This picturesque hamlet of exceptional artistic, historic and environmental interest, can be found couched against Montenera in the high Potenza valley just to the right of the river. The township is composed of two important parts: the low city, real centre for commerce and in particular agriculture, and the high city or “castle”, now almost uninhabited, of typical Medieval aspect.
San Severino boasts its ancient historic tradition. According to some Roman sources, the foundation of the city by the name of Septempeda was the work of Sicilians followed by Piceni. The original Roman colony made Municipium around the year 468 B.C., rose near the present parish church and was already surrounded by impressive walls. Its importance at the time came from the fact of its strategic position along the route connecting the Adriatic to Flaminia.  
The existing city was founded between the VI and IX centuries on the hill called Monte Nero to gather and protect the populace from the frequent Barbaric invasions. The new settlement was baptised with the name Severino from the name of the local Saint who became Bishop of Septempeda in the mid VI century.
Becoming a free commune in 1770, the settlement grew, thanks to the presence of the waters of the nearby Potenza river, thereby allowing an important mercantile activity to flourish.
The city at that time possessed all the structures necessary to conduct public life: a communal palace (after destroyed) a high tower and a cathedral.
Always on the side of the Ghibelline faction, in the course of the XII century, thanks to an intelligent work of expansion due to both the military and previous owners' acquisitions, the city was able to grow and reach its present extent.
During the XIV century, a local noble family of troop leaders rose to power. Tendentially of Guelph leanings, but often opportunistic, the Smeduccis were often out of favour with the people so that, more often than not, there were rebellions against this dominion. In spite of their notoriety, the Smeduccis played an important role as patrons, bestowing on the city its greatest period of artistic growth. Among the artists who contributed to the late Gothic-Rinascimental cultural climate were: Lorenzo and Jacopo Salimbeni, Lorenzo d'Alessandro. Besides local masters, other outstanding artists were at work in San Severino, such as: Gentile da Fabriano, Pinturicchio, Nicolò Alunno, Bernardo di Mariotto.
The Smediccis noble maintained their hold on power until 1426 when Pope Martino V sent them into permanent exile.
After the brief dominion of Francesco Sforza (1433-45) the commune passed under direct control of the Church State, which for the citizens signalled a long period of economical and cultural decline.
In 1586 San Severino obtained both the status of city and diocese becoming episcopal seat for the next four hundred years.  

Monuments