The Castle of Pitino was built in the thirteenth century on the top of the hill of the same name, already the site of a Picenum settlement. In fact, one of the most important Picenian settlements was located here, with the three necropolis of Monte Penna, Frustellano and Ponte di Pitino, whose precious funeral objects are preserved in the Archaeological Museum of San Severino Marche and the National Museum of Ancona. Of the castle, rebuilt in the thirteenth century, there are still imposing remains: the sandstone entrance gate, notable stretches of the city walls which extended for a perimeter of 400 metres with alternating rectangular towers. From the structure rises the imposing
keep (23 m.) without openings, which was only accessible through a system of underground passages now sealed. Inside the perimeter wall there are two sacred buildings: a smaller fifteenth-sixteenth century one with coeval votive frescoes, and the church of S. Antonio rebuilt around the nineteenth century with its characteristic small dome bell tower. Leave the walls and take the walk towards the sea, here too an archway, incorporated in an old cypress tree will lead you to the old cemetery. Old tombstones from the beginning of the century, empty spaces even on the ground (watch your step) and a view that goes as far as the Conero.
