Descrizione
The ancient origins of Forum Sempronii
Venturing into the heart of the municipal area, we discover a place with ancient origins, dating back to well before the 2nd century BC, when the ancient Forum Sempronii was founded in San Martino del Piano, along the Via Flaminia, 2 km from present-day Fossombrone. It is here that the 25-hectare archaeological site stands, bearing witness to the Roman presence.
Founded by a member of the Semproni family, Forum Sempronii was, for centuries, the most prestigious, busiest and most important centre in the Metauro Valley.
Carts bound for Rome passed through here, travelling along the paved road that you can still walk upon today: a pavement of enormous polygonal stones bearing the deep grooves left by the wheels of the vehicles.
A monumental entrance, framed by recently restored brick columns, symbolically marks the gateway to the ancient Roman city, within which we find mosaics, a portico of terracotta columns, the remains of public and private buildings, and traces of a thermal bath complex.
A sense of wonder fills the heart at the thought of walking on the original paving dating back almost two thousand years. The city was abandoned following the barbarian invasions, only to be reborn as the present-day Fossombrone on the hill of Sant’Aldebrando.
