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s and camper

services marked in this brochure, there are numerous

campsites, tourist resorts and farm holiday resorts within

the region, where it is possible to stay and find great

hospitality and suitable services.

COORDINATIONDepartment of Promotion, Internationalization,

Tourism and TradeLaura Pierini

CONTRIBUTION - GRAPHICSTourism Service

Laura CapozuccaBianca Maria Giombetti

Stefano GregoriMario Ruggini

Regional Association of Camping in the MarcheFedercampeggio

Giambattista Bancolini - Gianfranco BadaliniCinzia Pellegrini

PHOTOGRAPHS BYTourism Service Archives - Region Marche

Guide Map of Region Marche - T.C.I.

PRINTED BYTECNOSTAMPA - Ostra Vetere (AN)

FREE DISTRIBUTION© Edition 2009

THE COAST

THE HINTERLAND

THE CITIES OF ART

THE PROTECTED AREAS

PLEIN AIR

MARCHE SEGRETE

DOC WINES

TRADITIONAL LOCAL PRODUCE

COORDINATIONDepartment of Promotion, Internationalization,

Tourism and TradeSandro Abelardi

CONTRIBUTION - GRAPHICSTourism Service

Laura CapozuccaBianca Maria Giombetti

Stefano Gregori

PHOTOGRAPHS BYTourism Service Archives - Region Marche

Guide Map of Region Marche - T.C.I.

FREE DISTRIBUTION© Edition 2009

MARCHE REGIONTOURISM DEPARTMENT

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From Gabicce Mar e, a well known seasideresort lying on a small gulf with Gabicce Monte(from where you can enjoy a charming view),you should head towards Gradara, which isfamous both for its fascinating and beautifulmediaeval streets and lanes and for its Castle,which boasts many renaissance fresco paintingsand memories of the love, as sung by Dante, ofPaolo and Francesca. If you take the panoramicroad which runs between Gabicce Mare andPesaro, you cross the heart of the Regional Parkof Monte San Bartolo with picturesque fishingvillages (Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola diFocara) and the renaissance jewels of VillaCaprile, Villa Imperiale and Villa V ittoria. InPesaro, the ancient Pisaurum, which was thebase of the Della Rovere Lordship until 1631,the Costanza Fortress and the treasures housedin the museums evoke the courtly importance ofthe town. In Piazza del Popolo, the Town Hall,Palace of the Paggeria and the renaissance DucalPalace look out on the fountain with its tritonsand sea horses. In the Town Museums (the ArtGallery and the Ceramics Museum), apart fromthe splendid Pala Pesaro by Giovanni Bellini,paintings by Guido Reni, Marco Zoppo,Jacobello del Fiore and Simone Cantarini arealso preserved. In August, the birthplace ofGioacchino Rossini offers singing connoisseursthe Rossini Opera Festival (ROF), an importantevent which is known world-wide. TheCathedral, the Oliveriano Ar chaeologicalMuseum , Rossini’s House , the MusicConservatory and the art-nouveau Ruggeri townhouse should not be missed. From there, conti-nue in the direction of Urbino, with a brief rest inPetriano to see Raphael’s Baths . Once havingarrived in Urbino, the city of the Renaissance,which, with its ancient walls, is an inestimabletreasure trove of art, culture and history, an abso-lute must is a visit to the Ducal Palace whichholds the Marche National Gallery wheremasterpieces from various historical periods arepreserved, with works by Raffaello, Piero dellaFrancesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello, LucaSignorelli, etc. The Palace perfectly connectswith the other buildings planned by Francesco diGiorgio Martini on the initiative of Federico daMontefeltro: the Church of S. Bernardino degli

Zoccolanti (Mausoleum of theDukes of Montefeltro) and

t h e C o n v e n t o fS. Chiara. Other

important sightsto see are: the

i m p o s i n gC a t h e d r a l ,the Oratoryo f S a n

Giovanni and Raphael’s Birth-House . In thetown, on the 3rd Sunday of August, there is aninteresting historic commemoration of The Duke’ s Festival . Continue towardsSassocorvaro, which is renowned for its uniqueUbaldinesque Fortr ess, in the shape of a war-ship, planned by Francesco di Giorgio Martini,and where an interesting Art Gallery has beenprepared. Here, during the Second World War,more than 10,000 works of art coming from allover Italy were hidden and saved. Once havingpassed Macerata Feltria, with its typical streets,lanes and Castle located on a rise, and PitinumBaths, it is well worth stopping in Pietrarubbia,to see the fortified ancient centre with the castleruins and, then in Frontino, to visit the Conventof Montefiorentino which dates back to the 13th

century. Shortly afterwards, you reachCarpegna, known for its valued prosciutto(cured ham). The town boasts the powerfulPrinces’ Palace, and the Parish of San GiovanniBattista and it is also the base of the RegionalPark of Sasso Simone and Simoncello , with itsrich woodlands (for example the beechwood ofPianacquadio) and panoramic viewpoints. Continue towards Pennabilli, renowned for itsannual National Market Exhibition of Antiques,its ancient monuments and original musei mini-mi of Tonino Guerra and pass through PetrellaGuidi, until you reach Sant’Agata Feltria ,dominated by the Fregoso Fortress, a splendidmediaeval fortress used as a Museum. In Octoberand November, the festival and market exhibi-tions of the white truffle take place here, thisbeing an important treasure of the area. ReachNovafeltria, with its seventeenth century TownHall building and the fourteenth century Chapelof S. Marina, then Talamello, famous for its for-maggio di fossa (cave-matured sheep’s milkcheese), with its November festival, and for aGiotto-style Crucifix. After having passed theFortress of Maioletto and the rambling village ofMaiolo, you arrive in San Leo , with its un-mistakable profile, at the top of a rocky peak.The town, which has in the past, been the Capitalof Italy, possesses two valuable Romanesquechurches: the Pieve and the Cathedral. The ori-ginal and inaccessible Fortress, in whose dun-geons Cagliostro died, holds a rich collection ofancient weapons and historical documents. TheConvent of S. Igne , which was founded by S.Francesco in 1213 is also worth seeing.Returning towards the coast, Montecopiolo, anequipped tourist resort for both Winter andSummer holidays is worth a visit, as are MonteCerignone, dominated by a Fortress, MonteGrimano with its well known Baths andMontecalvo in Foglia which boasts a mediaevalTower.

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Province ofPesaro-Urbino

1 GABICCE MARE

2 GRADARA

3 PESARO

4 URBINO

5 MACERATA FELTRIA

6 PIETRARUBBIA

7 MONTECALVO IN FOGLIA

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The valley of high and low Metauro is a treasu-re trove of historical, religious and panoramicbeauties. Fano, which is full of artistic heritage,still shows many traces of its Roman origins,such as the monumental Augustus’Arch, the doorto the ancient road of Via Flaminia. In the towncentre, in Piazza XX Settembre, you can admirethe sixteenth century Fortune Fountain, in frontof which stands the theatre: Fortune Theatr e,which was previously the Reason’s Palace.Through the renaissance Arco Borgia-Cybo yougain access to the Malatestiana Courtyard, whichis today used for plein air shows and is also thebase for the Town Museum and Art Gallery whereworks by Guercino, Guido Reni and canvases bylocal painters are exhibited. Other treasures canbe found in the Cathedral, in the Church of SanPaterniano and in the Church of S. Maria Nuova.Worth visiting, in the surrounding area, is thecharacteristic Hermitage of Monte Giove andCarignano Baths.Following Via Flaminia , you arrive inFossombrone, with its churches, the monumentalLibrary, the museums, the Ducal Palace and therenaissance Corte Alta . On the 2nd Sunday ofMay, the Triumph of Carnival takes place, as acelebration of the festivals that Cardinal Giuliodella Rovere wanted to organise in the town in1559. The Regional Archaeological Park is loca-ted in the village of San Martino del Piano ,with the ancient Roman town of ForumSempronii (Fossombrone). Nearby Fermignano,the birthplace of Bramante, is interesting for itsRoman bridge and a mediaeval Tower. It is alsonoted for its original Palio della Rana (withfrogs running on wheel barrows) which takesplace on the 1

