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PALMIANO

It is said that the name derives from the shape of the hills that surround it, that look like the palm of a hand, and there fore “Palmiano”.

In ancient times its name was Palombiano (sindacatus palombianus), as it was listed in the Ascolano land register of 1381; only later, thanks to a convenient linguistic contraction of the word, was it modified to PALMIANO (Marche place names by Giulio Amadio).

In 1150 Palombiano was bestowed by Emperor Corrado III of Svevia on the bishop – Count of the Ascoli Presbytery diocese and in 1299 it was harassed by ferocious and bloodthirsty attackers, but Pope NICOLO’ IV (our fellow citizen) made sure that urgent orders were sent to the Rector of Marca, Giangiacomo COLONNA so that he would protect and defend it from every sort of enemy.

Its population, scattered between villas and country houses, has always been low in numbers and of a peaceful nature, dedicating itself exclusively to cultivating its modest lands, passed on from father to son and far from the controversies of medieval dynasties.

This in fact explains the reason why the castle had been built at the bottom of the valley and with hardly any fortification.

On the highest summit of its territory the “Belvedere” rose up: today, Castel san Pietro is an ancient castle perched on solid rocky bases and enclosed by strong walls.

In the last century the castle wall and the ancient stronghold entrance still stood, even if worn away and crumbled by time; few remains, if the truth be told, but clear enough to remind its citizens of the by now jaded memory of an old, strong town.  It belonged to the SALADINI family dynasty and in 1301 was acquired from the city of Ascoli.  It had its own statute, dated 1500 and reached a population of approximately 300.  The land that the count governed included the following hamlets, over which it had jurisdiction: TAVERNELLA, APPOIANO, SAN SILVESTRO, POGGIO, CAPRIGNANO and PALMIANO, which today is, as a point of fact, the administrative centre of the borough.  In 1798, the sixth year of the republican age, Castel San Pietro was part of the DIPARTIMENTO DEL TRONTO (Department of the Tronto), a proper division of the land imposed and decreed by the French, which answered to the CANTONA (district) of AMANDOLA.   Once the Napoleonic mayhem had passed, and given the precarious conditions of the castle, the town council and the ancient archive were transferred to the lesser hamlet of Palmiano which, on the contrary, was growing in terms of population and was witnessing the formation of various religious, agricultural and commercial organisations in its territory.  Today the situation in Palmiano is the same as that of many other small towns of the mountain community; the population continues to decrease significantly, because young people move away in search of work and a sure place for the future.  Baptisms have become a real rarity and the subject of great celebration for the few remaining citizens, the majority of whom are elderly and devote themselves to hard work in the fields.  The hamlets in its vicinity are: APPOIANO, CASTEL SAN PIETRO, CATASTA, PIEDIVALLE, LA CASA, CAPRIGNANO, CASETTE and VENA.

There was a brotherhood of the Saints of Sacramento in the comune of Palmiano, founded and approved canonically in 1632 by Pontiff URBANO VIII, whose dispensations took place in the periods of planting and in the months of greatest need, whilst the modest earnings were dispensed for the benefit of worship and maintaining the church.

In 1700 the brotherhood of Palmiano went in procession to Rome on the occasion of the jubilee called by Pope INNOCENZO XII.

Once in the capital, the faithful stayed in the OSPIZIO of the SS. TRINITA’ near PONTE SISTO and after having been much moved on meeting the supreme pontiff and purchasing indulgences, they undertook the long return journey across the central Apennines, braving many dangers.

Since 12^th May 1682 PALMIANO has celebrated the feast day devoted to Saint Abbot ANTONIO who was born, as tradition has it, because of a miracle performed by the Saint.

In fact, three centuries ago a farmer from Palmiano was taking his animals to pasture when he was caught out by an unexpected storm and a torrent of water swept him down the valley.  In the midst of this deluge, the poor man called on the Saint and all his animals remained unhurt.

Once he returned to the town safe and sound, the devoted farmer organised a feast in the Saint’s honour that has been repeated year after year up to the present day.

In 1799, at the time of the “WHITE TERROR”, more commonly called banditry, Palmiano underwent the greatest devastation in its history.

In that year, in fact, numerous brigands, pretending to be supporters of the Pontiff’s government, came down from the surrounding mountains and barricading themselves in the small village, held siege to it, laid waste to the place, sacking it and burning down several dwellings.

It was in this circumstance that the town archives were destroyed, which contained many books and very valuable ancient manuscripts, that today would have been useful for a detailed reconstruction of the history of the castle.