Corridonia

Populous town situated on the watershed between the Chienti and Cremone valleys. Of agricultural tradition, it has recently seen the development of a flourishing industrial activity, especially in the field of footwear, furniture and building. In the Middle Ages the village was called Montolmo because of the presence of a gigantic, centuries-old elm tree which remained there until 1831. The current name was given to the town in 1931 in honour of one of its most famous citizens, the revolutionary trade unionist Filippo Corridoni (1888-1915), who died heroically on the Carso and to whom the town has dedicated a museum.The historical centre boasts admirable examples of sacred architecture: the church of San Francesco, formerly Santa Maria in Castello, built around the year 1000 and purchased by the Franciscans in 1225, preserves architectural remains from the Romanesque-Gothic period and a 15th century bell tower; the church of Santi Pietro e Paolo, dating back to before the 13th century and rebuilt in the 18th century by Giuseppe Valadier, is circular in shape with Gothic lines; the church-convent of Sant'Agostino, built in 1346, preserves valuable paintings. Near the town stands the Abbey of San Claudio al Chienti, built in the sixth or seventh century on the ruins of a Roman villa, restored in the thirteenth century and formed by two overlapping churches. The Gian Battista Velluti Theatre is one of the historical theatres of the Marche region and hosts a theatre season. It presents, unique in its kind, an ellipsoidal shaped stalls that benefit the acoustics of the room. The theatre has been completely renovated: the original baroque face is contrasted by the liberty ceiling fresco by Sigismondo Martini. There are also numerous museums in the city: the "Filippo Corridoni" Museum dedicated to the trade unionist; the Municipal Art Gallery at the Church of San Francesco; the Civic Art Gallery and collection of Sacred Art kept inside Palazzo Persichetti - Ugolini, the patrician residence of the family of the same name, included in the former conventual complex of San Francesco; the Parish Art Gallery of the Church of SS. Pietro, Paolo and Donato, whose most interesting works are a polyptych by Antonio and Bartolomeo Vivarini and a splendid panel painting depicting a "Madonna and Child" by Carlo Crivelli. Among the main events of the town of Corridonia is the historical commemoration of the Contesa della Margutta, held in the first week of September.