Castello di Genga

Genga’s Castello is a fortified village rather than a single isolated castle. Its gateway, walls and stone houses preserve the scale of a medieval settlement above the Sentino valley.

Why it matters

The village was the historic seat of the della Genga family, whose member Annibale became Pope Leo XII in 1823. Its monuments bring together the civic, religious and territorial history of the municipality.

What to notice

The fortified entrance retains spaces associated with the guards. Local limestone appears in the buildings and paving. The churches of San Clemente and Santa Maria Assunta form part of the ensemble, while the MAST museum interprets the art and history of the surrounding territory.

Context and history

The castle is recorded in 1090 in connection with the abbey of San Vittore and the local counts. Later settlement developed within its defensive framework. Family associations with Leo XII and the preservation of the historic centre added further layers of civic memory to the medieval village.