URBS

SALVIA (mod. Urbisaglia)  , an ancient town of Picenum, Italy, about 8 m . S. of the modern Macerata, and to m . S. of Ricina . It was the meeting-point of several ancient roads; the road leading south from Ancona through Ricina and Falerio to Asculum was crossed here at right angles by that from Fanum to Tolentinum, Septempeda (S . Severino) and Nuceria Camellaria, while another led north-east from Urbs Salvia to Pausulae and the coast at Potentia (near mod . Porto Recanati) . It seems to have been also called Pollentia . The date of its foundation is unknown, but it became a colony in the time of Trajan, and its importance seems to begin from this period . It was utterly destroyed by Alaric, and both Procopius (B.G. ii . 16, 17) and Dante (Paradiso, xvi . 73) speak of its desolation . The arx is occupied by the modern village; below it consider-able remains of the city walls and of the buildings within them, alike of brickwork of the imperial period, are preserved —an amphitheatre 328 X249 ft., with an arena 190 X 112 ft., a theatre, baths, tombs, &c .

A subterranean

aqueduct and a number of inscriptions have been found on the site . Close by is a little chapel with paintings of the early 16th century . The Romanesque abbey church of the Fiastra, about 3 M. to the north, is noticeable . The territory of Urbs Salvia probably extended as far as the old Romanesque church of S . Maria di Rambona, 8 m. to the north-west .