st Sunday after Easter, preceded by

the Procession of the Duke of Urbino .Continuing on, you reach Urbania which, withits seven bridges, boasts almost intact fourteenthcentury walling, and important historic and arti-stic jewels and museums. It was at first Casteldelle Ripe, then Castel Durante, and was alreadywell known for the splendour of its ceramics.Still today, craftsmanship relating to majolica,carpets and wrought iron, blooms. In the sur-rounding area, there is the Ducal Park or Barco,a hunting area which was once used by theDukes of Urbino. Now the only part remaining is

the large villa, started byFrancesco di Giorgio

Martini.You then reach

Sant’Angelo inVa d o , w h i c h

i s famous forthe commer-cialisation ofthe truffle

(market-exhibition in October and November)and for vin santo (a sweet wine), with thenoteworthy Cathedral and Reason’s Palace .A brief deviation leads to Piandimeleto whosemediaeval centre gathers tightly around therenaissance Castle of the Oliva Earls where theFarming Museum and the Earth SciencesMuseum are held. It is the birthplace ofEvangelista di Piandimeleto, a painter andmaster of Raphael. In July, court life is celebra-ted with the Contest of the Oliva Earls and inOctober, in the village of San Sisto, there is therenowned Market Exhibition of the Mushr oom.Having returned in the direction of BoccaTrabaria, it is advisable to go to Mercatello sulMetauro, which still retains its ancient look,with mediaeval houses and charming narrowstreets and, in the Church of S. Francesco thereis an authentic anthology of paintings fromCentral Italy, that date back to between the four-teenth and seventeenth centuries.3 km far from here, and well worth a visit, thereis an intact mediaeval village, Castello dellaPieve, and Borgo Pace, from where you can goon interesting excursions in the nearby valleys. Alittle later, you reach the small village of Lamoli,characterised by the Church of S. MicheleArcangelo, which belonged to the BenedictineAbbey of S. Michele delle Lamole founded inthe 7th-8th century. Returning towards the coast,take the road for Piobbico, famous throughoutthe world for its “Club dei Brutti ” (Ugly Club),this boasts the mediaeval centre, the imposingCastle of the Brancaleoni and theGeopaleontological Naturalistic Anthr opicaland Ornithological Museum . For generations,able craftsmen’s hands have woven crude woolcarpets on looms. Apecchio should not be mis-sed, located in an area that is rich with mush-rooms and truffles, it is a mediaeval village withan interesting Museum that of Fossils andMinerals of Monte Nerone.After a pleasant gastronomical rest inAcqualagna, the capital of the valuable whitetruffle (in February, August, October andNovember there are national and regional marketexhibitions) and known for stone craftsmanship,following the ancient consular road of ViaFlaminia, you cross the evocative Gola delFurlo – recently recognised as a State NaturalReserve – with the tunnel (Forulus) dug out ofcompact limestone, using a chisel, by the Romanlegions in 76 A.D. and the lake. Nearby, you canadmire the Romanesque Abbey of S. Vincenzo alFurlo and the Sanctuary of Pelingo.

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Province ofPesaro-Urbino

1 FANO

2 FOSSOMBRONE

3 FERMIGNANO

4 URBANIA

5 SANT’ANGELO IN VADO

6 PIANDIMELETO

7 MERCATELLO SUL METAURO

8 BORGO PACE

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The route is made up of areas of exceptionalinterest, both from a historical-artistic point ofview, and from the religious aspect, due to the pre-sence of several important monumental churches.Leaving from Marotta, with the old fishing townand an unusual beach, partly pebbles with a gen-tle slope, proceed towards Mondolfo, whichextends over three hills and is known for LaCacciata, a historic re-creation of an ancient gamecalled Pallone al bracciale (in July).The Church of S. Agostino of Romanesque-Gothic foundation is worth visiting (restored in1726) and the Church of S. Gervasio provides aninteresting example of Romanesque architecture.Having reached Orciano di Pesar o, a smalltown which is easily visible, even from a longway away due to its high bell tower and theMalatestian Tower of the Castle, it is worthnoting the renaissance Church of S. MariaNuova. Continue towards Mondavio, which isfamous for the Fortress, a work of Francesco diGiorgio Martini, and within which there is aHistoric Museum (with models in costume), andthe traditional Wild Boar Hunting (in mid-August). One compulsory stopping place is San Lorenzoin Campo , in the valley of Cesano, with thesplendid Abbey of S. Lor enzo which dates backto the 7th century. It was built by Benedictinemonks with archaeological material which hadbeen taken from the area, but its current aspect isof the 13th century. Other sights worth seeing arethe Palace of the Ruspoli Princes , the greatMagistrate’s Palace , the Tiberini Theatr e of1816 with three levels of boxes and the TownMuseum with a section dedicated to Archaeologyand another related to Naturalistic-Ethnographics. The characteristic, mediaevalvillages on the hill of Fratte Rosa, known for itsterracotta works are worth visiting, as isMontalfoglio, which still retains the walls with acharacteristic entrance gate. Going through Cesanense, you reach Pergola,the city of one hundred churches, including theChurch of S. Giacomo and the Cathedral, whichare full of valuable artistic works. As witness toits ancient past, the famous Golden Bronzes fromCartoceto di Pergola are still held and date backto the age of Julian-Claudius, having been disco-

vered in 1946 in S. Lucia diCalamello. The complex

contributes to one ofthe very few great

equestrian sculp-t u r e g r o u p s

from ancientRoman Timesup to nowand proba-

bly represents a family group originally made upof two couples of female figures, cloaked andveiled, and two knights in high-ranking militaryclothing with very ornately decorated horses.Continue towards Cagli an enchanting towngathered around its grand Town Hall and thefacing piazza, full of monuments and fifteenthand sixteenth century buildings. The majestichelixoidal Tower, a work of Francesco diGiorgio Martini and a remain of the ancientFortress is, today, the base for a ContemporarySculpture Centr e. Ponte Mallio, a powerfulRoman work that was restored in the Augustanage, with an archway of 26 quoins, is well wortha visit. Every year in Cagli, on the 2nd Sunday ofAugust, there is a historical representation of theGiuoco dell’Oca with the Contest. Along theroad for Cantiano, you meet the evocative Goladi Burano and can admire the so-called PonteGrosso (Large Bridge), dating back to RomanTimes with two diverging arches. Cantiano,with the structure of a mediaeval implantationand the seventeenth century Collegiata, isfamous for its working of the sour cherries andfor La Turba, an ancient and evocative represen-tation of the scenes of the Passion, dating backto 1260. Heading back towards the coast, Frontone isworth a deviation. Its old rocky town locatedaround the evocative Malatestian Castle and thesplendid Hermitage of Santa Cr oce di FonteAvellana, located in a solitary valley full ofwoodlands and mentioned by Dante in theDivine Comedy, are incredible views. Foundedin 980 by S. Romualdo, it has hosted saints andbishops, including S. Pier Damiani, who enlar-ged it and made it famous. Presented as an exten-ded and articulate construction which includeslarge guestroom, the true and real heart of thehermitage has a linked Romanesque-Gothicchurch. Amongst the most interesting places ofthe vast complex, which has recently undergoneradical restoration work, the scriptorium, thehistoric Library which holds valuable ancienttexts, the Capitular room, the refectory and thecloister stand out as being exceptional.An interesting piece of knowledge: at approxi-mately 300 metres from the hermitage, the spe-cific conformation of the valley provides anexceptional echo. After a few km you meetSerra Sant’Abbondio, a village, located on theslopes of Monte Catria (1702 m), dominated byhigh woodlands.

