Barbara is a hilly municipality which was founded in the Middle Ages on a site which had already been inhabited by the Lombards. It’s between the Misa and Nevola rivers and its castle, located at the top of the hill, features a hexagonal layout of the walls. It was built in the 13th century and renovated in the 15th century. Guelphs and Ghibellines fought for its possession as it was unconquerable. In 1461 And 1517 it was the battlefield of two successful defensive actions against Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, and Francesco Maria Della Rovere, Duke of Urbino.
On the way to the sea there’s the medieval village, which is also surrounded by defensive walls, whose underground was used for creating escape ways in case of attack as well as storing place for food. It’s mostly low on a slope which goes from the castle to the neoclassical church of Assunta. It was built by Francesco Maria Ciarafoni and inside the church there are some gypsum statues by the famous stonecutters from Sant’Ippolito (PU) and noteworthy are two paintings by Pomarancio (Madonna and Saints) and Trevisani ( Jesus Christ at the column).
Barbara is the production area of some important DOC wines, such as Verdicchio, Esino and Rosso Piceno.
Hikers can find interest in the trip which leads to the waterfalls of the Nevola river which is surrounded by a typical landscape of badlands and terrific overhanging rocks. They can be reached going along the road to Ostra Vetere from the town district called San Bartolo.
In Barbara there are some recurring events: at the end of July “Feast at the castle”, on 4th December “ Festival of Holy Barbara” , on the first Sunday of December “Market of Holy Barbara” and the Living Nativity in December.