Amelia, formerly known as Ameria, was founded, according to Pliny the Elder, about 350 years before the founding of Rome. The mighty city walls still stand today as evidence of this.

It was identified as a Roman municipality by the Lex Julia in 90 BC. A thriving commercial center, he built an important river port on the Tiber near Orte, which connected it directly to Rome.

Among the most important exhibits at the archaeological museum is the bronze statue of Germanicus. Also worth mentioning are the cisterns, consisting of 10 rooms, which are currently open to visitors. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it suffered barbarian invasions.

Around the year 1000, it became a free commune, establishing an advanced social structure. The municipal archives contain records of social life (statutes and reforms) dating back to the 13th century. As a testament to municipal freedom, the civic tower stands majestically, dominating the city from the Piazza del Duomo. According to legend, Frederick Barbarossa laid siege to the city, which surrendered after 12 days. In reality, it is more likely that the event refers to the siege of 1240 by Frederick II’s army.

On July 22, 1330, a Statute of the People was promulgated, supplemented in 1346 by a second one, both reviewed by Cardinal Albornoz. It becomes part of Peter’s patrimony, of the state of the Church, and follows its fortunes.

Amelia has given history numerous figures: among others, Sesto Roscio, the descendants of various families, such as Venturelli, Nacci, Farrattini, Cansacchi, Petrignani, Clementini, Mandosi, and Geraldini, who gave birth to Monsignor Alessandro, who, with his interventions with the Spanish crown, allowed his friend Christopher Columbus to undertake the voyage to the Indies, which would lead him to the discovery of the New World.