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1 MAROTTA

2 MONDOLFO

3 ORCIANO DI PESARO

4 MONDAVIO

5 SAN LORENZO IN CAMPO

6 FRATTE ROSA

7 PERGOLA

8 CAGLI

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Leaving from the famous velvet beach, you crossthrough the interesting centres of the greenMarche hills where Verdicchio wine is produced.Senigallia, located by the river Misa, is a resortarea that is well known thanks to its extremelyfine stretches of sand. The heart of the town isthe well preserved Roveresca Fortr ess, andPiazza del Duca opens out in front of this, withits sixteenth century Lions Fountain and madebeautiful by historical buildings, including theDuke’s Palace and the Palazzetto Baviera wherevaluable stucco work by Federico Brandani canbe admired. The church of the Croce, the churchof S. Martino, the Cathedral with annexedDiocesan Art Gallery and the Birthplace of PiusIX are worth visiting. In a panoramic position, inthe immediate surroundings, you can see therenaissance Church of S. Maria delle Graziewhere a precious painting by the Perugino is pre-served in the apse, and the Museum of History ofthe Share Cropping System held in the Convent.Continue on to Corinaldo, a picturesquemediaeval centre which boasts one of the mostspectacular outside walls of the region. The eigh-teenth century Sanctuary of S. Maria Goretti, theChurch of the Addolorata and the ex BenedictineConvent which holds the Town Art Collectionare all worth a visit. The 3rd Sunday of July, theContest of the W ell of Polenta takes place – acelebration of the victory by the Corinaldesi in1517, over Francesco Maria I della Rovere’sarmy, which had besieged the town. In the surrounding area, Castelleone di Suasa isknown for its mediaeval Castle, its well preser-ved historic centre and for the importantarchaeological finds of the ancient Roman townof Suasa Senonum (in particular theAmphitheatre and a patrician “domus” with richmosaics), safeguarded in the RegionalArchaeological Park and in the TownArchaeological Museum. Continuing on towardsBarbara, with the ancient walls and the Castle(14th century), you arrive in Serra de’ Conti,which has the surrounding mediaeval walls, onwhich the Monastery of S. Maria Maddalenawas built in the fifteenth century. Once passedMoie, where the Romanesque Abbey of S. Mariais an absolute must, you reach MaiolatiSpontini, the home of Verdicchio wine and the

musician Gaspare Spontini, inw h o s e m e m o r y t h e

Museum ‘G. Spontini ’has been created,

holding relics,mementoes and

manuscripts .S h o r t l yafterwards,you get to

Cupramontana, an important centre for the pro-duction of Verdicchio wine, to which both afamous festival is dedicated (the 1st Sunday ofOctober), and the curious International LabelMuseum. After a rest in the evocative Abbey ofBeato Angelo, you reach Staffolo, which is inte-resting for its historic centre, still mostly sur-rounded by a powerful wall circle. It is alsonoted for its original Museum dedicated to theArt of W ine which, amongst other curiosities,owns a valuable oak and stone press. Continue on to Jesi, the Roman Aesis, whichdominates the Esino valley. The town, with athriving community, and also the dominion ofthe Malatesta and Francesco Sforza, was thebirthplace of Frederick II from Swabia and themusician G. B. Pergolesi, to whom the presti-gious Theatre is dedicated. Within the eighteenthcentury Pianetti Palace, the Town Museums areheld, together with a valuable Art Gallery , inwhich many of Lorenzo Lotto’s masterpiecescan be admired, including the famous Altarpieceof S. Lucia. The Palazzo della Signoria, plannedby Francesco di Giorgio Martini houses theTown Library. Mediaeval areas, aristocratic buil-dings and splendid churches characterise a har-monious and well preserved historic centre. Notfar from Jesi, along the Esino river, you mayvisit the Nature Reserve of Ripa Bianca. Going back towards the coast, a deviation forMorro d’Alba is strongly advised. This smalltown is still contained within the fifteenth cen-tury walls, with steep slopes and owns theMuseum of Share Cropping Culture which reuni-tes peasants’ tools of the past. The area, full ofvineyards, is famous for the production of thered wine of controlled origin Lacrima di Morrod’Alba. In the same area, Ostra is worth a visit.This is a town whose walls and beautiful historiccentre dominate the valley of the Misa, andwhich boasts an important Antique show (inAugust). The piazza provides home for an impo-sing Town Fortress, for the ancient church of S.Francesco and the Sanctuary of the Madonnadella Rosa , visited by many pilgrims. Continuetowards Chiaravalle, where you can admire theAbbey of S. Maria in Castagnola , one of theoldest constructions founded by the Cisterciansfrom Clairvaux in Italy, and you arrive inMarina di Montemarciano which has a beauti-ful coastline and the remains of a small fortressdating back to the fifteenth century.

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Province ofAncona

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1 SENIGALLIA

2 CORINALDO

3 CASTELLEONE DI SUASA

4 MAIOLATI SPONTINI

5 CUPRAMONTANA

6 STAFFOLO

7 JESI

8 MORRO D’ALBA

9 OSTRA

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From the Conero Riviera, with its characteristicseaside resorts, you should continue through theinland towns, full of art and ancient memories.Ancona (from the Greek Ankon), the administra-tive centre of the Marche, founded by theSyracuse people, has always connected its exi-stence with the port, dominated by the Cathedralof San Ciriaco.A visit to the historic centre lets you discover theoldest and most evocative part of the town: inPiazza della Repubblica, the imposing front ofthe Muse Theatre appears and, on the oppositeside, the Church of the SS. Sacramento. Nearthere, we can find the port, with archwaysTrajan’s Ar ch (100-115 A.D.) and ClementineArch (planned by Luigi Vanvitelli in the 18th cen-tury), the gate Porta Pia (Baroque), the MoleVanvitelliana (charming Lazzaretto, today usedfor exhibitions and shows), the Maerchants’Meeting Place, symbol of the ancient mercantilevitality of the town, and the Romanesque Churchof S. Maria della Piazza . On the slopes of theGuasco hill, there is Piazza del Senato with theBishop’s Palace, the Church of S. Pellegrinodegli Scalzi and Ferretti Palace, which is thehome of the Marche National ArchaeologicalMuseum. Once arrived at the Elders’ Palace andthe Church of the Gesù, following the road viaPizzecolli down, you can admire the Gothicentrance to the Church of S. Francesco alle Scaleand the sixteenth century Bosdari Palace, whichis home to the Town Art Gallery – with a sectiondedicated to Modern Art – in which importantworks by Tiziano, Carlo Crivelli, Lotto, Guercinoand Gentileschi are shown, together with a fewpaintings by Andrea Lilli, a local Ancona artist.The Piazza del Plebiscito , considered as the“living room” of the city, is flanked by a six-teenth century Tower, by the Government’sPalace and by the Church of S. Domenico, insidewhich a Crucifixion by Tiziano and anAnnunciation by Guercino, are preserved.From the Passetto, taking the panoramic routealong the famous Conero Riviera , you candistinguish the enchanting countryside of MonteConero, which acquires chromatic shadings thatare particularly evocative in spring, for theflowering of the dyer’s broom and, in autumn,for the strawberry trees. The jewel of the coast is

