THE TOWER OF SAINT CATERVO
This round tower is placed at the entry of old city; it has got battlements
on top and is in the ideal position for defending the city. During the first
day of the battle it was used as headquarters by the Austrian army . Nowadays
the tower is the seat of Tolentino 815 Association.
THE FORMER CHURCH OF CISTERNA
The inscription in front of the church, which was dictated by prof. Giacomo
Zazzaretta, reminds us that an Italian (a colonel of the Austrian army) was
executed on that site because he was guilty of damaging munitions with the
purpose of sparing the lives of other Italians. The inscription says: "In
May 1815, when the dream of Italian independence seemed lost together with
Murat's fortune, an Italian was executed here because he was guilty of damaging
the army munitions so that human lives could be spared. A century after Italy
was united, Tolentino reminds us of the place where merciful hands buried
the unknown Italian who hid under an Austrian uniform a heart that was loyal
to his mother country".
THE OSSUARY OF CANTAGALLO
Some merciful citizens of Pollenza gathered the mortal remains of the soldiers
who had died during the battle in an ossuary on the hill of Cantagallo; later
on, an imposing church - devoted to the virgin Mary - was built next to this
grave. On the church façade you can read the most important passage from the
Proclamation of Rimini: "Italians, the time has come when the noble destiny
of Italy must be accomplished; providence calls you to become an independent
nation".
THE OSSUARY OF SALCITO
This ossuary, too, was built with the purpose of properly burying the human
remains that were found on the battlefield. It shows both the strength of
the battle and the christian piety of the people living in this region. In
1997 the faculty of Natural Science of Camerino University, under the guidance
of prof. Franco Ugo Rollo, made a research on the human remains found in the
ossuary. The results of this research were illustrated during a convention.
The ossuary, which Scipione Benadduci strongly wanted, contains a marble plaque
with an inscription by Mario Rivosecchi: "Ye people who walk through these
fields - bend your heads and beg for peace - of the men who - in May 1815
- sacrificed their youth - to the greatness of Italy - which can freely breathe
- after a century's martyrdom and glory. In May 1923 - Scipione Benadduci
wanted to consecrate the fallen soldiers' bones and save them from the ravages
of time - in the name of God". The ossuary of Salcito is situated not far
from Benadduci house, which became both a Hospital and the Headquarters of
the Austrian army on the second day of the battle. Benadduci house offers
a complete view of the battlefield.
RANCIA CASTLE
When you travel along 77 national road or along the freeway, all of sudden
you can see the majestic Rancia castle rising on your right. The castle was
the centre of several battles through the centuries (1377, 1406, 1432, 1815);
it was also a resting place for important visitors coming to Tolentino (St.
Charles Borromeus, Joan of Austria, Christine of Sweden, pope Sistus V). Since
1973 the castle has belonged to the commune of Tolentino. When you enter the
castle, you can visit the city Archaeological Museum, together with the exhibition
"Memories" about the Resistance Movement; you can also understand the historical
relevance of the castle in our region. Several written works tell us the castle
is a hiding-place for treasures to be found along the underground tunnels
that were used as an escape during sieges. People claim a reservoir near the
castle contains the bodies of 400 soldiers who died in the battle of 1815.
At the beginning, the castle was used as a "grancia" (from the French word
grance meaning haystack, storehouse), which explains the origin of its name.
Later on, it was turned into a fortress and it was the centre of important
historical events. Nowadays, it is used as a farm and can give lodgings to
several families.
THE OSSUARY OF ROTONDO
It is situated not far from Rancia castle, in the place where the remains
of many soldiers were either burnt or buried and where prince Bandini had
cypress trees planted. An inscription says: "The bones of the dead which are
spread all over these fields remind Italians that it is impossible to reach
greatness if the blood of the dead does not burn like a flame in the heart
of the living".
CASONE
The hills of Cantagallo are situated along the road that links Tolentino to
Pollenza; they were the site of violent cavalry and infantry combats; they
were also the place where Murat lost his battle because of an error in strategy.
It was on these hills, made of wet, tilled land, that general D'Aquino gave
the unforgivable command to form the squares and so gave the enemy army the
time to organize a defence and to counterattack with infantry and artillery
fire. The big house called Casone can be seen between the hills of Cantagallo
and Rancia castle; it was originally a patrician tower-house with a beautiful
two floored porch. In the XVI century, the building became the summer residence
of the Parisani family; nowadays, it is a private house. The Casone was the
site of the cruellest infantry combat in the battle. It was important from
the point of view of strategy because it was situated at the centre of the
battlefield.