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It seems that Arquata was founded by a big group of Sabins (one of the eldest italic populations) passing along the Tronto River Valley between X and VI century B.C.

Some historians (Castelli, Agostini) identify it with the ancient Surpicanum, an important roman town located between two important “statio”: “Vicus ad martis” and “Vicus ad Aquas”.

During the Roman Empire, the African General Hannibal passed through this land.  Great importance takes the fact that the Roman Empereors Vespasianus and Titus were born in this territory (Vicus ad Martis), where the “Gens Flavia” (the imperial Roman family) had a summer residence.

We find Arquata for the first time in a document of the XI century. Its autonomy had been preserved until the XV century, when Norcia obtained it after a long struggle with Ascoli.

Throughout the XV century, Arquata and its fortress, the “Rocca”, had been protagonists of raging battles between Norcia and Ascoli for the possession of the Comune of Arquata.

In the same period Giovanna d’Angiò, Queen of the Neapolitan Empire, lived in the Fortress of Arquata (from 1420 until 1435): the strategic position of Arquata between the State of the Pope and the Neapolitan Empire, was fundamental for the supremacy in Central Italy. Because of this situation, Arquata enjoyed great privileges from the Pope.

Arquata partecipated also in the biggest naval battle of all times: the ‘Lepanto’s Battle’ (1571) with a great number of soldiers from the village of Spelonga.

When Napoleon invaded Italy, Arquata became “Capoluogo di Cantone” and the ‘Rocca’ became of the most important fortress of Central Italy.

After Napoleon’s fall in 1832, Arquata became part of the ‘Marche Region’ and a Government was elected in the district of Ascoli Piceno.

Furthermore, Giuseppe Garibaldi passed through Arquata in 1849 on his way to Rome During his stay, he was hosted by the Ambrosi family.