Riserva naturale statale Abbadia di Fiastra

Rancia Castle is situated at about 7 km from Tolentino. Before being enlarged and transformed by Maestro Andera from Como (who was commissioned by Rodolfo II from Varano, Lord of Camerino), the castle was an important grancia (farmstead) belonging to the Cistercian monks of Fiastra Abbey. It is nowadays a great square building, endowed with a high keep (about 25 meters) and with large rooms which lodged in the past horses and armigers. The large courtyard with the ancient reservoir used to collect rain is particularly charmin. It is also interesting to remind that the name of the castle is linked to the first real struggle of the Reinassance period, which took place in 1815 between Gioacchino Murat and the Austrian army.