Village of Genga – The Heart of the Marche Region

A small municipality in the Marche region, Genga stands out as one of the most beautiful villages in the area, known for its points of interest and stunning landscapes.

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The History of the Village

With only 1,656 inhabitants, Genga is located in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. The village takes its name from the family of Pope Leo XII, although its origins appear to be even older, dating back to 386 B.C., when the Senones Gauls invaded the area and established several colony-cities, including Senigallia.

Places of Interest

Despite its small size, the municipality of Genga offers numerous attractions, such as:

Abbey of San Vittore alle Chiuse, one of the most important monuments in the area, declared a national monument in 1902. Its construction is believed to date back to 1060–1080. The church, built in Romanesque style, is made of limestone and features nine bays covered by cross vaults, except for the central one, which supports a dome.

Near the abbey, you can also relax at the San Vittore Thermal Baths.

Hermitage of Santa Maria Infra Saxa, built into the rocks, is a religious monument first mentioned in 1029 in reference to a cloistered monastery. Inside, there was once a wooden statue of the Madonna, later destroyed by fire. Nearby stands the Temple of Valadier, a neoclassical octagonal temple commissioned by Pope Leo XII and built, according to some, in 1828 by architect Giuseppe Valadier, and according to others, in 1817 by Tommaso Zappati and Pietro Ghinelli. Inside, there is a replica of Canova’s Madonna and Child, with the original housed in the Genga Museum.

Genga Museum, founded in 1980 by Andrea Caporali and Enrico Principi, houses numerous artworks and religious artifacts originally from the Church of San Clemente, before being relocated to the Palazzo della Genga, the first parish seat of the medieval castle. Among the most notable pieces are the Triptych and Saint Jerome with Donor by Antonio da Fabriano and Saint Anthony Abbot by Pietro Paolo Agabiti.

Frasassi Caves, underground karst caves located in the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Natural Park, are a series of caves discovered in 1948 and now open to visitors. They feature numerous natural sculptures formed by limestone deposits over 190 million years through the action of water and rock, and are home to 67 known animal species.

Don’t miss the wonders of this village—and be sure to taste its traditional local products!