the Bay of Portonovo, a marvelof still unspoiled nature ,

on w h o s e b e a c hof rocks and peb-

bles, well equip-ped, laps an eme-

rald green sea.The bay holdsa n c i e n tt reasures ,

including the Napoleonic Fort , the ClementinaTower and, set into a rocky buttress, theRomanesque Church of S. Maria . After a briefpause on the summit of Monte Conero, to admi-re the Abbey of S. Pietr o, founded by theBenedictines in the first half of the 11th century,continuing South, you meet first Sirolo, an ele-gant seaside resort sheer above the sea and hometo the Regional Park of Monte Coner o, and,immediately afterwards, Numana, where, fromthe small yet evocative piazza, from which theTower of the Pincio emerges, it is possible to seethe small tourist port. Well worth visiting is theState Antiquarium which brings together archaeo-logical material found in the territory of Siroloand Numana, and offers a complete documenta-tion of the Piceni people. Marcelli is the mostmodern area of the Riviera, with numerous touri-st resorts, residences and recreation structures. On the summit of a nearby hill, Loreto emerges,partially surrounded by sixteenth century wal-ling and ramparts, with the largest MarianSanctuary in Italy. The legend states that theHouse of Nazareth was carried here by angels inorder to escape the invasion of Palestine by theMohammedans. In the Basilica some of the mostfamous artists of the Renaissance period haveworked, including Signorelli, Melozzo fromForlì, Bramante and Lotto. In the West wing ofthe Apostolic Palace , you can visit the ArtMuseum of the Holy House . Continuing North,you meet Castelfidardo, the capital of theaccordion, an instrument to which an interestingInternational Museum is dedicated.Shortly afterwards, you reach Osimo, full ofancient remains, amongst which we could men-tion the thirteen Roman statues from theImperial age, kept in the Town Hall , theRomanesque Cathedral, with the small piazzaand the Battistero, the Sanctuary of S. Giuseppeda Copertino and the prestigious CampanaPalace which houses the Town Museum . In thesurrounding area, you can find Aspio Terme, ahydrotherapy centre, immersed in green land.Offagna, the production area for the red wineRosso Coner o, is dominated by the Fortresswhich is home to the Museum of AncientWeapons and, during the last week of July, hasevocative Mediaeval Festivals in which theancient tradition of the Contesa della Crescia isrelived. In Polverigi, and not to be missed, is therenowned Inteatro International Festival (inJuly) and Witches’ Night (in September).

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Province ofAncona

1 ANCONA

2 PORTONOVO

3 SIROLO

4 NUMANA

5 LORETO

6 CASTELFIDARDO

7 OSIMO

8 OFFAGNA

9 POLVERIGI

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The route suggested leads to the discovery of thebeautiful countryside and history of the area ofFabriano, enhanced by the evocative FrasassiCaves. Fabriano, the home town of Gentile daFabriano, Antonio da Fabriano and AllegrettoNuzi, is an important commercial and industrialcentre, noted for its ancient paper mills datingback to the 12th and 13th centuries. In the exConvent of S. Domenico , we can find the Paperand W atermark Museum where it is possible,amongst other things, to see how paper wasmade once upon a time. The town retains itsmediaeval aspect, modelled around Piazza delPodestà (with the thirteenth century fountainSturinalto and the Palazzo del Podestà) anddocumented by the numerous paintings whichcan be found in the Town Art Gallery “B.Molajoli”, held in the fifteenth century monu-mental complex of the ex Hospital of SantaMaria del Buon Gesù . The Gentile Theatre, oneof the most interesting examples of nineteenthcentury theatres of the region, has a beautifulcurtain that was painted by Luigi Serra. TheFestival of San Giovanni (on the 24th June) isparticularly heartfelt, and during this, costumeparades decked with flowers and La Sfida delMaglio.The peaceful town of Poggio San Romualdo(936 m), where there are beautiful walks to behad, and the Abbey of Val di Castro, founded in1006 by S. Romualdo (who died there in 1027),that holds valuable fresco paintings from the 14th

and 15th centuries. Once taken the main road(Statale 76), in a short time you reach the vasthypogean complex that is the Frasassi Caves, akarstic environment of extraordinary beauty. Avisit allows you, in about an hour, to admire withstupor, small lakes, inlaid stalactites, enormousstalagmites, until you reach the majestic AnconaAbyss (240 m. high), the Hall of the T wo-Hundred, the Hall of the Candles, the Hall of thebear and that of the Infinite, wich are very welllit. Near there it is possible to visit the sulphu-rous baths of S. Vittore alle Chiuse which proba-bly dates back to the end of the 10th century. Itwas amongst the richest religious seats of thedistrict and one of the most important examplesof Romanesque architecture in the region of theMarche. The Church of S. Maria infra Saxa and

the nearby small temple withoctagonal plan and cupola,

commissioned byPope Leo XII to

G i u s e p p eValadier, are

very evocativea n d h e l dwithin ani m m e n s e

cave. Nearby Genga is well worth seeing. It boa-sts a mediaeval urban structure that is still intact,together with the town walls and the Palace of theEarls of Genga. Continuing on, you reach Sassoferrato, a townmade up of two centres: the modern Town and,high up on the hill, the Castle, dominated by theremains of the Fortress that was built by CardinalEgidio Albornoz, papal legate, in 1368. In theoldest part, which is full of monuments and worksof art, the Church of S. Francesco, the MontanariPalace (home to the Gallery of Modern andContemporary Art and the Museum of PopularArts and Traditions), the Priors’ Palace (home tothe Art Gallery and the Sentinate ArchaeologicalMuseum) and the Oliva Palace (home to the TownLibrary) particularly stand out. Nearby, you canvisit the Romanesque Church of S. Croce and theRoman town of Sentinum, which has become theRegional Ar chaeological Park, with importantbuilding and road archaeological evidence, inclu-ding large baths.In Arcevia, which used to be considered as beingimpregnable due to its position on a rocky spurwhich dominates the high valley of the RiverMisa, the most prestigious monument is theCollegiate Church of S. Medardo, the local patronsaint. In this building, two paintings by LucaSignorelli are kept, together with an ornamentalglazed terracotta cover by Giovanni Della Robbiaand a Last Judgement by Ercole Ramazzani. Thearea surrounding the town is of particular interest,characterised by the so called “Castles”, whichinclude the picturesque fortified villages ofPalazzo, Castiglioni, Piticchio, Lor etello,Nidastore and Avacelli, in whose Parish, an altar-piece of the Madonna del Rosario can be admi-red. This is in terracotta and attributed to MattiaDella Robbia. Nearby, on a small knoll, there isthe small Romanesque Church of S. Ansuino (11th

century) and, just a few kilometres beyond this,you meet Mergo. This town developed inMediaeval Times around the Castle, of whichnow remains a part of the ancient walling. Youthen reach Serra San Quirico with its typical,and unique in their type, copertelle, roads coveredwith houses built on the remains of the Castlewalls, and seat of the Regional Park of the Goladella Rossa and di Frasassi . The uncontaminatedenvironment is often surprising, and includesthree different biotopes: Gola di Frasassi , Goladella Rossa and Valle Scappuccia , with the evo-cative natural gorge.

13

Province ofAncona

1 FABRIANO

2 POGGIO SAN ROMUALDO

3 GROTTE DI FRASASSI

4 GENGA

5 SASSOFERRATO

6 ARCEVIA

7 MERGO

8 SERRA SAN QUIRICO

1

2

3

4

5

7

6

8

This route satisfies various expectations: fromthe sunny beaches of the Riviera, to the uniqueatmosphere which you breathe in Recanati andin other places, full of artistic heritage. PortoRecanati, which comes from the time ofFrederick II as the port of Recanati (only a shortdistance from the place where the Roman colonyPotentia was), is an ancient fishing village whichwas founded around the fifteenth centurySwabian Castle in which the Town Art Gallery isheld. Still today, the town keeps its characteri-stics and environments of the past, which youcan find walking along its streets, accompaniedby the smell of the sea. Continue towardsRecanati, the birthplace of Giacomo Leopardi,for a route through the places dear to this poet’sheart: the piazza and the monument dedicated tohim, the memorabilia kept in the Town Hall, thesmall piazza of Sabato del V illaggio and thetower of the Passero Solitario. Leopardi Palace,the birth-house of the poet and the adjoiningNational Centre for the Leopar dian study bringyou to the Colle dell’Infinito where the firstverse of the famous idyll: “always dear to mewas this lonely hill” is sculpted. The TownMuseum, to be found in Villa Colloredo Mels isworth visiting, as it boasts considerable worksincluding four important paintings by LorenzoLotto. There are a further two museums whichstand out: the “Beniamino Gigli” Museumwhich is held within the Town Hall and housesphotographs, personal items, testimonials andscene costumes belonging to the famous singer,and the Diocesan Museum within the Bishop’sResidence. Take road SS 361, and cross Villa Potenza, withthe theatre ruins of the Roman city of HelviaRìcina, and you arrive in Macerata, founded onhills in order to escape the incursions of the bar-barians. This town is full, above all, ofRenaissance, Baroque and eighteenth centuryart. Amongst its most representative monuments,you are reminded of the Arena Sferisterio byIreneo Aleandri, a splendid example of neo-clas-sical architecture and home to an importantSummer Lyrical Season . The ancient wallswhich, almost intact, rise above the panoramicring of roads and enclose the old town. Piazzadella Libertà with the The Merchants’ Meeting

