THE ANCIENT TRADES IN MARCHE

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A journey to discoverthe ancient trades

A seam of culture and ancient traditions runsthrough Marche that risks remainingunknown not only by travellers who visit thisland, but also by its inhabitants.Protected by the stone walls around smalltowns, you can still find many artisans whowere once employed in local agriculture. Thissame population is the one Corrado Alvarosaid was “full of workers: who still work withwrought iron and who have learnt the oldtrades well, smiths and carpenters, goodbuilders…”.Capable and inventive, they knew how tomeet every need: the blacksmith, who alsoworked as a farrier, bent iron into elegantscrolls; the carpenter, known locally as themarangone, built coloured birocci (two-wheeled carts) and chests for brides; thebuilder, swapping clay for bricks, helped thepotter.Women’s work was equally important: linenfabrics printed with rust- or blue-colouredpatterns and woven fabrics made up thebride’s dowry (an old Marche proverb says“Donna co’ la conocchia / fortunati a quilliche tocca” “Woman with a distaff / lucky hewho gets her). While in Offida the lacemak-ers, who are still working, made preciousembroidery on the bobbin and in Faleroneand Acquaviva Picena expert hands wove,with great patience, useful paiarole, straw orwicker baskets.While it’s true that many ancient trades,mainly associated with share-cropping, aredisappearing and being absorbed by industri-alisation (such as the carpenters in the Pesaroarea or the shoemakers in the Fermo area), it

is still undeniable that an extraordinary worldthrives in old villages across Marche where,among keeps and bell towers, alleys, smallsquares, theatres, museums, near crowdedbeaches or old farmhouses, you can still meetmen and women keeping traditional tradesalive, using their ability and creativity to mixancient skills with today’s tastes.In fact, the tradition of artistic craftwork is sowidespread in the region that it’s quite diffi-cult to point out the best-known places andthe most characteristic products; just think ofthe street names in the town centres and howmany times we see: via dei vasari (pottersstreet), degli orefici (goldsmiths street), dellacartiera (paperworks street), della lana(wool street), or borgo conce (tannerssquare), porta del cuoio (leather gate), orfonte canapina (hemp spring).The journalist Ermete Grifoni wrote wittily:“Ask someone from Marche what the typicalMarche product is and he’ll have trouble

answering. Or perhaps better, you’ll getsome interesting answers. If the person isfrom Ancona, he will tell you accordions. Ifhe’s from Ascoli, it’ll be straw hats. If he’sfrom Macerata, then it’s shoes and if he’sfrom Pesaro, it’s pottery”.But that’s not all, because alongside thesenow consolidated traditions, are manyancient trades of various types: smiths whospecialise in working wrought iron and cop-per; leather workers who produce parchmentobjects, elegant items of furniture and cloth-ing accessories; paper makers, specialists inrestoration and in various woodworkingtechniques; goldsmiths and silversmiths,armourers, musical instrument makers,including luthiers and organ makers, tapestryweavers, textile designers, carpet weavers,embroiderers and lacemakers, master glass-makers, and again, stone, straw and caneworkers, pipe manufacturers, bell makers,and watchmakers. So much so that theRegion has created an initiative, “1M -Marche craftwork excellence”, to enhance,promote and protect this artistic and produc-tive universe which can claim more than2,550 workshops around the region.Through the twelve itineraries found on thefollowing pages, you can choose to enjoy thepleasure of discovering the ancient trades.Combine a visit to a workshop to do someshopping with a visit to one of the manymuseums of folk traditions and to the smalland lively markets of artistic craftwork.Given the liveliness and dynamism that char-acterise the artisan world, the attached list,indicating the craft workshops, may seemincomplete. If this is the case, please tell uswhat is missing so that we can continuouslyupdate this work.

The heart of Montefeltro is an enchanted landfull of ancient villages, monasteries and castles.

