Panorama of Camerino is small town of 7,000 inhabitants in the Marches (
Marche region), in the
province of Macerata,
Italy. It is located in the
Apennines bordering
Umbria, between the
valleys of the rivers
Potenza and
Chienti, about 40 miles from Ancona.
History
Camerino occupies the site of the ancient
Camerinum, the inhabitants of which (
Camertes Umbri or Umbrii-Camertii) became allies of the Romans in 310 BC or 309 BC (at the time of the attack on the Etruscans in the
Ciminian Forest). On the other hand, the Katspriot referred to in the history of the year 295 BC are probably the inhabitants of
Clusium. Later it appears as a dependent autonomous community with the
foedus aequum, an 'equal' treaty with
Rome (Mommsen,
Römisches Staatsrecht, iii. 664).
Two cohorts of
Camertes fought with distinction under
Gaius Marius against the invading Germanic
Cimbri. It was much affected by the conspiracy of
Catiline, and is frequently mentioned in the Civil Wars; under the empire it was a
municipium. It belonged to ancient
Umbria, but was on the borders of
Picenum.
Camerino was part of the
Exarchate of Ravenna until 592, when it was captured by the
Lombards. The city under the latter was the seat of a marquisate and then of a duchy which was sometimes under the suzerainty of
Spoleto, and which was later conquered by the
Franks. In the 10th-11th century the city was under the Mainardi family.
Boniface III of Tuscany occupied the duchy around 1050, and then ceded it to his daughter
Matilda, who in turn donated it to the
Papal States.
After the year 1000, however, Camerino turned itself into an independent commune. Initially
Ghibelline, it later became a
Guelph stronghold and suffered much under Emperor
Frederick II on account of its loyalty to the pope;
Manfred of Sicily's troops, led by Percivalle Doria, besieged and destroyed it (1256): much of the population was killed, but Camerino recovered under
Gentile Da Varano, who was amongst the refugees that returned in 1262, forming a lasting fiefdom for his family which lasted three centuries.
In 1382, his descendant
Giovanni Da Varano built a 12 km-long wall to defend the city, while a Ducal Palace was built by
Giulio Cesare in 1460, which was one of the most sumptuous in Italy at the time. In 1336 the
University was founded. The Da Varano were wiped out by
Cesare Borgia in 1502, and in 1545 the city fell under direct Papal administration.
In 1861, after Camerino become part of the unified Kingdom of Italy, the university was recognised by the new state. In 1958, the school became known as the
University of Camerino, a public institution.
Main sights
No ancient buildings are visible today, the Roman remains lying as much as one metre below ground level.
Panorama of Camerino in winter.Principal sights include:
- The Cathedral which is relatively modern (early 19th century), an earlier building having been destroyed in 1799: the interior houses some artworks from the former edifice, including a wooden Crucifix dating back to the 13th century and a Madonna of Misericord from the 15th century. The crypt has two stone lions from the late 13th century, two busts from Bernini's workshop and a marble medieval arch dedicated to St. Ansovinus, a bishop of the city in the 9th century.
- The late-Gothic church of S. Venanzio was also damaged in 1799, but retains the original façade and bell tower.
- The Ducal Palace, seat of the Faculty of Jurisprudence of the University, is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in central Italy. It was created in the late 15th century by Giulio Cesare Da Varano. It has a portico, a wide panoramic balcony, loggias and frescoed halls.
- The Rocca dei Borgia ("Borgia Castle"), designed by Ludovico Clodio for Cesare Borgia, dates from 1503. It has cylindrical towers and a massive keep.
- The Jewish quarter "Giudecca" in the city center.
Frazioni
Agnano, Arcofiato, Arnano, Campolarzo, Capolapiaggia, Caselle, Colle Altino, Mecciano, Mergnano San Pietro, Mergnano San Savino, Mistrano, Morro, Paganico, Palentuccio, Perito, Piampalente, Pian d'Aiello, Piegusciano, Polverina, Pontelatrave, Ponti, Pozzuolo, Rocca d'Aiello, Sabbieta Alta, San Luca, San Marcello, Santa Lucia, Sant'Erasmo, Sellano, Sentino, Selvazzano, Servola, Sfercia, Strada, Torrone, Tuseggia, Valle Vegenana, Varano.
Category:Cities and towns in the Marcheca:Camerinode:Camerinoes:Camerinoeo:Camerinofr:Camerinoit:Camerinonl:Camerinoja:カメリーノnap:Camerinono:Camerinopl:Camerinopt:Camerinoru:Камериноsv:Camerinouk:Камериноvi:Camerinovo:Camerino