Place, the Clock T ower, theTown Hall, the Palace of

the Prefecture, theeighteenth century

Lauro Ross iT h e a t re , t h e

n u m e r o u smuseums, ther i c h 2 0 t h-c e n t u r y

Italian Collection in Ricci Palace and theancient University make Macerata a culturalreference point. Well worth seeing are the eigh-teenth century Buonaccorsi Palace, theSanctuary of the Madonna della Misericor dia,Consalvi Palace, Mozzi Palace, known as that ofthe Diamonds, the Collegiate Church of S.Giovanni and the ex College of the Jesuits, hometo the Town Museum , the Art Gallery , theChariot Museum and the Town Library (withmore than 350,000 books).Continue South and take road SS 485 to reachthe Church of San Claudio al Chienti , whoseunique structure of two superimposed environ-ments with a narrow façade between two cylin-drical, angular towers, dates back to the end ofthe 11th century. After a few kilometres, on a hill,Monte San Giusto emerges, a well known shoecentre with beautiful historical places of interestsincluding Bonafede Palace with fresco paintingsby Aspertini and the Collection of Drawing byAncient Maestri , and the Church of S. Maria inTelusiano which holds the famous Crucifixion, amasterpiece by Lorenzo Lotto and the only pain-ting to be kept in its original place. Continuingon towards the coast, you should not forget tosee the splendid Romanesque building of S.Maria a Piè di Chienti (in Montecosaro Scalo)with its evocative internal structure, of twooverlying floors with ambulatory and radialapses. You then arrive in Civitanova Mar che,famous for the production of shoes, as well asbeing an equipped seaside resort with long bea-ches and plenty of hotels. Every year, at the endof July, there is the Civitanova Danza, an intere-sting meeting with the most well-known artistsworld-wide. Historically more important, is thetown of Civitanova Alta , the birth place ofAnnibal Caro. This is characterised by a sur-rounding wall with towers, bulwarks, two gates,beautiful noble palaces (including CesariniPalace), churches and the rich “M. Mor etti”Modern Art Gallery.Shortly afterwards, you reach Porto PotenzaPicena, a pretty summer tourist resort, and youshould continue in the direction of PotenzaPicena, which is noted for the working of dama-sks and silk brocades by the nuns of the Istitutodell’Addolorata and for the traditional festival ofthe Grappolo d’Oro (in September). In the sur-rounding area, it is worth making a deviation tosee the renaissance Bonaccorsi Villa, a splendidexample of an Italian style garden, andMontelupone, a mediaeval town that retains thewalls, watchtowers, gates and defence systems.

15

Province of Macerata

1 PORTO RECANATI

2 RECANATI

3 MACERATA

4 MONTE SAN GIUSTO

5 CIVITANOVA MARCHE

6 PORTO POTENZA PICENA

7 POTENZA PICENA

8 MONTELUPONE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

11

10

9

Leave from Tolentino and continue in the disco-very of the surrounding areas, rich with art,history and natural beauty. In Tolentino, an aimfor many pilgrims, you can find the Basilica of S.Nicola (of the 14th century) with a portal byNanni of Bartolo, a very famous Cappellone,entirely decorated with a grandiose cycle of fre-sco paintings from the Rimini school of the four-teenth century and a beautiful Cloister. TheCathedral, the Vaccaj Theatre, and the characte-ristic International Caricature Museum (the onlyone in Italy) should not be missed, and neithershould the Castle of Rancia (end of the 12th cen-tury) which was once a farm and fortified gra-nary under the Abbey of Fiastra , transformedinto a castle by Da Varano in 1353, and can befound in the surrounding area. Every year, inMay, there is a re-enacting of the Battle ofTolentino (1815), in which Gioacchino Muratwas defeated by the Austrian army. Three kilo-metres from the town, there are the Baths of S.Lucia, in an oak woods.Continue to Caldarola, the birthplace of the DeMagistris painters, authors of the decoration ofthe Paradise Room in the Town Hall . The roadnamed after the artists leads to the PallottaCastle, of mediaeval origins, amply reworked inthe sixteenth century. In August, you can see theGiostra de le Castella manifestation withContest and train. Continuing along the valley ofthe Chienti and bordering the Lake ofPievefavera, a deviation for Serrapetrona isadvised, in order to try, the famous wineVernaccia of controlled origin in the typicaltaverns. The thirteenth century Fortress ofVarano, high up on a cliff, represents the pictu-resque entrance to the Dukedom of Camerino,which, in the 15th century, thanks to the presenceof artists such as Arcangelo di Cola, GiovanniBoccati and Girolamo di Giovanni, was the pro-tagonist of an intense economic and artisticboom period. The town has kept its mediaevaldefence aspects of the surrounding area, as outli-ned several times by the pen of one of the grea-test Italian dramatists, Ugo Betti. Blessed withone of the most ancient and important universi-ties of Europe, with its base in the Ducal Palace,it owns representative buildings such as theCathedral and the Bishop’s Palace , in which

works of inestimable valueare held, including the

Madonna in Gloryand St. Philip by

Tiepolo. In May,the roads are

f i l l ed wi thmagnificentrenaissancestyle pro-

cessions on the occasion of the Corsa allaSpada. Pioraco, a small mediaeval centre loca-ted in an evocative rocky gorge and famous forits ancient paper mill is worth a visit, as isMatelica, an interesting artistic town, characteri-sed by the octagonal Fountain (1619) and bynumerous historic buildings, including theMagistrate’s Palace (from the 13th century) andthe fifteenth century Piersanti Palace where aMuseum holding valuable works of art is based.In the area, the well-known wine of controlledorigin Verdicchio di Matelica is produced.Continue towards San Severino Marche whichis made up of two nuclei. The first has, as itsessence, the Romanesque Cathedral, the second,the large, elliptic, Piazza del Popolo, surroundedby renaissance porticoes and buildings. The fre-sco paintings by Lorenzo and Jacopo Salimbenibear witness to the important San Severinoschool of painting. In fact, these paintings arestill visible in a few churches and in the richlysupplied Town Art Gallery, whilst the Romanremains of the Archaeological Museum tell thestory of the birth of the town. Every year, inJune, there is the Palio dei Castelli with variouscompetitions, including the Corsa delle T orri.Along the road SS 361, in Pieve, you can see thearea which was already occupied in RomanTimes by Septempeda, and which has now beco-me the Regional Archaeological Park.Continue to Cingoli, the “Balcony of theMarche”, which offers unforgettable views tothe sea and long walks alongside the lake and inthe underbrush of Montenero. The town holdsrenaissance buildings, mediaeval churcheswhich have often been reworked during theBaroque period, including the Collegiate Churchof S. Esuperanzio and, the Town Art Gallery,holds a valuable Madonna of the Rosary byLorenzo Lotto. The 3rd Sunday of August marksthe reconstruction of Cingoli 1848 with the gameof Pallone a bracciale. In the surrounding areas,you can find Apiro, a typical Summer resort,with the interesting Abbey of S. Urbano .Continue in the direction of Treia, a prettymediaeval town whose nucleus consists of theshowy Piazza della Repubblica, surrounded bythe arcade of the Town Hall (also the home of theTown Archaeological Museum), from the Churchof S. Filippo and the Building of the GeorgicalAcademy. The Disfida del Bracciale which isheld every 1st Sunday of August has very ancientorigins. Pollenza, a famous antiques centre, isworth visiting, together with the Church of S.Maria Assunta di Rambona which was foundedby the Longobards in the 8th century.

