Ripatransone (Marche)

Ripatransone is a town in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Italian region Marche. The hill of Ripatransone has been inhabited since prehistorical times, and was settled first by the Umbri and then the Piceni. After the Roman conquest it lost importance, regaining it in the Middle Ages when several castles were built here, being unified into a single town in 1096. In 1205 it was a free commune, existing in particular rivalry with Fermo and against Francesco Sforza. In 1571 it was given the status of City and that of diocesan see by Pope Pius V. After the Renaissance it was part of the Papal States, becoming part of unified Italy in 1860. The town offers various cultural sights such as the Cathedral (Duomo), the medieval walls, the Romanesque church of San Michele Arcangelo, with some 15th- and 16th-century paintings and Palazzo Bonomi-Gera, housing the local museums.