Sibillini National Park

Its first settlements were in Paleolithic times, further up the hills away from the Marches. Archaeological excavation has revealed traces of huts and hundreds of finds in the area around Ancarano. The territory has karst formations around which rise the peaks of the Sibillini and Mt. Vettore (2476m). In protohistoric times, the Umbrian tribes lived in the region, then it became a Roman municipium in the times of the Punic wars (205 BC.). In the battle between Octavian and Mark Anthony it sided with the latter and was almost completely destroyed by the victors. The area was Christianised in the third century and two centuries later the twins San Scolastica e San Benedetto were born, preaching the new ethic of “ora et labora” marking a new religious commitment in the history of the western world. At this times it was also invaded by the Goths, the following century by the Lombard, and a few centuries later by the Saracens; it then became Church territory, which extended as far as Spoleto, Ascoli Piceno and Naples. There was a devastating earthquake in 1328 and another in 1567. A few years later the Pope declared it the Prefecture of Montagna, giving it the powers to open centres for the study and production of handcrafts resulting that in 1700 an academy was instituted and a theatre constructed, which did prevent it from being almost destroyed again in 1703 and 1730. In the same century it was integrated in to the French Republic by Napoleon. After the Congress of Vienna, the Pontifical powers accorded Norcia a bishop, in 1859 there was another quake and from then on there was a height limit placed on buildings. In the late 1800's the town of Norcia became part of the Kingdom of Italy, after unification, but because of various economic crises, the people were leaving the town for other more prosperous destinations. In the 1920's, through re-structuring of lands and territories, it lost more land area, but gained a railway, which lasted only until 1968. Because it is in a high-risk earthquake zone, the buildings are all designed to be aseismic and therefore of low construction. Norcia has survived most of the largest earthquakes in this century. The town still looks medieval, in spite of the regular rebuilding and is a popular tourist destination in summer and winter. The area is now under the protection of the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, because of its geological-historical value.
Chiesa di S. Benedetto Was built on the ruins of a small church which was erected on the remains of the paternal house of Benedetto and Scolastica . Typically Gothic with a large façade and a lovely gothic portal, a rose window and crowned caps at the sides. The bell tower is from 1300's.
Cattedrale di S. Maria Argentea It has an altar by Duquesnay and rare paintings inside. Built in the 1500's on the site of another church knocked down to make way for the Castellina. It has an noteworthy entrance with its two original wooden doors (16th century).
La Castellina A square fortress from 1500's with towers at the corners and is now the Civic Diocesan Museum. The portico inside has a loggia with two levels. Designed by Vignolo, it used to be the prefecture of Montagna.
Chiesa di S. Agostino Its single nave houses frescoes, renaissance paintings and a baroque wooden choristers section. From 1300's, it has a portal encased in the splay.
Oratorio di S. Agostino Minore (o di S. Agostinuccio) With its rich interior, it resembles a pagan temple, or seems to have been built on the ruins of an old pagan temple.
Chiesa del Crocifisso Takes its name from the wooden crucifix on the altar from the 1400's, when the church was first built, although rebuilt in the 1700's.
Edicola o Tempietto Was a small square temple from 1354, perhaps built to combat the plague. Commonly this temple is known as the Majesty.
Chiesa di S. Giovanni 14th century, side door, two naves with box ceiling. Other churches to note are those of S. Giovanni, S. Filippo, Misericordia, S. Lorenzo and the Monastery of S, Benedetto.