The Rancia Castle with its walls and towers, stands mightily in the middle of the Chienti Valley as the stronghold of Tolentino's history. It was built by the Varano family in the 14th century as a place where messengers could rest, a seasonal residence and a fortified outpost for the control of the territory. The structure became a property of the Papal State, namely administered by the Jesuits; then, after Pope Pius VI stayed in the castle in 1782 on his trip to Vienna, he gave it to the Bandini family who owned it until 1978. The castle has been the scene of important battles, particularly the Battle of Tolentino of 1815. Inside, the castle hosts the Archaeological Museum founded by Count Aristide Gentiloni Silverj, which preserves important traces of the Piceni people and the Roman settlement of Tolentinum. Among the most significant finds are the pebble representing a female figure and an animal head that dates back to the Paleolithic. The Permanent Exhibition dedicated to the Compagnia della Rancia, which collects all the memories of past shows and musicals held in the ancient structure, is also housed in the castle.
