THE CASTLE OF "LA RANCIA"

Photo: Renato Gatta

Photo: Renato Gatta

A few kilometres far from Tolentino lies, solitary and impressive, the Castle of “La Rancia”. The castle, which can be easily seen from the highway, was built in 1357 by Rodolfo II Varano, Lord of Camerino, on the site of a pre-existing building, a tower-house belonging to a small landowner. Rodolfo Varano’s aim was to build a fortified farm on the model of the Cistercian ones (“grance” from the French grange - “barn, cereal store”) belonging to the nearby Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra. Hence the name “Rancia”.
The keep and few other elements are all what is left of the original medieval building. The Castle of La Rancia, which is a square structure consisting of battlemented wall reinforced by two square corner

towers, was maybe surrounded by a moat crossed by a drawbridge. It has been, over the centuries, the site of numerous battles where many important historical figures took part, such as John Hawkwood, Lucius von Landau, Braccio da Montone, Nicolò Piccinino and Francesco Sforza.
It was also the scene of the Battle of La Rancia between the Neapolitan army of Murat, who wanted to unite Italy, and the Austrians. The battle, which is considered the first battle for Italian Independence, took place in 1815 (2-3 May). This event is commemorated every year at the end of April, when hundreds of figurants come to Tolentino from all over Europe to take part in a successful historical evocation.

Photo: Renato Gatta

Photo: Renato Gatta