Worth a visit: Urbania, a fourteenth-century renais-sance town, surrounded by walls and famous for thePalazzo Ducale (Duke’s Palace) designed byFrancesco di Giorgio Martini and Gerolamo Genga,the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop’s Palace) and thePalazzo Comunale (Town Hall), as well as numer-ous churches full of works of art and the ParcoDucale (Duke’s Park) and the Barco, the huntinggrounds of the Dukes of Urbino.Very significant is the ancient Chiesa dellaCompagnia della Morte (Church of the Companyof Death) where twelve mummies, noted for theirfacial expressions, have been conserved and are onshow to the public.Worth seeing in the surrounding area: Sant’Angeloin Vado, famous for truffles; Mercatello sulMetauro with mediaeval houses and the exquisiterenaissance palace; the evocative alleys and theChiesa di San Francesco (Church of St. Francis),which contains a gallery of frescos painted from the14th to the 17th century in the Rimini and Marchestyles; Lamoli, a village near Borgo Pace, domi-nated by the imposing Abbazia di San MicheleArcangelo (Abbey of St. Michael the Archangel);Piandimeleto, the mediaeval core of which is gath-ered around the fine Castello dei Conti Oliva(Castle of the Oliva Counts) with fortifications andtower; not far from the keep is the BibliotecaUbaldiana (Ubaldian Library) with a notableancient stock and a collection of works of art; andLunano with the remains of the Castello degliUbaldini (Castle of the Ubaldinis) and theConvento di San Francesco (Monastery of St.Francis) built on the summit of Monte Illuminato. Worth stopping to see: Sassocorvaro with its stu-

pendous Ubaldinesque Rocca (Keep) in the form of aship, the product of the genius of Francesco di GiorgioMartini, which hosts the Arca dell’Arte (Art Ark)Museum; Macerata Feltria a typical old village withan ancient Castle, perched on a ridge, and the MuseoCivico Archeologico e Paleontologico (CivicArchaeological and Paleontological Museum). Nearbyis the modern Pitinum Thermae spa which makes use ofthe local sulphur waters, known in ancient times fortheir notable therapeutic properties; Pietrarubbia toadmire the ruins of the Castle which turn red at sunset,recalling the origins of the site, “Petra Rubea”, and thehistoric village where you can visit a permanent exhibi-tion of sculptures created with the TAM (TrattamentoArtritico Metalli - Arthritic Treatment with Metals)Centre, in collaboration with the sculptor ArnaldoPomodoro; Frontino, a mediaeval village still sur-rounded by walls with the notable pentagonal tower andthe thirteenth-century Franciscan Monastery ofMontefiorentino where you can visit the renaissanceChapel of the Oliva Counts and Giovanni Santi’s mas-terpiece Madonna in trono col Bambino, angeli, santi eil committente (Madonna on the Throne with Child,Angels, Saints and the Client) of 1489.Not to be missed: Carpegna, which boasts the impos-ing Palazzo dei Principi (Princes’Palace) and the Pievedi San Giovanni Battista (Parish Church of St. John theBaptist), is also the headquarters of the Regional Parkof Sasso Simone and Simoncello; Montecopiolo, cradleof the ancient dukedom of Urbino and now well-equipped tourist centre for both winter and summer hol-idays; Monte Cerignone, dominated by its Rocca(Keep), has kept, almost unchanged, its mediaeval townlayout and a number of stretches of old town wall.Worth discovering: Monte Grimano with therenowned spa, Mercatino Conca and Montecalvo inFoglia with a fine mediaeval Tower.

1. Pietrarubbia2. Sassocorvaro3. Urbania4. Sant’Angelo in Vado

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MERCATINO CONCA

MONTECOPIOLO

PIETRARUBBIA

CARPEGNA

PEGLIO

MACERATA FELTRIA

MONTE CERIGNONE

MONTE GRIMANO

FRONTINO

LUNANO

PIANDIMELETOBELFORTE ALL'ISAURO

SANT'ANGELO IN VADOBORGO PACE

MERCATELLOSUL METAURO

AUDITORE

ACQUALAGNA

URBANIA

SASSOFELTRIO

TAVOLETO

SASSOCORVARO

URBINO

LAMOLI

PIOBBICO

S.S. 2

58

S.S. 257

MONTECALVOIN FOGLIA

MARKET FAIRSUrbania: Urbania, un Fiore di Città,May.Sant’Angelo in Vado: National fair ofMarche’s fine white truffles, October.Piandimeleto (San Sisto): RegionalMushroom Fair at San Sisto, end ofSeptember-beginning of October.Belforte all’Isauro: Market fair ofhoney and autumnal products, secondweek in October.Macerata Feltria: Market fair ofantique jewellery and antiques, begin-ning of August.