17

Province of Macerata

1 TOLENTINO

2 CALDAROLA

3 SERRAPETRONA

4 CAMERINO

5 PIORACO

6 MATELICA

7 SAN SEVERINO MARCHE

8 CINGOLI

9 APIRO

TREIA

POLLENZA

10

11

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

11

10

9

Art and nature make a perfect couple in this areaof the province of Macerata, which includesmany villages of the National Park of MontiSibillini and starts from the Cistercian Abbey ofS. Maria di Chiaravalle di Fiastra, built in 1142and today inserted into the National ReserveAbbadia di Fiastra , where you can visit a fewinteresting museums and go for walks, bicyclerides or horse rides. Continue to Urbisaglia,which holds the imposing 15th century Fortressand was built on the remains of the Roman UrbsSalvia, whose excavation material is preserved inthe local State Ar chaeological Museum. In theancient town, protected in the RegionalArchaeological Park, you can see the theatre, theamphitheatre (where, in summer there is anappreciated theatre season), the cryptoportico, theurban walls, a part of the aqueduct and the reser-voir. In the surrounding area, Mogliano is worth avisit, to admire a valuable Our Lady of theAssumption and Saints by Lorenzo Lotto, and topurchase characteristic products in wicker. Continue towards Colmurano, a small hill towngathered together around a main piazza, and youarrive in San Ginesio , a mediaeval village sur-rounded by substantial walling equipped withlarge towers and bulwarks, from where you cansee a fantastic panorama. The Hospital of S.Paolo, the beautiful Collegiate church which isfull of works of art, the Church of S. Francesco,the Museum and the Art Gallery are all intere-sting places to visit. Every year on the 15th

August, there is a recreation of the Contest ofSan Ginesio, during which the different districtschallenge each other in the Giostra equestre del-l’anello. Take the road to Monastero, go throu-gh the evocative and wild Gole del Fiastr one(from where many excursions and routes leavefor the Monks’ Hermitage, the Red Blades, etc.)and, going alongside the Lake of Fiastra , youarrive at the modern town of San Lor enzo alLago, which is often visited during the summer.In Fiastra, a few towers and surviving parts ofthe wall above a knoll bear witness to a castlethat was built during the 11th century. Should you wish to, you can descend as far asPievebovigliana, where the famous Varnelli isproduced, you can admire ancient abbeys andthen continue towards Pieve Torina where you

can visit the Museum of OurLand and the Hermitage

of Sant’Angelo diPrefoglio, and go

for a walk in theNature Reserve

of Torricchio.Afterwards itis advisableto make a

stop in Visso, with its noble past, born witness to bynumerous examples of mediaeval and renaissancearchitecture and also the base of the NationalPark of Monti Sibillini . The Piazza dei MartiriVissani, which is bordered by elegant fifteenthand sixteenth century buildings, is characterisedby two important buildings: the CollegiateChurch of S. Maria (with fourteenth century por-tal) and the Church of Sant’Agostino in whoserooms, the Museum-Art Gallery is based. Once you have reached Castelsantangelo sulNera, a small mediaeval village withRomanesque churches, which is known for itsblack truffle and for the ski resorts on MontePrata, climb to Frontignano, where you can findthe lift installations and the leaving base forexcursions up Monte Bove. Go down as far asUssita, an appreciated tourist resort for wintersports, and continue to the Sanctuary of S. Mariain Macereto, an imposing building with aBramante style plan carried out in 1528, and iso-lated high up, at the foot of the Monti Sibillini.Passing through Cupi and Fiastra, you reachAcquacanina, where you can see the Church ofS. Maria di Rio Sacro, which was founded by theBenedictine Monks around the eleventh century,with a beautiful crypt with a nave and two aisles.Continue on to Bolognola, one of the smallestand highest towns in the Marche (1070 m.), ofmediaeval origins. This offers visitors healthy airand unspoiled natural surroundings with beauti-ful excursions on mounts Priora, Rotondo, Pizzodi Meta, and Castel Manardo. The area ofPintura, a winter sports centre, allows the disco-very of an evocative panorama, whilst in nearbyPrati di Ragnolo , you can cross-country skiand, in spring, admire the splendid and multico-loured blooming of the orchids, primroses, corn-flowers, etc.Shortly afterwards, you reach Sarnano, arenowned Baths Centre which is visited aboveall by mountain lovers and skiers due to itsnumerous trails. It is famous for the “redbrick” roofs, the mediaeval streets and lanes,with steep, narrow roads that finish in a small,silent piazza, where the thirteenth centuryChurch of S. Maria Assunta with Gothic por-tal and large bell tower can be found. TheTown Hall which houses the Art Gallery andthe Library are worth visiting, as are, in thesurrounding areas, the Convent of S. Liberatoand the remains of the Hermitage of Soffiano,remembered in the “Fioretti” of S. Francesco.In June, there is an interesting NationalAntique Market Exhibition and the Contest ofthe Serafino is evoked.

19

Province of Macerata

1 ABBADIA DI FIASTRA

2 URBISAGLIA

3 COLMURANO

4 SAN GINESIO

5 FIASTRA

6 VISSO

7 CASTELSANTANGELO SUL NERA

8 USSITA

9 ACQUACANINA

BOLOGNOLA

SARNANO

10

11

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

11

10

9

The route develops around the vast and rich areaof Fermo. Porto S. Giorgio , which in the pastwas the guarding place of the coast when infe-sted by Turkish pirates, has developed the func-tion of a port, becoming an active and bloomingfishing centre. Today it is an important seasideresort (with a tourist port of more than 1000 boatplaces), made up of a mediaeval centre with theFortress and of the modern living areas withroads lined with trees, luxuriant gardens andseveral kinds of accommodations.Continue for Fermo, which is considered themonumental “living room” of the Marche, andone of the most flourishing centres of the region.The ancient Roman Reservoirs should not bemissed, as neither should the vast and panoramicSquare of the Girfalco , on the base of which theCathedral is silhouetted. The splendid Piazza delPopolo, flanked by porticoes, the Theatredell’Aquila, the sixteenth century Priors’Palace,whose internal rooms house the Town ArtGallery which boasts important paintings and avaluable canvas by Rubens, the Palazzo degliStudi with a well-supplied Library, the Churchof S. Agostino, the Gothic cycle of courtly frescopaintings on the Oratory annex of S. Monica andthe numerous museums that testimony, stilltoday, to the extraordinary historic and culturalmake up of the city, should also be seen. In theeighteenth century Vitali V illa, there are theMuseum of Natural Sciences and the PolarEthnographic Museum . Each year, on the 15th

