Castelfidardo: through history and music

Castelfidardo is situated not so far from the sea, dominating from its hill the Musone Valley and the area of Aspio. It is known throughout the world for its famous music instruments factories, such as accordions, keyboards and organs. When passing by this places, you are invited to go and visit the Accordion International Museum, located in the basement of the  City Hall.  The City Hall is situated in the city centre. During centuries XIV and XV, it was the village nerve centre, where the main organs of village administration used to meet. In 1567, considering that the Palace was in decay, it was decided upon its demolition and its next reconstruction was given to Mastro Giacomi da Lago Maggiore; then, it would be restored  from its foundations in 1780. In its bell tower with Guelph battlements, you can see the watch (bought in 1775 and decorated by a round made of travertine stone) and the bell dating back to 1803.

The Coat of Arms Hall is located at the last floor of the Palace and gave its name to municipal  coat of arms of the villages that contributed to the erection of the war memorial of the battle of Castelfidardo completed in 1912.

When you are at Castelfidardo, you can miss anything but a visit at the Accordion International Museum, a musical instrument work of genius with an accurate mechanism so loved by many generations of Italians. In the Museum you can find documents about the history of a musical instrument that have had in Castelfidardo the main production centre for over a century, with its  350 unique specimens coming from twenty-two different countries.

You will discover all the stages of accordion production, its classification, and all the people that had relationships with it appreciating that characteristic musical instrument by watching at photographs on panels and at photographical documentations of artists such as Marc Chagall, Tonino Guerra, Silvia Bugari, Rodolfo Gasparri and paint replicas of Giovanni Boldini, Fernand Leger, Gino Severini, without forgetting the extraordinary sculpture works of Stefano Pigini, Franco Campanari, Edgardo Mugnoz.

The Museum, inaugurated in 1981 May the 9th, in 2011 celebrated its 30 yrs old anniversary, organized together with touristic Pro Loco Association – coinciding with its 50th anniversary of its foundation on 1961 April the 26th – a concert at the Astra Theatre featuring: Richard Galliano, accordion; Philippe Aerts, contrabass ;  Sébastian Surel, violin; Rafael Mejias, percussions.

We advise you an event that every year – between September and October – features the International Prize and Award for soloists and band for accordion.
You will find further Festival details on its web site.

The museum is open every day except for Monday
from 10:00 – 12:15 / 15:30 – 18:30 during working days
from 10:00 – 12:30 / 15:30 – 18:30 during Sundays and Public Holidays.
Accordion International Museum:
1 C. Mordini Str. – Castelfidardo – Ph. +39 0717808288
Email: accordionsmuseum@tiscali.it

A further place to visit in Castelfidardo is surely the Marche National Monument, one of the most important in Italy. It is located nearby historical city centre upon the Monte Cucco hill.

This monument has been realized with molten bronze by Vito Pardo in 1910 during fiftieth anniversary of the battle of Castelfidardo; that battle allowed the annexation of Marche and Umbria to Italian Reign; under the reign of Vittorio Emanuele III it has been declared monument of high national gratitude and solemnly unveiled on 1912 Sept the 18th.

The battle of Castelfidardo was fought by Piedmontese troops led by the king Vittorio Emanuele II against the troops of Papal State on the 18th September 1860. The battle ended with Piedmontese victory; they chased pope’s troops till up Ancona stronghold, besieging them also from the sea with the fleet led by the Admiral Carlo Pellion di Persano.

The monument symbolizes a group of soldiers, initially only drafted then more and more defined and finally figuring the general E. Cialdini; in its backward there is a small crypt.
You will find further historical hints about the battle on Castelfidardo City Hall web site.

It is also interesting the religious itinerary of Castelfidardo with its churches and the monastery of St  Benedict.