Arquata del Tronto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arquata del Tronto
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| Comune di Arquata del Tronto | ||
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| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Marche | |
| Province | Ascoli Piceno (AP) | |
| Frazioni | Pretare, Trisungo, Piedilama, Borgo, Spelonga, Colle | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 92.23 km2 (35.61 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 777 m (2,549 ft) | |
| Population
(31 March 2017)
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| • Total | 1,137 | |
| • Density | 12.328/km2 (31.929/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Arquatani | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
63043
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| Dialing code | 0736 | |
| Patron saint | St. Peter | |
| Saint day | 27 August | |
Arquata del Tronto is a small town, called a comune (municipality), in the Marche region of Italy. It's located in the province of Ascoli Piceno, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the city of Ancona. What makes Arquata special is that it's the only town in Europe that sits partly inside two different natural parks: the Gran Sasso national park and the Sibillini Mountains natural park. This means it's surrounded by beautiful nature!
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Ancient Mysteries
The very old history of Arquata del Tronto isn't fully clear. Some historians think it might have been an ancient town called Surpicanum. This town was shown on an old map called the Tabula Peutingeriana. It might have been home to the Piceni people or the Sabines. Other ideas suggest that the Romans founded Arquata. They might have built it as a stop along an important old road called the Via Salaria.
Medieval Stronghold
We first hear about Arquata del Tronto in the Middle Ages, around the 6th century. Back then, it was a strong fortress. In 1255, the town of Ascoli Piceno took control of Arquata. Arquata stayed under Ascoli's rule, but it had some freedom, until the late 1300s.
In 1397, during a war between Ascoli and another town called Norcia, Arquata became a stronghold for Norcia. It was also a base for the Ghibellines from Ascoli. A famous person, Queen Joanna II of Naples, lived in Arquata from 1420 to 1435.
After many years of being fought over by different cities, Arquata became part of the Papal States. Later, in 1849, a famous Italian general, Giuseppe Garibaldi, stopped here during his retreat. This was after the fall of the Roman Republic in 1848.
Recent Events
On August 24, 2016, some parts of Arquata del Tronto were damaged by a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake. Then, on October 30, 2016, the town suffered more significant damage from another earthquake, this one measuring 6.6 magnitude.
What to See
The Castle
The Rocca, or castle, was built in the 13th century. It sits high up, watching over the old Via Salaria road and the River Tronto. It's a great example of medieval architecture.
Sant'Agata Gate
The Sant'Agata Gate is the last part left of the old walls that surrounded the town in the Middle Ages. It gives you a peek into what the town looked like centuries ago.
Santissima Annunziata Church
The Santissima Annunziata is a church that holds some amazing art. Inside, you can see a painting from the 1500s called the Annunciation. There's also a very special wooden crucifix from the 1200s. People believe this is the oldest holy statue in the Marche region.
Ancient Furnace
In the area called Pretare, which is one of Arquata's small villages (or frazioni), you can find an ancient furnace. This old structure tells us about how people used to make things long ago.
Images for kids
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A view of Arquata del Tronto.
