At the entrance to the historic centre of Ripe San Ginesio, the Torre Leonina, the Leonine Tower, also known as the Torrione della Rocca di Leone X, is one of the symbols of the village and one of the last remaining examples of its fortified past. Slender and easily recognisable, it marks the entrance to the historic centre and tells the story of Ripe San Ginesio's ancient defensive vocation.
Dating back to the 16th century, the tower is all that remains of the ancient medieval fortified castle, of which the earliest traces date back to the 13th century. Ripe San Ginesio was built at the behest of Pope Leo X, as stipulated in the papal bull Cum iniuncta, with the aim of strengthening control over the village during a period marked by frequent tensions and rebellions against nearby San Ginesio, which ruled over it at that time. For almost the entire period up to the Napoleonic era, the fortification housed a castle lord and a garrison of soldiers, who were responsible for guarding the surrounding area.
Today, the Torre Leonina has lost its original military function, but it still retains a strong identity and symbolic value. A visit here reveals the deep connection between history, architecture and landscape, fitting naturally into an itinerary that takes in fortified villages, historic buildings and the rolling hills of the Macerata hinterland, allowing visitors to discover the lesser-known side of the Marche region.