The charming city of Ascoli Piceno is centrally located just inland of Italy’s east coast and the Adriatic Sea. Though it is one of the main cities in the region of Marche, it is rarely crowded with people and makes finding things to do a pleasant experience. The local people are considered to be some of the warmest in the country, and that coupled together with the traditional festivals and number of outdoor and indoor activities makes for a fabulous day that has something for everybody.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Spring is a season of renewal for most of the cities in the region of Marche, and for many, the change is marked seasonally and symbolically with Carnevale festivities in February. Although Carnevale is celebrated throughout Italy, Ascoli Piceno has perhaps one of the oldest and most traditional celebrations that successfully blends old world and modern aspects of the celebration. For several days during the week preceding Ash Wednesday, the town comes alive with music, food, costumes, and elaborate masks all in the centrally located Piazza del Popolo. If you are visiting Ascoli Piceno during this time period, make plans to attend this fun event and celebrate with the locals.

Another exciting local event that takes place in late summer is known as the Tournament of Quintana. This amazing jousting tournament happens the first Sunday in August and transports locals and visitors back in time to the Middle Ages with man and dummy jousting and a torch-lit procession. The procession is enormous with an estimated average of fifteen hundred participants dressed in fifteenth century costumes. As with many Italian festivals, lively music, good food, and interesting side shows are all a part of this medieval themed celebration.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

One of the oldest and most historical areas of Ascoli Piceno is Piazza Arringo. This ancient square was often a gathering place for social and political meetings during the Middle Ages. For this reason, many important historical landmarks are in or near the square including the town hall, several museums, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Duomo di Sant’Emidio.

Though Piazza Arringo is one of the oldest squares, the real crown jewel of Ascoli Piceno is Piazza del Popolo. This magnificent open-air square is nicknamed “The Living Room” of Ascoli. The piazza is paved with unique travertine tiles and is a perfect stylish blend of both modern and traditional architecture. Two sides of the rectangular square are bordered with beautiful porticoes and stately columns, the thirteenth century Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo (a former Town Hall) on the third, and Chiesa di San Francesco Church on the fourth side. This gorgeous square is a magnet for locals and travelers alike with a lovely selection of shops, cafés, and restaurants around the perimeter that offer fabulous opportunities to engage with the local culture.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES

The Museo Diocesano can be found inside the Bishop’s Palace which is located in Piazza Arringo. This museum displays a number of pieces of sacred art that have been collected from nearby monasteries and churches over the centuries. The exhibits that often see the most onlookers are the rare travertine statues of Adam and Eve and painted masterpieces from renowned painters such as Cola dell’Amatrice, Simone de Magistris, Andrea Pozzo, and Giovan Battista Gaulli. Not to be missed is a breathtaking collection of frescoes entitled the Life of Moses by Marcello Fogolin.

The Pinacoteca Civica is a wonderful art museum with multiple displays of art as well as various historic objects including stringed instruments. Some of the artists whose works are featured here include Cola dell’Amatrice, Titian, Carlo Crivelli, and Guido Reni. As interesting and beautiful as the museum and its collections are, many also thoroughly enjoy wandering the museum’s spectacular courtyard gardens.

The Museo Archeologico is also located within a palace known as Palazzo Panichi. The museum contains ancient bronze statues of the Piceni as well as several stones engraved with curses that the people are said to have thrown at the Romans. This museum is home to some more unusual displays of art including Lombard jewelry, mosaics, and other interesting relics from a medieval necropolis.

Another interesting museum is the Museum of Ceramics, which is located in the Romanesque Church of San Tommaso. The museum traces the history of local ceramic production from the fifteenth century to the twentieth century. On display are all sorts of ceramic masterpieces including vases and tiles.

The ruins of the Roman Theater in Ascoli Piceno are a mystifying peculiarity. The theater was once filled with travertine seats marked with numbers and the seats that generally faced a northern direction to avoid having to look directly into the sun during a performance. Though only the bare bones of this centuries-old theater remain, it is still an interesting stop for lovers of history.

FAMILY

The antique market of Ascoli Piceno is one of the best in the area and a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. The market takes place in Piazza Arringo and opens on the third Sunday of every month except in July. Shopping at the market always seems to turn up unique finds that will make for a wonderful story when you return home, but nothing beats the beautiful scenery of the town that serves as a backdrop for the market experience.

KIDS

While in Ascoli Piceno, it is possible to explore the city via the scenic train. The train crosses the main highlights of the historic city center, creating a fun way for kids and their families to discover Ascoli Piceno’s treasures.

Just southwest of the city by about fifteen minutes or so is the medieval town of Castel Trosino. Often times this location can be reached by bus from the city. The area is inhabited by an extremely small population that is estimated to be well under fifty people and is extremely rural. While shops and restaurants are hard to come by in this little village, the scenery makes it well worth the trip and a great opportunity to let the kids get out and stretch their legs amidst a once medieval town.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

With the city’s roots tracing all the way back to pre-Roman times, Ascoli Piceno is filled with a rich history. The city is nicknamed, “The City of 100 Towers” or “The City of A Hundred Spires.” Historians believe that Frederick II once demanded that many towers be destroyed, and with time ravaging the others over the years, there are only approximately 50 towers left.

One prime example is one of the tallest remaining medieval towers, Torre degli Ercolani. This tower stands at an imposing one hundred thirty plus feet tall. These remaining towers are fascinating to see especially when coupled with the knowledge of their ancient history and all the people that have passed by these magnificent structures over the centuries.