Mondolfo

A fortress overlooking the balcony of the sea

This is how the castle of one of the most beautiful villages in the Marche region, Mondolfo, looks like.
The etymology of the name is thought to derive from Montoffus, or the mountain of Offo, progenitor of an indigenous lordship that reigned before the advent of the Malatesta.
In defense of its town, the castle expands its mighty walls, between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, building a second city wall, and it is at this time that it acquires the definitive name of Mondolfo.
There are many events that this village offers, the historical sports re-enactment of the “Cacciata” carried out towards the end of summer, in Renaissance costumes; On the occasion of the event, the “Ballone al Bracciale” competition is played, a practice dating back to the 16th century, common in all Renaissance courts, a team of three players must hit a ball wearing a spherical glove made of carved wood, the playing field is called sferisterio, to a player once, Leopardi dedicated a song entitled: “To a winner in the ball”.

For those who like to visit this historic village at different times of the year, you will surely find a “festival” to take place in, on the Sunday after Easter, you can taste the delicious Spaghetti cooked according to a traditional recipe, the “Spaghetti”.
In the months of August the village is transformed into an art gallery or rather, Street art, where sculpture and painting are set up in the sight of passers-by along the streets and alleys of the village. Today on the occasion of holy Christmas, the inhabitants, or rather, the inhabitants of the place, have created the most original and evocative Christmas tree in the region.

With a height of 7 meters, 72 thousand meters of wool thread and 2800 chess, a Christmas tree was made with each recycled thread, of every color and shade, completely crocheted, reminding the world that as the famous biologist philosopher Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier argued: “nothing is created, nothing is destroyed but everything is transformed”.