Camerino

Encyclopedia : C : CA : CAM : Camerino

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Camerino is small town of 7,000 inhabitants in the Marches (Marche region), in the province of Macerata, Italy. It is located in the Apennines bordering Umbria, between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Chienti, about 40 miles from Ancona.

History

Camerino occupies the site of the ancient Camerinum, the inhabitants of which (Camertes Umbri or Umbrii-Camertii) became allies of the Romans in 310 or 309 BC BCE (at the time of the attack on the Etruscans in the Ciminian Forest). On the other hand, the Katspriot referred to in the history of the year 295 BCE are probably the inhabitants of Clusium. Later it appears as a dependent autonomous community with the foedus aequum, an 'equal' treaty with Rome (Mommsen, Römisches Staatsrecht, iii. 664).

Two cohorts of Camertes fought with distinction under Marius against the invading Germanic Cimbri. It was much affected by the conspiracy of Catiline, and is frequently mentioned in the Civil Wars; under the empire it was a municipium. It belonged to ancient Umbria, but was on the borders of Picenum.

Camerino was part of the Exarchate of Ravenna until 592, when it was captured by the Lombards. The city under the latter wasseat of a marquisate and then of a duchy which was sometimes under the suzerainty of Spoleto, which was later conquered by the Franks. In the 10th-11th century the cityi was under the Mainardi family. Boniface III of Tuscany occupied the duchy around 1050, and then ceded it to his daughter Matilda, who in turn donated it to the Papal States.

Since the year 1000, however, Camerino had turned itself into an independent commune. Initially Ghibelline, it later became a Guelph stronghold and suffered much under Emperor Frederick II on account of its loyalty to the pope; Manfred of Sicily's troops, led by Percivalle Doria, besieged and destroyed it (1256): much of the population was killed, but Camerino recovered under Gentile Da Varano, who was amongst the refugees that returned in 1262, forming a lasting fiefdom for his family which laster three centuries.

In 1382 his descendant Giovanni Da Varano built a 12 km-long walls to defend the city, wihle a Ducal Palace was built by Giulio Cesare in 1460, which was one of the most sumptuous in Italy at the time. In 1336 the University was founded. The Da Varano were wiped out by Cesare Borgia in 1502, and in 1545 the city fell under the direct Papal admnistration.

In 1861, after becoming Italian, the university was recognised by the new state. In 1958, the school became known as the University of Camerino, a public institution

See also:

• Ecclesiastical history of Camerino

Main sights

No ancient buildings are visible, the Roman level lying as much as 1 meter below the modern. Other sights include:

• The Cathedral is modern (early 19th century), the older building having fallen in 1799: the interior houses some artworks from the former edifice, including a wooden Crucifix of the 13th century and a Madonna of Misericordy from the 15th century. The crypt has two stone lions from the late 13th century, two busts by Bernini's workshop and a marble medieval arch of St. Ansovino, a bishop of the city in the 9th century.
• The late-Gothic church of S. Venanzio was also damaged in 1799, but mantained the façade and the bell tower.
• The Ducal Palace, seat of the Faculty of Jurisprudence of the University, is one of the most important Renaissance edifices in central Italy. It has a portico, a wide panoramic balcony, loggias and frescoes halls.
• The Archbishops Palace (16th century). The museum includes a canvas by Gianbattista Tiepolo, a St. Sebastian from 1446 and an Annnunciation by Luca Signorelli.
• The Rocca dei Borgia ("Borgia Castle"), designed by Ludovico Clodio, dates from 1503. It has cylindrical towers and a massive mastio.

The famous medieval Abbey of Fiastra, cradle of the Capuchin Order, is now abandoned.

Fractions

Agnano, Arcofiato, Arnano, Campolarzo, Capolapiaggia, Caselle, Colle Altino, Mecciano, Mergnano San Pietro, Mergnano San Savino, Mistrano, Morro, Paganico, Palentuccio, Perito, Piampalente, Pian d'Aiello, Piegusciano, Polverina, Pontelatrave, Ponti, Pozzuolo, Rocca d'Aiello, Sabbieta Alta, San Luca, San Marcello, Santa Lucia, Sant'Erasmo, Sellano, Sentino, Selvazzano, Sfercia, Strada, Torrone, Tuseggia, Valle Vegenana, Varano.