Carpegna: Curiosity market, every Sunday in July and August;Carpegna PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) Ham Festival,third weekend in July; Locality Sant’Angelo di Carpegna “VillageFestival”, September.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSUrbino: La Corte della Miniera - Printing Museum.Urbania: Agricultural History and Craftwork Museum.Urbania: Diocesan Museum with pottery collection.Sant’Angelo in Vado: “The Old Trades ” Museum.Borgo Pace: (Locality Ca’ Sacchia) Collection of objects from theApennine civilisation.Lamoli: Museum of Natural Colours. Oasi di S. Benedetto (St.Benedict’s Oasis).Piandimeleto: Museum of Farm Work and Earth Sciences.Sassocorvaro: Collection of Objects from the Rural Civilisation ofthe Middle and Upper Foglia Valley.Pietrarubbia: Pottery Museum, Metal-working complex,Permanent Exhibition of the TAM (Trattamento Artritico Metalli -Arthritic Treatment with Metals) Course.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSPiandimeleto: Palio dei Conti Oliva, July.Monte Cerignone: Shooting, hunting, riding, jousting and hag-gling on Mons Cerignonis, July.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSMany delicacies can be found here: from the tasty Crostolo, tothe fine truffle of Sant’Angelo, to the numerous varieties of mush-rooms, to the excellent Carpegna ham and the Montefeltro caciot-ta cheeses. Among the confectionery specialities from the area isthe Bostrengo of the upper Metauro valley, the Bracciatelli withaniseed and the Lattarolo (milk pudding).

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In this area, which reaches from the UpperValley of the Metauro down to Val Marecchia,

there are at least two points of extraordinary inter-est. The first is in Urbania, the ancient CastelDurante, where the majolica tradition, whichbecame famous in the 16th century, is still thriv-ing. Today artisans find inspiration in the ancientnarrative patterns and in the elegant decorationsthat made Durantine pottery famous the worldover. Splendid exemplars of this pottery are con-served in the collections of the Palazzo Ducale(Duke’s Palace) and of the Museo Diocesano(Diocesan Museum). The secrets of this noble artare divulged in the summer when the Councilorganises educational holidays for people wishingto learn the ancient techniques. In the area thereare also metal-working and wicker-workingworkshops.The second appointment not to be missed is in thevillage of Pietrarubbia where, thanks to fruitfulcollaboration between the Council and the sculp-tor Arnaldo Pomodoro, a Centre dedicated to met-als has been opened. In the workshops, coursesare held on processing techniques, working withthe poorest metals up to the most precious.Young people from all over Europe give shape tooriginal creations which are then exhibited in thealleys and small squares of the historical towncentre.Also worth noting are the woollen rugs and blan-kets being woven on hand looms and the art ofpillow lace-making in Mercatello sul Metauro,the production of terracotta jars and vases inMercatino Conca, the processing of treated andhand-painted wood in Piandimeleto, the ancienttradition of goldsmithing, wrought iron and woodin Sant’Angelo in Vado, the hand-printing ofblankets, tablecloths and fabrics in Carpegna, thepottery production in Montecalvo in Foglia,Borgo Pace and Lunano.

