Piceno

<< Marche

The Piceno is the territory of the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in southern Marche. This area is almost entirely occupied by hills and mountains, with the provincial capital at the center. Ascoli Piceno houses several historic sites and attractions, and there are a few more interesting destinations in the province, such as the seaside resort of San Benedetto del Tronto.

Ascoli Piceno

Ascoli Piceno is a city located among the hills in southern Marche. Founded by the Sabines and later inhabited by the Picentes, Ascoli Piceno was for centuries an important Roman town. The city was ruled by various local powers until it became a free comune in the 12th century. After a period of political instability, it was ruled by the Papal States until the Italian unification. Ascoli Piceno is now known for the many historic landmarks in its old town.

✪ Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is the main square of Ascoli Piceno, and one of the most famous in Italy. The square has its origins in the Middle Ages, and it gained its current appearence in the 16th century. Piazza del Popolo is surrounded by historic buildings, most notably the Church of San Francesco and Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo. The latter is a medieval palace which was heavily reworked during the Renaissance, featuring an ancient tower and various decorated halls.

✪ Ascoli Piceno Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Sant’Emidio (Cattedrale di Sant’Emidio)

The Ascoli Piceno Cathedral (Duomo di Ascoli Piceno) is the main church of the city, located on a large square called Piazza Arringo. The church was founded in the Early Middle Ages and was reworked several times. The current structure features Romanesque and Gothic elements and a Renaissance facade. The interior of the cathedral is richly frescoed, and hosts a 15th-century polyptych by Carlo Crivelli. The medieval crypt under the church is adorned with mosaics and artworks, and houses a Roman sarcophagus from the 4th century. The church is flanked by the medieval Baptistery of San Giovanni (Battistero di San Giovanni) on one side, and a building hosting the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano) on the other. This museum houses a collection of religious artworks mostly dating from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Church of San Francesco

The Church of San Francesco is a historic church located on the northern side of Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno. The church was built in Gothic and Romanesque style starting in the 13th century, and it is flanked by the Renaissance Loggia dei Mercanti. The portal facing Piazza del Popolo is adorned with a 16th-century monument to Pope Julius II. The interior of the church houses some artworks and decorations.

Palazzo dell’Arengo

Palazzo dell’Arengo is a historic palace located next to the Ascoli Piceno Cathedral. Built during the Late Middle Ages and later reworked, it used to be the residence of the papal governor of the city. Now the palace houses the Civic Art Gallery of Ascoli Piceno (Pinacoteca Civica di Ascoli Piceno). This art museum features a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks dating between the 14th and 20th century.

State Archaeological Museum of Ascoli Piceno

The State Archaeological Museum of Ascoli Piceno (Museo Archeologico Statale di Ascoli Piceno) is an archaeological museum located near the Ascoli Piceno Cathedral. Its collection includes numerous finds dating from the pre-Roman and Roman era.

Forte Malatesta

The Forte Malatesta is a Renaissance fortress built on top of a previous medieval fort and on the site of the ancient Roman baths of Ascoli Piceno. The imposing fortified palace now serves as a museum complex. Hosted here is the Museum of the Early Middle Ages (Museo dell’Alto Medioevo), which features several objects found in Lombard tombs unearthed near the city.

Ponte di Cecco

Ponte di Cecco is a Roman bridge adjacent to the Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno. The bridge was built during the age of the late Roman Republic. The bridge was destroyed by the retreating German army during World War II, but it was rebuilt with its original materials in the 1960s. The name of the bridge comes from the local medieval writer Cecco d’Ascoli who, according to a popular legend, erected the structure in a single night with help from the devil.

Osvaldo Licini Contemporary Art Gallery

The Osvaldo Licini Contemporary Art Gallery (Galleria d’Arte Contemporanea Osvaldo Licini) is an art museum featuring several artworks by 20th-century artists. The art gallery is hosted in the complex of the Church of Sant’Agostino, a Romanesque and Gothic church dating from the Late Middle Ages.

Church of San Tommaso Apostolo

The Church of San Tommaso Apostolo is a historic church in Ascoli Piceno, erected in the 11th century. The church has a Romanesque structure and hosts various paintings and sculptures. The cloister of the church houses a museum of ceramics dating between the 15th and 20th century.

Roman Theater of Ascoli Piceno

The Roman Theater (Teatro Romano) of Ascoli Piceno was built in the 1st century BCE, with some later additions. The theater was abandoned in the Early Middle Ages and now a few ruins remain. In summer, some events are held here.

Church of San Pietro Martire

The Church of San Pietro Martire is a Gothic church in Ascoli Piceno, erected starting in the 13th century. The church houses some artworks and Gothic decorations, and it is best known for hosting the relic of what is said to be a thorn from Christ’s crown.

Church of Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio

The Church of Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio is a medieval church in Ascoli Piceno located next to the Church of San Pietro Martire. Built in Romanesque style around the 9th century, it was later reworked with the addition of Gothic elements. The church features various ancient inscriptions and decorations, and a crypt dating from the Early Middle Ages.

Torre degli Ercolani

Torre degli Ercolani is a medieval tower in Ascoli Piceno, erected between the 12th and 13th century. The tower is located on top of a Romanesque building known as Palazzetto Longobardo.

Roman Bridge of Solestà

The Roman Bridge of Solestà (Ponte Romano di Solestà) is an ancient Roman bridge in Ascoli Piceno, dating around the time of emperor Augustus. The bridge crosses the Tronto river with a single arch and, after being restored several times over its long history, it is still used to this day.

Temple of Sant’Emidio alle Grotte

The Temple of Sant’Emidio alle Grotte (Tempietto di Sant’Emidio alle Grotte) is an 18th-century church partly built inside a cave where Saint Emygdius was supposedly buried, at the northern outskirts of Ascoli Piceno. The church features a decorated Baroque facade adorned with statues.

Acquaviva Picena

Acquaviva Picena is a small town located among the hills in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, best known for its medieval fortress.

Rocca of Acquaviva Picena

The Rocca of Acquaviva Picena is a medieval fortress originally erected in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 15th century. The fort features imposing walls and towers and it is well preserved. A museum of archaeology and local history is located inside the fortress.

San Benedetto del Tronto

San Benedetto del Tronto is a seaside resort and port on the Adriatic Sea, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno. The town emerged in the Middle Ages, but only developed as a tourist destination in the late 20th century. San Benedetto del Tronto is the main center of a coastal area known as Riviera delle Palme (not to be confused with the Riviera Ligure delle Palme).

San Benedetto del Tronto Promenade

The long seaside promenade of San Benedetto del Tronto (Lungomare di San Benedetto del Tronto) is adorned with thousands of palms and features various attractions such as some gardens and historic buildings. Several sculptures and murals located along the promenade form the open-air Art Museum on the Sea (Museo d’Arte sul Mare).

Museum of the Sea of San Benedetto del Tronto

The Museum of the Sea (Museo del Mare) is a museum complex with different sections dedicated to the sea. Among these are a museum of marine biology, a collection of ancient amphorae and archaeological finds, and exhibitions dedicated to the history of local seafaring.