The Culture of High Altitude Mountain Settlements in the Sibillini

The history of Le Marche in Central Italy is very well documented, yet there are few if any books which take the little settlements in the Sibillini mountains (located over 700 meters altitude) as their focal point. Instead, historical writing mentions these mountain hamlets marginally, without detail. Furthermore, there is a total lack of any history of these mountain communities in English.

Various unique factors in the history of the Sibillini mountains enabled inhabitants of the Sibillini to play a key role in the formation of Rome, and the enormous fecundity of the prehistory of the mountains, their importance as a spiritual centre both in terms of the origin of earth worshiping cultures, and the legacy of the papal states; all these factors combined give the mountains a profound history even when compared to other ancient places of habitation in Italy. In effect the Sibillini history is the story of many of the origins and traditions of the western world, and hence its importance is not only for this region but for everyone who is interested in western culture.

As such it is vital that this disappearing history be documented in English, and other languages. What follows is an introductory study since many of these settlements merit archaeological excavations and a decade of research to do justice to the fullness of their past. Examining these communities, their past, as well as their present day reality, highlights the effects of climate changes, and documents the disappearance of what was until recently a unique and indigenous life style.

To enhance the contemporary, and possibly non-historic interest in the eventful past of the Sibillini mountains, the history of each mountain hamlet selected in this study will also be presented in terms of its most typical and ancient food. These recipes are the original ‘Slow Food’ and reflect a very different way of eating, and another way of viewing nature, animals, and the world.