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Through villas, keeps and castles only a stone’sthrow from the sea, in a short time you can reach

the interior, which is brimming with artistic testi-monies and beautiful landscapes.Worth admiring: Gabicce Mare, stretching along asmall gulf, has an enchanting view; Gradara,famous not only for the fascinating beauty of themediaeval village but also for its Castle, haunted byromantic memories of Paolo and Francesca.Not to be missed: the panoramic road through theMonte San Bartolo Regional Park with the picturesquevillages of Casteldimezzo, Fiorenzuola di Focara,Santa Marina Alta and the jewels of Villa Imperiale,Villa Caprile and Villa Vittoria: truly unique.Worth seeing: Pesaro, the ancient Pisaurum, seat ofthe Dukedom of the Della Rovere family until 1631,Rocca Costanza and the treasures held in the numer-ous museums that evoke the atmosphere, reached bythe town, of a court, Piazza del Popolo, the TownHall, Palazzo della Paggeria, the renaissancePalazzo Ducale (Duke’s Palace), the Civic Museums(Art Gallery and Pottery Museum), the RossiniOpera Festival (August), the Cathedral, theOliverian Archaeological Museum, the Chiesa delNome di Dio (Church of the Name of God),Rossini’s House and the Conservatory.Worth making a detour to see: Sant’Angelo in Lizzola,Montefabbri (a village near Corbordolo), Petriano

with the Raffaello Spa. The focal point for culture and thelandscape is undoubtedly the city of Urbino, a UNESCOheritage site that holds, within its ancient walls, an ines-timable treasure chest of art, culture and history.Worth seeing: the famous Palazzo Ducale (Duke’sPalace) which houses the Galleria Nazionale delleMarche (National Gallery of Marche) with masterpiecesfrom every age, including works by Raphael, Pietrodella Francesca, Paolo Uccello, Luca Signorelli, Titianand Barocci; the Chiesa di San Bernardino (Church ofSt. Bernardino) designed by Bramante, the Convento diSanta Chiara (Convent of St. Clare) designed byFrancesco di Giorgio Martini, the gothic Chiesa di S.Francesco (Church of St. Francis) with worksby Federico Fiore Barocci, the imposing Duomo(Cathedral), the Museo Diocesano Albani (AlbaniDiocesan Museum), the Albornoz Fortress, the Oratoriodi San Giovanni (the Oratory of St. John) with the splen-did cycle of frescoes by the Salimbeni brothers, theOratorio di S. Giuseppe (the Oratory of St. Joseph) withthe sculptures of Federico Brandani and the Casa nataledi Raffaello (Raphael’s family’s house).Worth visiting: Fermignano, Bramante’s birthplace,with the fine Roman bridge and the mediaeval Tower;Acqualagna, the white truffle capital; Piobbico with awell-maintained mediaeval core, the imposing Castellodei Brancaleoni (Brancaleoni Castle) and the CivicMuseum which houses the permanent exhibition“Brancaleoni, Clothes and Jewels of a Noble Family”;Apecchio, a village of ancient origin with the interestingMuseum of Fossils and Minerals of Monte Nerone.Worth discovering: the evocative Furlo Gorge, protectedas a State Nature Reserve and the surprising forulus tun-nel, dug with chisels in 76 B.C. by the Roman legions.

8. Urbino9. Gradara10. Gabicce Mare11. Pesaro

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5. Fermignano6. Apecchio7. Piobbico

