Numana is a coastal town and ''
comune
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' of the
province of Ancona
The province of Ancona ( it, provincia di Ancona) is a province in the Marche region of central Italy. Its capital is the city of Ancona, and the province borders the Adriatic Sea. The city of Ancona is also the capital of Marche.
To the north, ...
in the
Marche
Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...
region of
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
.
History
Most scholars see Numana as having been founded by people of
Sabine
The Sabines (; lat, Sabini; it, Sabini, all exonyms) were an Italic people who lived in the central Apennine Mountains of the ancient Italian Peninsula, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome.
The Sabines divide ...
origin, but
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic '' ...
attributed its foundation to the
Siculi, but whatever its origin, it was an important commercial centre in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. In about 500 BC, the expansion of Roman power and the later foundation and growth of
Ancona
Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic S ...
led to the decline of Numana.
However, it maintained a certain importance, becoming in the 5th or 6th century an
episcopal see
An episcopal see is, in a practical use of the phrase, the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
Phrases concerning actions occurring within or outside an episcopal see are indicative of the geographical significance of the term, mak ...
.
In the Middle Ages the town is referred to under the name Humana Umana in modern
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
spelling and under that name appears in a number of treaties, alliances and other documents. In 1404 it came under the control of Ancona and in 1432 the diocese was united to that of Ancona. In 1553 the bishops of Ancona became also civil rulers of Humana and assumed the title of Conti di Umana. In the 19th and 20th centuries the town resumed its ancient name of Numana.
[
]
Geography
Numana is a central Adriatic coastal town, which lies at the southern foot of Monte Conero
Monte Conero () or Mount Conero, also known as Monte d'Ancona (Mount of Ancona), is a promontory in Italy, situated directly south of the port of Ancona on the Adriatic Sea.
The name ''Conero'' comes from the Greek name (''Kómaros'') and ind ...
. 91.8% of the area falls within the Conero Regional Park.
The old town is often called "Numana alta" as it is on top of a cliff overlooking the sea and can be described almost in continuity with the settlement of Sirolo
Sirolo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region of Marche. As of 28 February 2009 it had a population of 3,747 inhabitants and an area of .
The town is situated near Monte Conero
Monte Conero () or Mount ...
, while "Numana bassa" includes the area around the port. The beach of "Numana alta" comprises two bays formed close to the cliff: the Spiaggiola Beach and the friars and the beach of "Numana bassa" extending to the south of the port village of Marcelli. The inner part of the territory is mainly hilly and at the mouth of the Musone
The Musone ( la, Misco) is a river in the Marche region of Italy. The source of the river is east of Matelica and south of Monte San Vicino in the province of Macerata. The river flows northeast near Apiro, Cingoli and Staffolo before crossin ...
River, a wet area of significant natural and environmental value.
Main sights
* The Sanctuary of the Crucifix ( Santuario del Crocifisso) was built in 1968 to replace an earlier building, attributed to Pellegrino Tibaldi
Pellegrino Tibaldi (Valsolda, 1527–Milan, 1596), also known as Pellegrino di Tibaldo de Pellegrini, was an Italian mannerism, mannerist architect, sculpture, sculptor, and mural Painting, painter.
Biography
Tibaldi was born in Puria di Valsol ...
. Some of the frescoes of the vault, by the painter Andrea Lilli were retained and a crucifix in wood, which most likely was transported by ex-emperor Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Holy ...
as a gift for Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III (died 12 June 816) was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 26 December 795 to his death. Protected by Charlemagne from the supporters of his predecessor, Adrian I, Leo subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position b ...
, but due to a storm Emperor was forced to stay in the town and there abandoned it, after which it was found at sea after an earthquake. In contrast to the baroque Church of Saint John the Baptist
John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
, the modern church has a base with an octagonal spire and the main entrance is located before the Bishops Palace, seat of the town of Numana.
* The Bishop's Palace belonged to noble families in Rome and was then purchased by the bishops of Ancona
Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic S ...
as a summer residence. Today it is the city hall and hosts exhibitions.
*The Arco di torre and aqueduct reveal evidence of Roman rule. Within walking distance of each other, the arc is the remnant of a tower (low after the earthquake of 1930) and was used as an outpost to prevent attacks by invaders in the Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
, while the aqueduct, embellished with a fountain, supplied water to the town until a few decades ago.
Frazioni
Marcelli, founded by the family of the same name, developed a tourist resort. Located from the town of Numana, Marcelli was built on a swamp that was reclaimed by the lords of Numana and extends to the Musone
The Musone ( la, Misco) is a river in the Marche region of Italy. The source of the river is east of Matelica and south of Monte San Vicino in the province of Macerata. The river flows northeast near Apiro, Cingoli and Staffolo before crossin ...
River, the southern boundary of the municipality. There are the main seaside resorts of the Riviera del Conero, campsites and holiday clubs.
Svarchi, located west of the border with the comune of Sirolo
Sirolo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ancona in the Italian region of Marche. As of 28 February 2009 it had a population of 3,747 inhabitants and an area of .
The town is situated near Monte Conero
Monte Conero () or Mount ...
. The town lies on a hill.
Taunus, a tourist resort, is situated between Svarchi and Marcelli, and hosts a holiday village and is a residential area of the comune of Numana.
Transportation
Notable people
* Franco Scataglini (1930–1994) -poet
* Vincenzo Radicioni (1906–1988) -Catholic priest
References
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in the Marche
Catholic titular sees in Europe