San Severino Marche

San Severino Marche
Comune
Comune di San Severino Marche
Castle of Monte Nero, on the right the cathedral of St. Severinus with its bell tower on the left the Smeducci Tower.
Coat of arms
San Severino Marche within the province of Macerata.
San Severino Marche Location of San Severino Marche in Italy
Coordinates: 43°14′N 13°11′E / 43.233°N 13.183°E / 43.233; 13.183Coordinates: 43°14′N 13°11′E / 43.233°N 13.183°E / 43.233; 13.183
Country	Italy
Region	Marche
Province / Metropolitan city	Macerata (MC)
Frazioni	Agello, Aliforni, Biagi, Cagnore, Carpignano, Case Bruciate, Le Casette, Castel San pietro, Cesolo, Chigiano, Colleluce, Collicelli, Colotto, Corsciano, Cusiano, Elcito, Gagliannuovo, Gaglianvecchio, Granali, Isola, Marciano, Orpiano, Palazzata, Parolito, Portolo, Pitino, Rocchetta, San Mauro, Sant'Elena, Serralta, Serripola, Serrone, Stigliano, Taccoli, Ugliano, Villanova
Government
• Mayor	Rosa Piermattei (since 7 June 2016)
Area
• Total	193.8 km2 (74.8 sq mi)
Elevation	236 m (774 ft)
Population (1 October 2012)
• Total	12,896
• Density	67/km2 (170/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Settempedani Sanseverinati
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	62027
Dialing code	0733
Patron saint	Severinus of Septempeda
Saint day	8 June
Website	Official website

San Severino Marche is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) southwest of Ancona and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of Macerata.

The oldest remains of human presence in San Severino date back to the Palaeolithic and their provenance is from the area of Stigliano. But there are other remains, found in many localities of the communal territory, documenting several settlements in the area in different ages. In the Serralta territory, 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of San Severino, characteristic remains from the medium Palaeolithic and High Palaeolithic have been found whereas human presence in Pitino, located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-east of the town, goes back to the medium Musterianum Palaeolithic.Metallic remains with a symbolic function were found in many areas of the communal territory, documenting the uninterrupted settlement and the existence of a complex social hierarchy of the whole prehistoric era.

The first significant civilization can be traced back to the Piceni, concentrated in the vicinity of Pitino. Excavations since 1932 have brought to light a residential area on top of the hill and three necropolis in the vicinity, all dating back to a period between the 7th and 5th century BC. Remains of funerary sets, with presents from other areas, highlight the high social levels of the populations living in the area.

At the foot of the Monte Nero there was a sacred temple, a unique one in the region, devoted to the cult of the goddess Feronia, divinity of Sabine origin to which the Liberti were consecrated. This suggests that the town of Septempeda (ancient name of uncertain origins of San Severino in the Roman age) had a pre-Roman origin. During the period of the persecutions of the Christians, the temple of Feronia was used as a catacomb and place for prayers.

From the 3rd century BC, with the Roman conquest of the Piceno area in 268 BC, Septempeda became one of the first colonies of the Roman empire, as proven by many tombstones with family names of Roman soldiers, such as the gentes Baebia, Calpurnia and Flavia. Between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. the conciliabulum and the center of praefectura were built. Together with other inscriptions, this demonstrates that the town of Septempeda grew as a prefecture and was raised to the rank of Roman municipality with a strategic role in controlling the trade through an important way connecting the Adriatic Sea to Rome.