Treia

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = treia-Stemma.png img_coa_small = yes
official_name = Comune di Treia
region = Marche
province = Macerata (MC)
elevation_m = 342
area_total_km2 = 93
population_as_of = 2004-12-31
population_total = 9606
population_density_km2 =102
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|43|19|N|13|19|E
frazioni = Passo di Treia, Chiesanuova di Treia, Santa Maria in Selva, Camporota
telephone = 0733
postalcode = 62010
gentilic = Treiesi
saint = St. Patrick
day = March 17
mayor =
website = [http://www.treia.sinp.net www.treia.sinp.net]

Treia is a town and comune in the province of Macerata in the central Marche (Italy). It is 7 km (4 mi) N of Pollenza, 12 km (7 mi) W of Macerata, and 18 km (11 mi) NNE of Tolentino.

History

Treia is said to have been founded by the Sabine people in 380 BCE; it is certain that at in the plain below the modern town and about 2 km (1 mile) to the west of it, at SS. Crocifisso, there was a small Roman town by that name, which is recorded as a municipium in 109 BCE. Large Egyptian religious statues of the Roman period have been found and are kept in the town's museum: they are unique in the Marche.

The Roman town appears to have been abandoned at the fall of the Western Empire, and only in the 10th century was a new town founded on the top of the hill, named "Montecchio". The town sided with the Pope in the temporal struggles of central Italy, and was besieged several times, and in particular in 1239 by Enzio, son and vicar of Frederick II and again in 1263 by Conrad of Antioch, who was captured at the nearby battle of Vallesacco, and held for several months in town in a small prison (now in use as a caffé).

Montecchio eventually became part of the Papal States, and in 1790 Pope Pius VI rewarded it for its faithfulness by raising it to the official rank of "city", at the same time renaming it by its Roman name of Treia.

Treia's most famous native was the archaeologist and art critic Luigi Lanzi.

Main sights

*the medieval brick Duomo (cathedral)
*the 17th‑century Town Hall (Palazzo Municipale) includes a collection of Renaissance and classical paintings that may be visited on request
*Santuario del SS. Crocefisso, an attractive and very large early 20th‑century church complex
*A museum of the town's history, inaugurated in 2004.

External links

* [http://www.treia.sinp.net/ Official Site]
* [http://www.istitutopaladini.it/ Istituto Paladini]
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Marche/Macerata/Treia/Treia/home.html Bill Thayer's site]

"(Text originally based on Bill Thayer's webpage, by permission.)"