Two kilometres away from today’s Fossombrone, in the very heart of its territory, by the Flamina Road, lies a most ancient site dating from much earlier than the II Century b.C., named San Martino del Piano: it is the site where the ancient Forum Sempronii was founded. Here a 25 hectares Archaeological Area lies, rich with Roman findings. Founded by a member of the Sempronii family, Forum Sempronii was for centuries the most prestigious, busy and important city in the Metauro Valley. Carriages heading for Rome had to reach here, rolling on the same paving which can still be stepped on today, made up of large polygonal stones marked by the deep grooves produced by the wheels of carriages. A monumental entrance, framed by recently restored brick columns, marks the limits of the ancient Roman city. Inside there are mosaics, a portico with brick columns, the remains of public and private buildings and traces of a spa. Emotion fills the spirit of visitors, aware of walking on a paving dating from almost two thousand years ago. The city was abandoned because of the barbarian invasions and was then rebuilt, as today’s Fossombrone, on the St. Aldebrando hill. Many findings were discovered in this area, including objects from the Piceno age. They are collected in the “A.Vernarecci”Archaeological Museum. Here, in the very heart of the town, evidence can be seen of the ancient civilisations which followed one another: objects of everyday life, such as coins, knives and nails, as well as such bronze surgical instruments as lancets and pincers. Also remarkable are 150 amphorae that were all found in the same place, in a pit under a spot of the road which was frequently flooded: they were superimposed, upside down, to help draining the water.
Area Archeologica Forum Sempronii