this time by the army of Christian I (Archbishop of Mainz). Since then, Matelica remained part of the Papal States (albeit at times under an independent Governor), until the Italian unification (1861), save for the brief Napoleonic occupation.
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Wikipedia