Ostra, Marche
Ostra is a town and comune in the Marche, central Italy, near the modern Ostra Vetere, south-east of Senigallia.
The modern town is founded near the site of ancient Ostra, a Roman settlement. Its name was later changed to Montalboddo, and reverted to Ostra in 1881.
Geography
Modern Ostra lies on a hill over the Misa river valley. It is the most important town in the valley upstream from Senigallia, lying from the Adriatic coast. Close by is the city of Jesi, while Ancona, the capital of the Marche Region, is away.History
was situated between the modern town of Ostra and Ostra Vetere. It was inhabited from the 3rd century BC until the 6th century AD.Pliny the Elder mentions Ostra with another ancient town, Suasa, west. Neither town survived beyond the classical period. Though Ostra is little mentioned by ancient authors, excavations there have brought to light remains of various buildings and several inscriptions.
By 1520, an abbey in Senigallia housing some relics of Gaudentius of Rimini had fallen into ruin. The remains were transported to the Montalboddo, where they are still found today. Gaudentius remains the town's patron saint.
Main sights
Piazza dei Martiri
The town's central square is Piazza dei Martiri. Here is the 16th century city tower, high, rebuilt in the 20th century after being bombed in World War II. Here also are the town hall with its arches and its marble staircase and St Francis' Church, built in the 13th century.[Image:MuraDiOstra.JPG|thumb|left|Defensive wall]