Tour to Fabriano

Numerous archaeological findings testify to a settlement already occurred in prehistoric times. In Roman times, two municipalities were built in the Fabriano area, Tuficum near Albacina and Attidium (today’s town of Attiggio). The name of the city seems to derive from the adjective Faberianus referable to the Roman noble Faberius. The barbarian invasions and the Greek-Gothic war pushed the inhabitants of the two Roman centers and also of the nearby Sentinum to take refuge on the hill of Castelvecchio, the first nucleus of the future city that would be formed in the twelfth century through the union with Castelnuovo or Poggio. Even before the year 1000, and especially in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, hermitages, monasteries and abbeys arose on the territory of Fabriano, such as the Benedictine S. Maria d’Appennino (mid-10th century, today in a state of neglect) and S. Salvatore in Val di Castro, built between 1005 and 1009 by S. Romualdo, who died there in 1027. Strongly remodeled compared to the original design, the current construction dates back to 1262. The figure of S. Romualdo seems also linked to the foundation, occurred around the year 1000, of the famous hermitage of Fonte Avellana, not far from Fabriano. The Municipality of Fabriano was founded before 1165 by a group of noblemen joined to some artisan guilds. The imposing Palazzo del Podestà, built in 1255 in Romanesque-Gothic forms, testifies to the importance that the Municipality of Fabriano would soon assume, thanks above all to the strength of its economy. Also the fountain of 1285 called Sturinalto (because it “sends the water upwards”), which faces the building and recalls the Maggiore fountain of Perugia, is a significant testimony of the Fabriano municipal civilization. Among the guilds was the art of smiths that initially characterized Fabriano, so much to appear on the emblem of the city (image above left). The “factories” that stood in the area of the market square were 38 and produced artifacts for both domestic consumption and export. Between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries began for Fabriano a long period of prosperity characterized by the development of economic activities exercised by the various “arts”, among which were distinguished in 1278 those of Wool, Shoemakers, Leather Tanners (related to pastoralism and to the breeding), of the Guarnellari, of the Merciai and others. The Cartari corporation, which would have made the city famous far beyond the borders of the Italian peninsula, was born a little later, in 1326. The paper had come to Europe through the Arabs, but it had begun to be used very slowly. The Fabrianesi, the first in Italy, improved its manufacturing technique by adapting the machine already used for the fulling of wool and turning it into the hydraulic stack with multiple knitting, a gimmick to prepare the fibrous pulp with which to make the paper. Another important innovation was the technique of sizing with animal gelatine. Soon, thanks also to local merchants, the city became known in Europe for the processing of watermarked paper. In the political events of the Commune the guilds, which often hindered the seigniorial power, had a great influence. However, Fabriano had his lordship, that of the Chiavelli family, which later became later than other centers (1378) and ceased as early as 1435 with a popular revolt that led to the killing of all the male members of the family. After that the democratic government was re-established, however limited by the recognition of the dominion of Francesco Sforza as marquis of the Marca, a dominion that would have ended in 1444. Slowly during the fifteenth century, and even more, in the sixteenth century, the first signs of the economic decline of Fabriano began to appear. The main reason is to be found in the fact that, stimulated by the invention of printing, the art of paper had spread to other regions. But there were also political reasons, first the dominion of Francesco Sforza, then the loss of autonomy of the city passed under the direct control of the Papal State, the serious internal tensions that followed cullimate in 1519 with the defenestration of two magistrates, finally in 1517 the hard sacking that the Spanish and Neapolitan troops of the viceroy of Naples Ugo di Moncada inflicted on the city. The crisis of Fabriano’s manufacture and paper trade continued throughout the sixteenth century and was only arrested by Pietro Miliani at the end of the eighteenth century.

Fabriano is located in the Marche region and is one of the most extensive territories in Italy, located within the beautiful nature at the foot of the Apennines. Its naturalistic riches and historical artistic heritage make it one of the most interesting cities in the Marche region. This city has so much to offer that we have decided to give you one of its many “keys to read”. We will guide you in an artistic journey where churches, monuments and palaces are not the real protagonists but the artists and the works that you will be able to observe. We will also show you the important Fabriano Museums which, on a first visit to the city, should never be left out. An incredible journey from gothic to mannerism.