August, there is the Contest of Our Lady of theAssumption, a luxuriant and knightly representa-tion with the historic Ride Train. A brief deviation allows us to discover thebeauty of Sant’Elpidio a Mar e, famous for itsinteresting historic centre, the Contesa delSecchio (2nd Sunday in August) and the manife-station The Middle Ages Town in which, for threedays, you return to the past with entertainmentand shows. Once you have arrived inMontegiorgio, with an urban installation that ischaracterised by an unusual triangular base andnarrow mediaeval style roads, it is worth seeingthe Church of S. Francesco. Passing for MonteVidon Corrado , a small village with theremains of the ancient fortifications and thebirthplace of the painter Osvaldo Licini, you

reach Montappone in a shorttime. This town offers the

Romanesque Oratoryof the Sacramento

and the HatMuseum. Massa

Fermana isworth a stop,to admire av a l u a b l e

polyptych by Carlo Crivelli and a painting byVittore Crivelli within the Church of the SS.Lorenzo, Silvestro and Rufino.Continue South, until you reach Falerone, witha piazza, the Loggetta dei Mercanti and theChurch of S. Fortunato , where an importantwork by Vittore Crivelli is exhibited. Falerio, awine of controlled origin from the Ascoli Picenohills, takes its name from the town. Near Pianedi Faler one, you can visit the RegionalArchaeological Park with the remains of FalerioPicenus, an ancient Roman town, of which tra-ces of an aqueduct remain, together with eviden-ce of some villas and the splendid theatre withstage and cavea, where, in summer, interestingtheatrical productions take place.Nearby Servigliano was built according to urba-nistic rules of the eighteenth century, with smallgarden piazzas and groups of terraced houses.On the Saturday and Sunday after the AugustBank Holiday (15th August), there is a represen-tation of the Knighthood T ownament inClementino Castle with 15th century costumes.Santa Vittoria in Matenano is, instead, a histo-rically important centre due to the presence, inthe 10th century, of the Farfa monks, to whom weowe the Church of S. Vittoria, in the high part ofthe town. In Montalto delle Marche, a town inwhich Sixtus V lived and which became theEpiscopal centre in 1586, the imposingCathedral with a high portico and polygonal belltower is worth seeing, together with the TownHall, home to the Town Art Gallery, the TownArchaeological Museum and the DiocesanMuseum of Sacred Art.Returning towards the coast, we advise visitingPetritoli, founded in the 10th century by the Farfamonks, with remains of mediaeval fortificationsand an ancient nucleus made up of characteristichouses. Monterubbiano, which provided thebirthplace for Vincenzo Pagani whose nineteenthcentury work Collegiate Church of S. Maria deiLetterati can be admired, is the place where, onthe day of Pentecost, the Armata di PentecosteSciò la Pica with the Giostra dell’anello is reli-ved. Nearby, you can find Moresco, with its for-tified structure with two ancient towers and thecharacteristic piazza, contained in the manner ofa courtyard. A few kilometres later, you arrive inAltidona which still retains most of its castlewalling and, in Torre di Palme , a small andpretty centre on the top of a panoramic hill, withnumerous mediaeval buildings. Torre di Palme isalso known for the water of the Baths Fonti diPalme.

21

Province ofAscoli Piceno

1 PORTO SAN GIORGIO

2 FERMO

3 SANT’ELPIDIO A MARE

4 MONTE VIDON CORRADO

5 MASSA FERMANA

6 FALERONE

7 SANTA VITTORIA IN MATENANO

8 MONTALTO DELLE MARCHE

9 PETRITOLI

MORESCO

ALTIDONA

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11

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3

4

5

6

7

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9

The route offers evocative images of the greenRiviera Picena, alternated with those of the gen-tle hills and ancient towns. From Pedaso, a tou-rist seaside resort, go towards Campofilone,which owes its fame to the homonymous mac-cheroncini (festival in August). The old townstill reserves its elliptical map with many housesbuilt near the Castle walls and lanes with barrelor cross vaults. A few kilometres further there isMontefiore dell’Aso a well-preserved historiccentre which offers, in the Collegiate Church ofS. Lucia, a valuable polyptych by Carlo Crivelli,a refined example of fifteenth century painting.Worth seeing are the two Rooms, where severalworks by Adolfo De Carolis, who was born here,and Domenico Cantatore are exhibited. Continuetowards Ripatransone, a small jewel with a cha-racteristic historic centre, with mediaeval views,houses from the 15th and 16th centuries and thenarrowest road in Italy. It is rich with archaeolo-gical finds that are exhibited in the TownArchaeological Museum and with monumentssuch as the Cathedral and the Palazzo delPodestà, and suggests a visit to an interestingPlaster Casts Gallery dedicated to the works ofthe local sculptor Uno Gera and a rich Town ArtGallery, held within the seventeenth centuryPalazzo Bonomi. Before leaving, we advise fol-lowing the whole length of the ring road in orderto appreciate the beautiful panorama. You should reach Offida, famous for the ancienttradition of the pillow lace , and whose centre,surrounded by intact walling, still retains theremains of the fifteenth century Fortress. TheTown Hall possesses an elegant loggia and apowerful fourteenth century tower, whilst thePalazzo Pagnanelli holds the ArchaeologicalMuseum, the precious Art Gallery , with pain-tings by Pietro Alemanno and Simone DeMagistris, and the Museum of PopularTraditions. At the edge of the village, isolated ona panoramic knoll, the majestic Abbey of S.Maria della Rocca emerges, one of the mostimportant Romanesque-Gothic monuments ofthe region, in whose crypt you can admire acycle of fresco paintings by the Maestro ofOffida. The town is noteworthy also for the pro-duction of the wines of controlled origin of thePiceni Hills and for Carnival (Shrove Tuesday),

which consists of a reckless oxhunt (today it is a man dres-

sed up, but it was trueup until 1819),

with the ox run-ning, maddened

through thes t r e e t s .Continue viaAcquaviva

Picena, which has kept its mediaeval characterwith castle walls, ancient houses, towers and theimposing Fortress, completed by Baccio Pontelli(15th century), inside which we can find theMuseum of Ancient Weapons. Between the endof July and the beginning of August, theSponsalia takes place. This is a historical recrea-tion of the wedding of Forasteria and Rinaldofrom the powerful Brunforte family, son ofFidesmino, Imperial Vicar of Frederick II. Then, you arrive in San Benedetto del Tronto,the main seaside station of Piceno and one of themost beautiful coasts of Italy for its large sandybeach with palm trees, oleanders and clusterpines that give shade to a coast that extends formore than 2 km. The highest centre is ancientand presents an interesting mediaeval characterin narrow roads with the fourteenth centuryTower of the Gualtieri , probable remains of aFortress. The seaside town is more extended andmodern, with tree-lined roads onto which art-nouveau style buildings face. The “A. Capriotti”Fish Museum with aquariums, archaeologicalfinds and numerous fossils should not be missed.Neither should the Fishing and MarineCivilisation Museum, the AntiquariumTruentinum and the Amphora Museum whichbrings together phenolic, Italic and Romanitems, found in this stretch of sea, and a visit tothe humid area of the Nature Reserve of Sentina.Continuing North along the coast, you reachGrottammare, the jewel of the Adriatic. Thismediaeval town, located on the brow of a hill,with rustic houses and small roads keeps intactthe perfume of the orange trees that is typical ofthe Picena Riviera. At the edges of the sandybeach, the coastline with palms and flower beds,the hotels and tourist resorts have transformedthe town into a popular coastal area. In nearbyCupra Marittima , you can visit the PicenoMalacological Museum, the most important collec-tion in Italy of shells coming from all over theworld, with more than 700,000 examples. Themost modern nucleus lies along the beach, whil-st the most ancient, Marano, is on a hill still sur-rounded by the old walling, with towers thatwere raised in the 15th century. The solitary nar-row streets uphill lead to the Church of S. Mariain Castello, of Roman foundation and in the out-skirts of which, you can find the remains of themediaeval Fortress. At approximately 1500 mfrom the current town, you can see the RegionalArchaeological Park of the Roman town ofCupra Maritima.

