Vicende Ripane - Carrellata Storica

Alfredo Rossi

Pagine: 404

Anno: 2007

Linea Grafica di Centobuchi

In the first chapter Alfredo describes the origins and landscape of Ripatransone.

According to verifiable documents he tells us that this town was known since the Roman Empire, they called it as ” Cuprae Mons” which means  “hill of Cupra” an ancient Goddess.

During the medieval period, it was called as “Propugnaculum Piceni” due to its geographical position, perched on an hill and impregnable by soldiers.

An historical from Ripatransone, P.Luigi – Antonio Vicione, wrote the  “Dissertation on the existence of Ripatransone, before the 1198 and demonstrated by diplomatic documents” He tells us that, before this  time, there were four castles and the founder was Transone, a  Francs’ commander, lived in  the IX century.

Ripatransone is rich of history and art, the founder of the Archaeological museum was Cesare Cellini (1832-1903) this museum is  a rich collection of lithic weapons, stone and bone objects and pottery.

"The coat of arms of Ripatransone, is inserted in the schield coloured red, it is a lion leopard of silver, regent on the foreleg a lily on a mount of five peaks, green coloured" (Lo Stemma Civico capitolo 2)

This symbol has a dilemma is it an homage to the noble family of "Acquaviva d'Aragona" a study supported by the historian Teodoro Quattrini, in the XVI century or is it a Guelf's symbol?.

The second version is enounced by another historian Giuseppe Maria Boccabianca, according to his studies the symbol of Ripatransone is a Rearing lion and Not a Leopard.

The second chapter describe demolished church of Santa Maria Magna (XIII Century), and other minor churches, the life of Giovanni da Ripa, a theologian and philosopher, lived in the XIV century.
In every historical period there is a hero, even at Ripatransone.

The loved heroines were Virginia and Donna Bianca De Tharolis, Angela and Luchina Saccoccia.

For the memories of these women Benvignati wrote a sonnet:


Di sangue, e di rapina ancora ingordo
Assal Garzia di Cupra l' alte mura,
Rompe d' Agel la porta, e a pietà sordo
Va meditando orribile sciagura:

Ma ecco...Luchina ed Angela d' accordo
Slanciarsi su l' Ispano con bravura,
E sul terren RIPAN sangue lordo

Spiraste si sul campo della gloria,
Ma non inulte: ed or vi rende omaggio
La Patria, che per voi ebbe vittoria.

Nò non è ver, che sol nel Termodonte
Vi siano Donne di viril coraggio:
Ha le Amazzoni sue di CUPRA il Monte


The second Sunday after Easter, Ripatransone is no more a sleepy city, during the weekend its life style change dramatically.

The responsible is the "Horse Fire" which is more than folklore.
In the 1873 it has been mentioned in poems and Latin literature.

"Et solet, ejiciens crepitantis flumina lucis,
Per medium populum currere fictus equus."
R Perazzoli, Carmine Galanti, Dantista e poeta latino, Vol 2°, cit,. pp 122-123


Esce in campo indomabile Corsiero
Che leggier fra la turba si mesce
E più di tutti l'evitan, più cresce
Il suo ardor i fuggiaschi a inseguir.
Dalla bocca dal petto, dal ventre
Dalla fronte, dal dorso, dal fianco
E dall' occhio si destro che manco
Negre vampe sbuffando esso và.

Questo è il segno alle guerre intestine
Di comete artefatte, che accese
Si assaliscono, e infra le contese
Serpeggiano si struggon da lor

Fisse poi le fiammelle nel mezzo
Bianche quanto la neve, ed il latte
Molllemente or distese, or contratte
Di Maria stanno il nome a ritirar.
Vergine Madre, veh come il trasporto
Di una gioia ingegnosa e sincera
Fino al fuoco insegnò la maniera
Di pregiarsi di te, e giubilar!

Don Giovanni Olivieri - 1824


Ripatransone gave birth to poets and edicators such as Ascanio Condivi, the first biographer of Michelangelo, the risorgimento poet Luigi Mercantini, the author of "The Gleaner of Sapri" and "Hymn to Garibaldi", Emidio Consorti an educator, Cesare Cellini, the founder of the local  archaeological museum, the composer and musician Emidio Cellini, Enrico Boccabianca and Antonio di Jorio.

Alessandro Bruti Liberati (end 1800)  was one of the first photographer, his photos are collected on a catalogue "Omaggio Fotografico a Ripatransone"
Luciano Neroni an Opera singer, Aldo Gabrielli a literary critic and autor of novel for children and journalist.

Uno Gera (1890 - 1982)

He was not only a famous magistrate but he was a sculptor and a philanthropist.
His works are visible, a part of his sculptures are at the Civic Museum "Palazzo Bonomi" and at the Immaculate Conception (St. Philip's Church).

On the left of the main altar there is the birth of Jesus and on the right there is the death of our Lord.
On the left entrance there is The baptismal font.