Ponte di Cerreto

The site is located at the crossroads of many important communication routes and pre-Roman findings show that the site was inhabited since ancient times, on the top of the rocky spur on which Ponte is built the remains of a prehistoric fortified site can still be seen.

The town is of Longobard origin, it was founded by King Lothair in 757 and controlled a large surrounding area, defending it from the Saracen invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries and those of various invaders in the following centuries. Ponte was often in struggle, with alterne fortunes, with the prosperous castle of Cerreto, the two later become part of the pontifical domains, later disputed by the Trinci of Foligno, the Sforza of Milan and the Aragonese Borgia. At the top and on the slopes of the steep fortress there are the ruins of the ancient fortifications and a series of medieval buildings along the only road that climbs along the profile of the fortified walls, marked by several arches and clinging against the rocky wall; at the beginning of the climb is the former town hall with a Romanesque portal, next to another interesting building with a portal and stone-framed windows. Further down the village retains its original structure but few of the architectural features have survived, the Romanesque parish church of Santa Maria Assunta remains, with a beautiful rose window of typical Umbrian-Marche Romanesque style with a complex symbology that can be interpreted according to the numerical cabal. The portal on the simple flat façade preserves the remains of a 14th century fresco in the lunette. Inside, the structure is sober and simple, with a trussed roof and narrow side single-lancet windows, the plan has a single nave with an apse and a small side chapel. Many of the original 14th and 15th century frescoes remain, including one from the school by Daniele di Volterra and another attributed to the master of Cesi.