Ascoli Piceno - Santa Maria Inter Vineas

In 268 BC Ascoli became a Roman "civitas foederata" but after it had revolted against Rome, it was reconquered and destroyed by Pompeius Strabo in 89BC.

During the Middle Ages Ascoli was ravaged by the Ostrogoths and then by the Lombards. After nearly two centuries as part of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto (593–789), Ascoli was ruled by the Franks but ultimately it was the bishops that gained influence and power over the city.

In 1189 a free republican municipality was established but it experienced the sacking and destruction by the imperial armies of Frederick II. Municipal freedoms got undermined by factional struggles between the most prominent families. The internal unrest between opposing factions did not cease, leading to decades of rebellions, massacres, raids, the growth of banditry, and the decline of civil virtues. This unstable situation opened the way to foreign dictatorships, such as condottiero (mercenary) Galeotto Malatesta (14th century) who is driven out by a revolt and later on Francesco Sforza who established a cruel dictatorship (15th century) which was overthrown in 1482, even if Ascoli was forced to recognize the sovereignty of the Church.

The town was called "Ascoli" until 1862, when "Piceno" was added, evoking the Picenes, which lived between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. here.

The first mention of the church dates back to the time of Otto III. It was built on the site where already in the 5th century there must have been a place of worship. Here on the banks of the Tronto, was the nucleus of the historic city around 1000. The current church was started in the 13th century, but over the centuries it has been rebuilt. The bell tower, separated from the church, is a "reused" former residential tower, now equipped with mullioned windows.

The church is marked by changes because of its location on the cliff above the river, there were static problems. This led in the 19th century that both side aisles had to be demolished. They were rebuilt in the 1950s. Architecturally, it represents an example of a church fortress.

Tradition has it that Charlemagne stayed here overnight on his journey to Rome to be crowned emperor.