THE TREASURES of GENGA

Genga is a small, carefully restored medieval town. The birthplace of Pope Leo XII, a member of the noble Della Genga family, it has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano. The municipality owns the Frasassi Caves (www.frasassi.com), managed by Grotte di Frasassi Srl, within the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Natural Park.

During the Early Middle Ages, the territory of Genga was under the jurisdiction of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto. According to one hypothesis, the town's name dates back to this period and derives from the Lombard root -eng, which also appears in other local toponyms, such as Monte Ginguno and Colle Gengo, characterized by a typical Germanic suffix. Antonio Brandimarte, biographer and librarian of Pope Leo XII, interpreted the name Genga in his biography of the pontiff as meaning "rock" or "limestone." This interpretation is reflected in the appearance of the town itself, which was built directly upon the rocky outcrop emerging from the façades of its oldest buildings, becoming an integral part of the architecture and a distinctive natural decorative feature. La Genga, the local name for this sedimentary rock, known geologically as scaglia rossa (red limestone), thus also became the name of the settlement built upon it.

Genga's origins are closely linked to the Abbey of San Vittore and to Castello Petroso, today's Pierosara. The earliest documented reference to Genga dates from 1090, when a contract records the abbot of San Vittore leasing the castle and other properties to the counts of the Della Genga family, whose progenitor is identified as Count Alberico.

The ancient fortified entrance gate, where the guards' posts are still visible, leads into a town built entirely upon the rock. Within the medieval walls, two religious buildings of particular historical and artistic significance have been preserved: the Church of San Clemente, the ancient parish church of the castle, and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

The Church of San Clemente, already mentioned in the 12th-century lease contract, preserves a valuable terracotta altarpiece attributed to the school of Pietro Paolo Agabiti and dating back to the 16th century. The work depicts the Madonna of Mercy with the Mysteries of the Rosary and represents a significant example of 16th-century artistic production in the Marche region, as well as an important record of local spirituality and devotional tradition.

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta houses paintings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, which document the religious heritage of the village and the devotion of the local community.

In addition to its religious buildings, the village is home to the “Arte Storia Territorio” Museum, which preserves materials and documents related to the history, art, and cultural landscape of Genga.

Genga is currently involved in the project “IL BORGO DI GENGA IN VIAGGIO: VALORIZZAZIONE E RISCOPERTA” (“The Village of Genga: A Journey of Enhancement and Rediscovery”), funded through resources allocated under the 2021–2027 Cohesion Agreement of the Marche Region (CIPESS Resolution No. 24/2024) – Revolving Fund.

The project provides for the implementation of coordinated measures aimed at the regeneration and enhancement of the historic centre, including through the revitalisation of economic and tourism activities and improvements to the quality of the urban environment, in terms of the safety and accessibility of the areas concerned.