Castignano is located at the foot of Mount Ascension at an altitude of 473 meters above sea level; it is easily accessible from Ascoli Piceno and San Benedetto del Tronto, from which is, respectively, km.22 and 25.

Castignano appears with its unmistakable profile, a pyramidal-shaped village, perched on the hill, supported to the south by an imposing wall with thirteen arches and dominated by the majestic Romanesque tower with the cusp soaring towards the sky, annexed to the church of Saints Peter and Paul, which give name to the highest square in the village. The landscape on the horizon, 360 degrees from Saint Peter’s Square, is extraordinarily varied and enchanting. The view opens on the surrounding Piceno hills, from Monte Conero to Maceratese and Gran Sasso that, with the Sibillini chain forms the Apennine ridge that stands in front of great scenery. To the east you can see the Adriatic Sea.

Particularly marked in the neighboring territory to the south and southwest of the country, the "badlands" phenomenon typical of the area. It is tradition that the name "Castignano" derives from the wonderful chestnut trees and this hypothesis is considered the most reliable, since the chestnut tree stood in the main square of the village, figure in the civic coat of arms and still stands imposing in the garden of the town hall in Via Margherita. Some want instead that this denomination derives from the chastity of the customs of the first inhabitants, others, still, claim that the name derives from the Roman Consul named Castino (424 BC), founder of the country.

In the eleventh century Castignano became part of the garrison of the Farfensi to pass, later, under the authority of the Bishop of Ascoli. A domain, that of Ascoli, never accepted by the Castilians who undertook hard struggles and popular revolts to regain their autonomy, allied with Fermo, another rival of Ascoli. Between 1369 and 1380 Castignano also suffered the short but harsh tyranny of Boffo da Massa.

Evidence of an ancient past is the "Stele of Castignano", found in the Castilian territory, with inscription picena dated VI sec. BC is one of the most valuable pieces of the Archaeological Museum of Ascoli Piceno, where it is preserved. It is a boulder of sandstone and has the shape of a roughly pyramidal stone trunk, four-sided, a little more than a meter high with the inscription bustrofedica (read alternately from right to left, from left to right) and represents the first and oldest Italic alphabet inscription. Among the different interpretations, the most shared tradition by experts is the following: "this defense raised the Appaei to their hands, if anyone dares to desecrate this place of the father and mother commits sacrilege".

Castignano, Farfense garrison, has maintained almost unchanged the original characteristics of the medieval environment. Valuable buildings and stately Renaissance houses of great historical and artistic interest including the church of SS. Peter and Paul, the Crypt of Our Lady of Sorrows, the church of S. Maria del Borgo, the church of S. Egidio and the Museum of Icons.

In the hill in front of Castignano, 7km from the capital, divided by the river Chifente, stands Ripaberarda, an ancient castle of Ascoli, whose origins are lost in the mists of time. In the village you can still see the castle gate and the remains of the fortified walls and you can easily imagine the urban layout of the Castle which, due to its structure, has all the characteristics of an inaccessible fortress to defend the borders. Inside the Castle it is possible to admire an elegant sixteenth-century bell tower decorated on top with blue majolica plates, whose design is attributed to Antonio da Lodi.

Among the most evocative events we remember the Castignanese Historical Carnival, which involves the whole town and is distinguished by the imaginative parade of floats and masked groups along the Via Borgo Garibaldi on the day of Shrove Tuesday. At dusk the Carnival ends with the parade of "I Moccoli": they are multicolored luminous lanterns made from the processing of reeds covered with tissue paper, carried in procession along the streets of the village that create a unique setting, attracting thousands of people. The parade ends in St. Peter’s Square where a kind of battle between the "moccasins" lit, precedes the final burning that symbolizes the purification of all wrongdoing.

Another event that every year, on days 17-18-19-20-21 August, attracts thousands of tourists and fans of medieval history and traditions, is Templaria Festival. The event is able to recreate the atmosphere and places of a tormented and compelling past, recalling the Templars, military monastic order in defense of the Holy Land during the Crusades, which, passing through Castile on their journey to Jerusalem, left evidence in the history, economy and tradition of the country.