Castignano was built at the top of the highest of five hills rising between the Tesino river and the stream Chifenti. It’s surrounded by terrific steep clay cracks due to the erosive action of water on the soil.

The pyramid- shaped outline of Castignano will catch your eye. It’s supported by a striking massive wall and it’s dominated by a Romanesque tower with an impressive decorative pinnacle.

From the central square  you can enjoy a nice view of the Conero area, the Sibillini mountains, the Gran Sasso, the Maiella and the sea.

Castignano was a stronghold of the Farfa monks during the Middle Ages and it’s considered one of the most picturesque and interesting centres of southern Marche, as it’s preserved almost unchanged the typical features of its medieval past.

The historical centre boasts Romanesque churches, medieval and Renaissance houses very close to each other along the narrow alleys. It’s some sort of open air museum, which is out of time, and it still preserves the colours, flavours of the past, the history of nuns, friars, soldiers, tyrants, looters, heroes, artists, artisans but mainly the Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar spent much of their time in Castignano, because the village was in an area where pilgrims  passed through during their travel from Rome to the harbours where they embarked for the Holy Land. They built the church of Santa Maria del Borgo in the 12^th century, which still displays the TAU symbol above the portal. This symbol of the cross was chosen during the Middle Ages by this powerful Christian military order. Nowadays the Templaria festival is dedicated to them in August.

The church San Pietro Apostolo  houses the Museum of sacred art, where of great interest is the fascinating and complex fresco representing the Universal Judgement. It was painted in the 15^th century and it describes the afterlife. The Addolorata Crypt, which is inside the church, probably dates back to the Early Middle Ages and at the walls you can see frescoes attributed to Vincenzo Pagani and Vittore Crivelli. In the Diocesan museum of sacred art, which is housed in the sacristy, you can see a most valuable work of art: the reliquary and ostensory of the Holy Cross in golden silver, which is an amazing piece of true jewellery art dating back to the late Gothic age, commissioned by the Conventual Franciscans and chiselled by Pietro Vannini from Ascoli Piceno in 1448.  

Several interesting works of art are also housed in the church of Sant’Egidio, among which “Madonna of the Rosary”, attributed to Simone De Magistris. Worth visiting is also the “Polo Museale di Arte sacra e delle Icone” ( Museum of sacred art and Icons), in whose first section you can see silverware, paintings and woodenware , whereas the second one houses 80 rare and precious handmade Byzantine artefacts.

7 km far from Castignano you can visit the hamlet called Ripaberarda. It's at the foot of the Ascensione mountain. It features 15^th and 16^th walls, an impressive belfry which is 52 metres high and which was built in Romanesque and Renaissance style in 1518.

Castignano is an important centre of wine production. Selected wines such as “Rosso Piceno”, “Falerio dei colli ascolani”, “Templaria”, “Gramelot”, ”Acquavite di Uva”, “Anice”, “Mistrà”, “Spumanti” and others are produced in the private farms and in the wine cooperative.

Of very old origins is the traditional Carnival of Castignano, which belongs, with a few others, to the Picene historical carnival. Very striking is the Moccoli parade. It’s a spectacle of colourful paper lanterns, which takes place on Shrove Tuesday and puts an end to the carnival.

The historic centre, monuments and museums of Castignano are partially accessible. For further information please write to: numeroverde.turismo@regione.marche.it or contact the phone numbers listed underneath.