- Most beautiful villages
Photo: Foresa85, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Historic village
- Elevation
- 495 m above sea level
- Area
- 47,910,000 m²
- Coordinates
- 43°15′05″ N, 12°56′45″ E
History and description
Esanatoglia is a town and comune in the Marche, Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
History
According to the legend, Esus, the Celtic God of war, would be the origin of the name of the Esino river, on whose shores a town, Aesa, is presumed to have been founded in Roman times.
The current name Esanatoglia was given in 1862, from a combination between Aesa and Anatolia, replacing the medieval Santa Anatolia, which in turn was derived from Saint Anatolia, a 3rd-century Christian martyr. The first known document referring to Santa Anatolia dates from 1015, concerning the foundation of the monastery of Sant’Angelo by Conte Atto and his wife Berta. The monastery became soon the most important religious establishment in the area.
The city was ruled by the Malcavalca until 1211, when they were succeeded the Ottoni di Matelica. Three years later, and for three hundred years, the da Varano family hold the city. Under the da Varano Santa Anatolia maintained a certain autonomy: the first collection of statutory norms dates from 1324. The citadel remained immune from wars and pillages until 1443, when it was conquered by Francesco I Sforza. The monastery of Sant'Angelo and its library did not escape the devastation.
Main sights
Eremo di San Cataldo; formerly part of a hermitage, now a guard tower of medieval origin, located at the top of the mountain facing the city.
Eremo di San Pietro di Esanatoglia; formerly a hermitage atop a steep mountain side.
Fountain of San Martino (possibly from the 12th century). In 1534 it was re-built by order of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Esanatoglia».
Photos
Getting there
MatelicaTrain, nearest
5.6 km as the crow flies
Esanatoglia
Aeroporto Internazionale dell'Umbria - Perugia "San Francesco d'Assisi"39.3 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villages in Marche
- Free 1st Sunday
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- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
- Most beautiful villages
Frequently asked questions
Where is Esanatoglia?
Esanatoglia is in Esanatoglia, in the province of Macerata (Marche), Italy. GPS coordinates: 43.25135, 12.94589.
What else is there to see near Esanatoglia?
Nearby you’ll find: Ponte di Pioraco (8.6 km away), Paper and Watermark Museum Fabriano (9.8 km away), Archivio storico delle Cartiere Miliani Fabriano (9.9 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Esanatoglia10 — Foresa85, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Eremo di San Cataldo - Esanatoglia 01 — Diego Baglieri, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Esanatoglia - Comune di Esanatoglia - 2024-09-25 23-21-06 001 — Maddy16869, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Esanatoglia - Comune di Esanatoglia - 2024-09-25 23-22-14 001 — Maddy16869, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Esanatoglia - Comune di Esanatoglia - 2024-09-25 23-24-07 001 — Maddy16869, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Esanatoglia - Fonte del Borgo — Paulacastelli, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Esanatoglia00 — Foresa85, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monumento ai caduti di Esanatoglia — Chiarastaff, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 10 2005 CC esa — user:Barbarellaa, Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences