During the Middle Ages, Montefalcone was the battlefield between the rising municipality of Fermo and the Abbey of Santa Vittoria, both vying for control of the castle. In 1376, Rinaldo, lord of Monteverde, took control of Fermo with an army made up of English and German mercenaries. His rule was so harsh that he took the nickname “Second Nero”, recalling the ferocity and violence of the famous Roman dictator. Only three years later, the citizens of Fermo rebelled against the tyrant, and Rinaldo decided to take refuge in the Castle of Montefalcone, strong with an army of a thousand soldiers. On May 31, 1380, two of his loyalists betrayed him for money, and two days later he and his entire family—except his wife, Luchina—were beheaded. The castle’s style reflects the martial architecture typical of most medieval fortifications. It features a keep, structured on six floors and a panoramic terrace, which performed defensive and observation functions, as it was and still is today the highest point in the village. Originally, access was through a small doorway; today, visitors enter through a doorway carved in more recent times. Walking along the castle walls, visitors can see the battlements and musket loopholes, while the eastern wall displays a notable scarp added in the 14th–15th centuries.