23

Provinces ofFermo and Ascoli Piceno

1 PEDASO

2 CAMPOFILONE

3 MONTEFIORE DELL’ASO

4 RIPATRANSONE

5 OFFIDA

6 ACQUAVIVA PICENA

7 SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO

8 GROTTAMMARE

9 CUPRA MARITTIMA

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

This area conserves a noteworthy historic andcultural heritage and is an exemplary fusionbetween the natural environment and manmadechanges.The warm colours of the travertine and theremains of the ancient Via Salaria , often inclu-ded in mediaeval buildings, characterise thehistoric centre of Ascoli Piceno , the extraordi-nary past of which is, still today, witnessed bythe Roman monuments that have survived (theremains of the Theatre, the Augustan Bridge ,etc.) and by the numerous Romanesque buil-dings, including churches, ancient houses andpowerful noble towers. From the famous Piazzadel Popolo (where you can admire the historicCaffè Meletti ), a quiet renaissance environmentwith the massive structure of the CaptainsPalace and the harmonious flank of the Churchof S. Francesco , evocative routes radiate out,through mediaeval roads and renaissance pala-ces. The piazza is the base, every year, of one ofthe most extraordinary historical representationsof Italy, the famous Quintana, with a parade infifteenth century costumes of more than 1400figures. In Piazza Arringo, which was theatre ofthe public meetings in mediaeval times, theCathedral, within which there is a famouspolyptych by Carlo Crivelli figuring theMadonna with Child and Saints exhibited, andthe Baptistery, an octagonal building of the 12th

century. The long side of the piazza is defined bythe façade of the Town Hall , home to the TownArt Gallery whose rich collection counts,amongst others, works by Cola dell’Amatrice,Vincenzo Pagani, Pietro Alemanno, CarloCrivelli, Tiziano and Guido Reni. The ModernArt Gallery , the State Ar chaeological Museumand the Ventidio Basso Theatr e are also worthseeing. Following Via Salaria , you reach AcquasantaTerme, renowned for its sulphuric water, andArquata del Tronto, located in an enchantingpanoramic position, with the superb mediaevalFortress that has been well restored. It is the onlytown in Italy to be included in two nationalparks: the National Park of Monti Sibillini infact, extends as far as reaching the National Parkof Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga . Take thepanoramic road to go up to Monte Vettore, and

continue to Montegallo, apleasant tourist resort.

Shortly afterwards,you arr ive in

Montemonacowhich offers

splendid coun-tryside andinnumerablepossibilities

for walks on the Sibillini Mountains, in particu-lar up Monte Sibilla , from the bizarre top sur-rounded by a “necklace” of rose-coloured rocks,that legend tells is the dwelling place of the prie-stess of Apollo. Nearby, you can find Foce, theprivileged base for the excursions to MonteVettore and to the Lake of Pilato (1940 m), theonly of natural origin of the Marche, in whosewater lives the small and rare chirocephalo of theMarchesoni. Not far from these, you can admirethe Lake of Gerosa with the ancient Church of S.Giorgio all’Isola.Continue towards Montefortino which still con-serves the atmosphere of the times intact, with itsnarrow streets, stone and brick built houses andthe Art Gallery rich with valuable works of art,the fruit of the collection of the painter FortunatoDuranti. A road which follows the route of theAmbro stream, after about 6 km, brings you tothe Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Ambr o, builtfollowing a miraculous apparition of the VirginMary and visited by many pilgrims. Anotherroad brings you to the evocative and steep Goladell’Infernaccio.Not very far there is the little town of Amandolawhich has a beautiful historic centre with theChurch of S. Agostino, the Church of S.Francesco, the Town Hall, the base of ancientarchives, and a remarkable anthropo-geograp-ghical museum. The town is known for theworking and restoration of wood, the antiques,the production of truffles (fair in February-March) and for the International Theatr eFestival (in September). In the surrounding area,the Romanesque complex of the Abbey of theSaints Ruffino and V itale with fresco paintingsfrom the 13th and 14th centuries, and the Lake ofS. Ruffino should not be missed. Once pastSmerillo, a typical mediaeval town, with a beau-tiful wood and the “Fessa” (narrow and charac-teristic rock fissure), you arrive in the fortifiedcentre of Montefalcone Appennino, located onthe summit of a hill, inaccessible from the south-west due to the height of the cliff (more than 200m), with interesting remains of a mediaevalFortress. Immediately afterwards, you reachComunanza, which boasts a historic centre withold terraced houses, right on the river Aso, thebeautiful Baroque Church of S. Caterinad’Alessandria, the working of iron, the blacktruffle and the evocative representation of theLiving Crib on 26th December. Force is worthseeing, with its ancient centre that is built aroundan impervious hill and is noted for its craft-sman’s working of domestic utensils and variousobjects in wrought copper.

25

Province ofAscoli Piceno

1 ASCOLI PICENO

2 ACQUASANTA TERME

3 ARQUATA DEL TRONTO

4 MONTEGALLO

5 MONTEMONACO

6 MONTEFORTINO

7 AMANDOLA

8 SMERILLO

9 MONTEFALCONE APPENNINO

COMUNANZA

FORCE

10

11

San Benedetto del Tronto (AP)Riviera del Conero (AN)Macerata - Arena SferisterioNational Park of the Sibillini Mountains(M.Palazzo Borghese)Villa Potenza (MC) - Remains of the oldHelvia Rìcina

Ascoli Piceno - The “Quintana”Marche HinterlandGenga (AN) - Frasassi CavesAncona - S.Ciriaco’s CathedralOffida (AP) - Pillow-lace works

Loreto (AN) - Piazza della MadonnaUrbino (PU) - Church of San BernardinoAscoli Piceno - Palace of the People’sCaptainFermo - DomePesaro - Rossini Opera Festival

A B C D E F G H I L M

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14

13

12

11

10

98

76

54

32

1

Motorways

Superhighways

National Roads

Other important roads

State Railways

Shipping lines

Airports

Marinas

Sandy Beaches

Shingly Beaches

Rocky and Shingly Beaches

Sandy and Shingly Beaches

Protected Areas

A14

A14

TORRETTE DI FANO

METAURILIA

MADONNA DEL PONTE

GABICCE MONTEVALLUGOLA

CASTEL DI MEZZO

FIORENZUOLA DI FOCARA

SANTA MARINA ALTA

MAROTTA

MARZOCCA

PALOMBINA

MARINA DI MONTEMARCIANO

TORRETTE

CESANO

A B C D E F G H I L M

HOW TO REACH

MOTORWAY A14LINEMilano, Bologna, Ancona, Lecce,Roma, Falconara, AnconaAIRPORTRaffaello Sanzio, Ancona/Falconara M.Milano - Roma - PescaraPORT OF ANCONACroazia, Grecia, Turchia, Cipro, Israele

LEGEND

M N O P Q

SUD

ESTOVEST

NORD

15

14

13

12

11

10

98

76

54

32

1

A14

A14

MARCELLI

LIDO DI FERMO

MARINA PALMENSE

TORRE DI PALME

MARINA DI ALTIDONA

PORTO D’ASCOLI

FONTESPINA

RETTE

MONTE CONERO

PORTONOVO

TRAVE

M N O P Q

THE MARCHE…

180 km of coastline, stunningly beautiful beaches, 26 cities facingthe Adriatic Sea that are ideal locations for a relaxing vacation, the

port of Ancona and 9 tourist ports. 500 squares, 1000 importantmonuments, over a hundred cities boasting significant works of art,

thousands of churches (200 of which are Romanesque), 183 reli-gious shrines, 34 archeological sites, 72 historic theatres. The lar-gest number of museums and galleries in Italy (342) in ratio to thenumber of cities (239). 315 libraries housing over 4 million volu-mes. Numerous protected areas: 2 national parks (Monti Sibillini,

Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga), four regional parks (MonteConero, Sasso Simone and Simoncello, Monte San Bartolo, Goladella Rossa and Frasassi), 5 nature reserves (Abbadia di Fiastra,

Gola del Furlo, Montagna di Torricchio, Ripa Bianca and Sentina),more than 100 floricultural areas and 15 national forests.

60125 ANCONA - Via Gentile da Fabriano, 9Tel. +39.071.8062431 - Fax +39.071.8062154www.turismo.marche.itwww.le-marche.comwww.die-marche.comturismo.promozione@regione.marche.itFreephone: 800222111 (only in Italy)