Cingoli is a town and comune of the Marches, Italy, in the province of Macerata, about 27 km by road from the town of Macerata. It is the birthplace of Pope Pius VIII. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

History

The town occupies the site of the ancient Cingulum, a town of Picenum, founded and strongly fortified by Julius Caesar's lieutenant Titus Labienus (probably on the site of an earlier village) in 63 BCE at his own expense. Its lofty position at an elevation of about 650 m made it of some importance in the civil wars, but otherwise little is heard of it. Under the Roman Empire it was a municipium.

Main sights

Cingoli is also known as the "Balcony of Marche" ("Il Balcone delle Marche") because of its belvedere (viewpoint) from which, on a clear day, the sight may encompass all of the Marche and further across the Adriatic Sea to the Croatian mountain tops.

Religious buildings

Secular buildings

Museums

Sport

Cingoli has been host to the Italian Sidecarcross Grand Prix a number times and have hosted on 16th May 2010.

Twin towns — sister cities

Cingoli is twinned with: