The Marches not to be missed
Discover the Marches with your staying in our residences and tourist villages
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SMALL TOWNS, FORTRESSES CASTLES AND CHARMING MEDIEVAL SUBURBS
ANCONA - Rocca della Cittadella (inizio sec. XVI - Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane), principale strumento di difesa della città. Bastione di S. Paolo al Cassero-Parco del Cardeto (inizio prima del 1540 – Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane e Bartolomeo De Rocchi), realizzato a difesa del pericolo turco. Cassero-Parco del Cardeto (inizio prima del 1540 – Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane e Bartolomeo De Rocchi), realizzato a difesa del pericolo turco.
LORETO - The ramparts and sixteenth-century chatelaine walls rise on the southern side of the historic town centre. “Porta Marina” and “Porta Romana” are tangible references to the fortifications of the city-sanctuary.
RECANATI - Iron-like city walls from around 1200, that still today define the perimeter of the old town centre. At the start of 1300 there were 12 gates around the walls, 7 remain today : “Porta San Domenico”, “Porta Marina”, “Porta Pesa”, “Porta Cerasa”, “Porta Romana”, “Porta Nova” and “Porta San Filippo”.
OSTRA VETERE - Porta Nuova” open; the “androni” are characteristic, arcades leaning against the walls on the side that overlooks the valley of Misa.
OFFAGNA - Offagna stands out between the vast series of landscape wonders which Marche Region offers to tourists, a typical medieval hamlet at 309 m above the sea level between Ancona and Osimo. The old village develops around the “Rocca” that the people from Ancona built in 1454- 56 in order to contrast expansionist designs of the opponent Osimo.
AGUGLIANO - “Castel d’Emilio”- ancient castle (XIII cent.), with a square plan crenellated tower. Well-preserved city walls. “Convento San Francesco”.
CAMERATA PICENA - Interesting chatelaine walls on a circular plan. The entrance to the courtyard and the mighty quadrangular keeps are all well preserved. POLVERIGI - Pretty medieval village surrounded by recently restored chatelaine walls. Charming old town centre (the Roccolo).
POLVERIGI - Grazioso borgo medievale circondato da mura castellane recentemente restaurate. Suggestivo centro storico (il Roccolo).
SANTA MARIA NUOVA - Chatelaine walls dating back to the XVI century. Well-preserved keeps.
FILOTTRANO - Medieval little town. Ruins of the ancient city walls are visible running along the characteristic “Vicolo Delle Mura Castellane”. -
Monuments, caves and museums
PORTO RECANATI - Ancient Roman colony of Potentia with precious finds: funerary equipments, inscriptions, marble statues (at the moment kept at the permanent exhibition “Divi and Dei” in the tower of the “Castello Svevo”).
ANCONA - The history of Ancona is strongly linked to the Roman Empire. The main archaeological monuments are: “Arco di Traiano”: built in AD 115 by Apollodoro di Damasco in honour of the Emperor Traiano; Ruins of the republican period harbour on the Vanvitelli seafront; Ruins of the “Roman Amphitheatre”; Ruins of a big temple dedicated to Venere Euplea, visible under the “Cattedrale di San Ciriaco”;“Museo Archeologico Nazionale delle Marche” with Picene and Roman finds.
NUMANA - Of Picene origins. The local “Antiquarium Statale” collects the treasures of the Regina Picena and other necropolises.
RECANATI - Preserves Picene archaeological finds at the Museum “Villa Colloredo Mels”.
CAMERANO - Preserves Picene archaeological finds at the “Palazzo Comunale”.
OSTRA VETERE -Archaeological area “Le Muracce”: ruins of a thermal complex, the theatre and the base of a temple are visibile.
CINGOLI - Museo Archeologico Statale: prehistoric, protohistoric and Roman age finds.
SANTA MARIA NUOVA - Archaeological finds from the Roman period in the Pietrolone district. -
In the footsteps of pilgrims from around the world, which for over 700 years go to the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto. Churches, basilicas and Monasteries
PORTO RECANATI - “Chiesetta della Banderuola”, it stands in an area where, in 1294, the “Santa Casa della Madonna” stopped during its translation in Italy.
ANCONA - “Duomo di S. Ciriaco” (XI-XIV cent.), the Basilica preserves the remains of St. Ciriaco (bishop and martyr), and the historical miraculous image of the “Madonna Regina di tutti I Santi”. A synagogue is situated in via Astagno; built in 1976, it houses the Italian and Levantine Rite Temple. The “Campo degli Ebrei” is located inside the “Parco del Cardeto” as shown in documents dating back to 1428.
NUMANA - The new “Sanctuary Houses” the miraculous wooden “Crocifisso”, a work carried out, according to tradition, by those who took Christ’s body down from the Cross.
LORETO - It is the only example in the world of Basilica- Fortress and it preserves the “Santa Casa of Nazareth” and the Statue of “Madonna Nera”, patron saint of aviation and air travellers.
RECANATI - “Cattedrale di S. Flaviano” with the fifteenth-century sarcophagi, including that of Pope Gregory XII.
CAMERANO - “Chiesa di San Nicolò di Bari” o di “Santa Faustina”: remains of the Christian Martyr Santa Faustina from the catacombs of Rome.
CASTELFIDARDO - At the Collegiata di “S. Stefano”, among the numerous other churches, there is a miraculous Crocifisso, invoked during the cholera break out of 1855.
OSTRA VETERE - “Santuario di San Pasquale” Babylon, built in the conventual complex of “Santa Croce”. “Chiesa di Santa Lucia”, preserves the relics of the Ven.le Maria Crocifissa Satellico.
CINGOLI - “Santuario di Santa Sperandia”, that preserves the uncorrupted body of the saint a Benedictine nun. She died in Cingoli in 1276. -
Churches, museums, theatres, ancient buildings and art works
PORTO RECANATI - “Castello Svevo” (it contains the city picture gallery), “Abbazia di Santa Maria in Potenza”, “San Giovanni Battista church” and “ Chiesetta del Suffragio”.
ANCONA - “Teatro delle Muse”. Piazza del Plebiscito: called “Piazza del Papa”. “Palazzo Bosdari” houses the “Pinacoteca Civica Francesco Podesti” with works by Crivelli, Lotto, Guercino, Tiziano and others. “Museo Statale Omero”: the only example of tactile museum in Europe, but not just for blind people. “Museo Diocesano” with tapestries by Rubens. “Palazzo degli Anziani”, “Palazzo Ferretti” which houses the “Museo Archeologico Nazionale delle Marche”. “Palazzo del Senato” (from 1200)” “Cattedrale di San Ciriaco”. “Chiesa di Santa Maria della Piazza” with Romanesque architecture. “Arco di Traiano”. The “Vanvitelliano Arco Clementino”. “the Mole Vanvitelliana” known as” Il Lazzaretto”. Passetto: monument to war dead. In Portonovo “Chiesa di Santa Maria di Portonovo” jewel of the Romanesque period, dating back to the XI century.
NUMANA - Arch called “La Torre”: a medieval ruin of the tower of the ancient parish of San Giovanni. Seaside resort, houses at the “Palazzo Comunale” (already “FRONTALINI” accordion factory) finds and historical pictures of its past activities.
LORETO - Innumerable treasures: the Basilica, a Renaissance complex, boasts architects like: Giovanni Alberti, Marino di Marco Cedrino, Giorgio Martini, Bramante, Andrea Sansovino, Luigi Vanvitelli, Antonio Calcagni, Antonio di Girolamo, Lombardo Tiburzio Vergelli. However, the Shrine’s frescoes are by: Luca Signorelli, Melozzo da Forlì; Federico Zuccai, Cesare Maccari and del Pomarancio. The “Museo Pinacoteca” has a collection of canvases by Lorenzo Lotto and preserves sixteenth-century ceramics as well as Raphaelite tapestries. “Bastione di Sangallo”. “Palazzo della Provincia. Scala Santa”.
RECANATI - Leopardian places to visit: “Palazzo Leopardi” and annexed “Biblioteca” with over 12.000 volumes; “Il Colle dell’infinito” and the ruins of the ancient “Torre di Sant’Agostino” that inspired the “Passero Solitario” poem; the “Piazza del Sabato del Villaggio”. Masterpieces by Lorenzo Lotto preserved at “Villa Colloredo Mels” and the “Chiesa di San Domenico”. Valuable churches and buildings among which the “Palazzo Comunale”, “Palazzo Carancini” , “Palazzo Massucci della Stella”, “Palazzo della Casapiccola”, “Palazzo Venieri”.
CAMERANO - Birthplace of the painter Carlo Maratti, whose main works are preserved at the “Palazzo Comunale, the “Chiesa Parrocchiale Immacolata Concezione” and the “Chiesa San Nicolò di Bari” or of “Santa Faustina”. A bust is dedicated to him in the central Piazza Roma.
CASTELFIDARDO - “Monumento Nazionale delle Marche” and “Museo del Risorgimento”. The city’s gates: “Porta del Cassero, Porta di Sasso, Porta del Sole, Porta Vittoria known as Porta Marina”.
OSTRA VETERE - Churches: “Santa Maria di Piazza”: in neo-gothic style, it is the most important because of its dimensions and visual impact. Inside there are some masterpieces, as the precious paliotto of the XVIII century ascribed to Claudio Ridolfi and the organ of the same period of Gaetano Callido. “Santa Lucia” with a rich and wonderful interior, “San Severo” with a marvellous Romanesque portal of the XIII century, “San Sebastiano” today readapted as a concert hall-auditorium, “Sant’Antonio al borgo” and, out of the ancient city walls, “Santa Croce” with a splendid “Crocifissione” by Claudio Ridolfi and “S.S. Crocifisso” with frescoes of XV and XVI century. Ex-conventual complex of “San Francesco”, others remarkable frescoes can be found in the cloister. In the ancient Palazzo Marulli there is the Museo civico parrocchiale “Maria C. Satellico”: the art collection includes some frescoes of Marche school of 1400 from “San Francesco al Mercatale Church” and a painting by Pomarancio representing “ Cristo e San Pietro sul Lago di Tiberiade”. Nearby the Pinacoteca, there is the rich Franciscan Library of Ostra Vetere with almost 3500 volumes. Remarkable the remains of the circle of walls
CINGOLI - Chiesa di San Domenico ( XIII- XVIII cent.): venue of Lorenzo Lotto’ s canvas “Madonna del Rosario e dei Santi”. Collegiata di Sant’ Esuperanzio (XII- XIV cent.): with Romanesque- Gothic shapes, frescoes and important pictorial works ( a polyptych of Giovanni Antonio Bellinzoni da Pesaro and a painting of Sebastiano Del Piombo). Pinacoteca “D. Stefanucci” and Public Library; Fonte di Maltempo ( XVI cent.), with its hermetic symbology; Porta Piana (XIX cent.), Town Hall (XIII- XVI cent.); Palazzo Castiglioni (XVII- XIX cent.), birth home of the pope Pio VIII; Palazzo Puccetti (XVII cent.); Palazzo Cima (XV cent.); Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (XVIIXVIII cent.), Chiesa di San Filippo Neri ( XIII- XVII cent), with its pompous baroque internal. Museo Internazionale del Sidecar: collection, the only in the world, with more than 100 pieces, visits in groups on reservation to the phone number: +39 0733602651.
OFFAGNA Rocca: Notable example of military architecture of the period between the Meddle Age and the Renaissance, it is a quadrangular building with a singular keep and it rests on a tuff cliff which increases considerably the visual power. The structure, perfectly preserved over the years, has been rehabilitated and used as museum, at present it holds an exhibition of ancient weapons arranged by the “Museo di Stato della Repubblica di San Marino” and the other one of the “Cacciatori e guerrieri dalla pietra all’acciaio” arranged by the “Soprintendenza ai Beni Archeologici per le Marche”. Offagna holds other two museums: Museo Regionale della Liberazione di Ancona in the locals attached to the “Monastero di Santa Zita” ( a construction of the XVIII century realized by the architect Andrea Vici) houses the collection of material concerning the battle of the Second World War for the relief of Ancona. Museo Provinciale di Scienze Naturali “Luigi Paolucci” contains a part of the finds taken from the collections of the great naturalist academic of Ancona (1849-1935). The many and important collections (paleontological, mineralogical, zoological and botanic), are the consequence of a whole life dedicated to studies and research works, his herbarium represents the archive of all plants of Marche known at that time, collected in a period of half a century. In the old town you can admire some buildings realized by the architect Andrea Vici, student and collaborator of Vanvitelli: Chiesa del SS Sacramento (at present it is also used as congress centre which can take up 200 people). Monastero Santa Maria della Visitazione, Chiesa del Monastero delle Salesiane, Canonica della Chiesa San Tommaso. During the “Feste Medievali”, at the last week of July, the village changes completely and the atmosphere of the past revives in the streets and the squares: shows, taverns, the route of art and trades, the alley of fortunetellers are the scenery for performances, exhibitions and historic recalls.
POLVERIGI - “La Crocifissione”: Gentile Gothic fresco from the XV cent. By Giovanni Antonio da Pesaro c/o “Sala Consiliare”. “ La Deposizione”; Canvas of the XVI cent. By Ercole Ramazzani c/o “Chiesa Parrocchiale”; “Chiesa SS. Sacramento” from the beginning of the XIV cent. Real treasure trove of works of art and remains of frescoed pictorial cycles.
FILOTTRANO - Museo del Biroccio: collection of painted Marche agricultural carts (drays). It can be visited upon appointment. -
Birthplaces of famous composers and musicians. Museums and production of musical instruments
NUMANA - Località balneare, ospita presso il Palazzo Comunale (già fabbrica di fisarmoniche “FRONTALINI”) reperti ed immagini storiche delle sue attività passate.
RECANATI - Birthplace of the composer Giuseppe Persiani and of the tenor Beniamino Gigli. Museum dedicated to the opera singer at the “Teatro Persiani”
CAMERANO - On a little hill, the small town offers an exhibition of “Scandalli” vintage accordions at the “Palazzo Comunale”.
CASTELFIDARDO - It is famous for the production of accordions, to which the “Museo Internazionale della Fisarmonica” is dedicated at the “Palazzo Comunale”. -
Fascinating and mysterious cities
THE UNDERGROUND CITIES
Fascinating and mysterious, our main cities hide secret caves and underground routes: Ancona, Camerata Picena (Grotte Castellane), Camerano, Osimo (Fontemagna).GROTTE DI FRASASSI - One of the most spectacular karstic formations in Europe is preserved within the “Parco Naturale della Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi”, 60 km from Ancona. This is a wonderful underground voyage that explores a fascinating world populated with snow-white stalagmites and stalactites, lakes of emerald green and blue, and curtains of light that embellish the caves’ roofs. The tourist route has easy accessibility and it lasts about 75 minutes. Furthermore, it is possible to book one of the two speleological tours- red or blue depending on the degree of difficulty and to reach directly the heart of the “Grotte di Frasassi”.
Info Point: +39 0732 90090/+39 0732 90080. prenotazioni@frasassi.com
FABRIANO - Home of the tradition of paper making, it hosts the largest productions of paper money. The “Museo della Carta e della Filigrana” is universally known and situated in the San Domenico complex. It
URBINO - Birthplace of the painter Raffaello Sanzio, it is renowned worldwide as one of the main capitals of the Italian Renaissance, “UNESCO” heritage city.
MACERATA - Sferisterio - a neoclassical arena, the interior of which hosts a world famous opera season
ASCOLI PICENO - Splendid travertine city. It is full of history and monuments of which the “Piazza del Popolo”, known as the Salotto d’Italia, is the venue of the historical commemoration “La Quintana”.