PEGLIO

MACERATA FELTRIA

MONTE CERIGNONE

LUNANO

PIANDIMELETO

SANT'ANGELO IN VADO

MONTECALVO IN FOGLIAAUDITORE

PETRIANO

ISOLA DEL PIANO

FERMIGNANO

ACQUALAGNA

MONTECICCARDO

SERRUNGARINA

FRATTEROSA

URBANIA

GABICCE MARE

SASSOFELTRIO

TAVOLETO

MONTELLABATE

SASSOCORVARO

URBINO

PESARO

MOMBAROCCIO

CARTOCETO

SALTARA

ORCIANO DI PESARO

BARCHI

SANT'IPPOLITOFOSSOMBRONE

APECCHIO

PIOBBICO

PERGOLA

S. LORENZO IN CAMPO

S.S. 73 BIS

S.S. 257

S.S. 4

23

S.S. 8

S.S. 424

S.S. 73 BIS

S.S. 423

S.S. 8

SAN MARINO

TAVULLIA

GRADARA

SANT'ANGELO IN LIZZOLA

MONTEFELCINO

COLBORDOLO

MARKET FAIRSPesaro: Domo 360 – Furniture Trade Fair,June (every two years).Urbino: Urbino Antiquaria, antiques market, firstSunday of the month (from March to December);Market Fair of Old Books, every Wednesday.Acqualagna: National White Truffle Fair,October and November; Regional Fine BlackTruffle Fair, February; Regional Summer TruffleFair, August.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSPesaro: Testimonies of Rural Life in the Lower Foglia Valley.Pesaro: Washington Patrignani Maritime Museum.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSGradara: Siege of the Castle, July.Urbino: Duke’s Festival, August.Fermignano: Palio della Rana, first Sunday after Easter; BicicloOttocentesco (Nineteenth-Century Bicycle), first Sunday inSeptember.Piobbico: Renaissance Week and Palio della Pannocchia, endof August – beginning of September.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSThe production of the Casciotta d’Urbino, a ProtectedDesignation of Origin (PDO) cheese, goes back centuries.Among lovers of this cheese was a certain MichelangeloBuonarroti.Acqualagna is the capital of the much sought-after White Truffle,Tuber Magnatum Pico, and the fine Black Truffle, TuberMelanosporum Vitt. The area produces numerous varieties oftruffles and mushrooms. Also worth mentioning are the ColliPesaresi DOC wines, both White and Red.

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Centuries of history dominated by so manyillustrious families and princely patrons,

could only have left significant traces of artisticcraftwork around the area.Pesaro is one of the national centres of the greatpottery tradition, thanks to the refined“Raphaelesque” decorations of the 16th centuryand to the innovations introduced by the Casaliand Callegari factory (including the classic“Pesarese pink”) which operated from 1763 to1815. The ancient tradition lives on today in theBucci and Molaroni family workshops, the for-mer more innovative in design, the latter moretraditional in techniques and colours. The livelytown is also renowned for refined metal-work-ing, antiques and restoration of art works andbooks, production and repair of musical instru-ments (an activity particularly linked to theConservatorio di Musica “G. Rossini” - “G.Rossini” Music School) and the creation of pre-cious briar root pipes. Urbino stands out, notjust for the majolica (the collection held in thePalazzo Ducale is notable, with works from theworkshops of Patanazzi and Nicola da Urbino),but also for metals, textiles and antiques, and forthe conservation of artistic historical works and,in particular, the tradition of art prints and bookrestoration.Along the coast and in the immediate hinterlandthe craft activities range from refined common-ly-used objects to singular souvenirs: inGradara and in Gabicce there are pottery work-shops.In Sant’Angelo in Lizzola the working of glass,gold and wrought iron is prevalent.Worthy of note is the centuries-old tradition ofworking the fine Furlo stone in Acqualagna;particularly fine are the rustic rugs in rough woolwoven on a loom by skilled hands in Piobbicoand wrought-iron products in Apecchio andColbordolo.In Fermignano there is woodworking, potteryproduction and stone-working.

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This is a voyage in space and time along part ofthe ancient Via Flaminia, the consular road that

connected Rome to the Adriatic.Worth seeing: Fano, which still has significant tracesof its distant Roman origins, including the monu-mental Arco d’Augusto (Arch of Augustus), the six-teenth-century Fontana della Fortuna (Fountain ofFortune), the Teatro della Fortuna (FortuneTheatre), the Corte Malatestiana (which houses theCivic Museum and the Art Gallery), the MalatestaKeep, the Cathedral, the Chiesa di San Paterniano(Church of St. Paterniano’s) and the Chiesa di S.Maria Nuova (Church of St. Mary the New), knownfor two precious paintings by Perugino.Worth visiting: Fossombrone, with its historicalchurches, the monumental Library, the museums,the Palazzo Ducale (Duke’s Palace) or Corte Rossa(Red Court), the renaissance Corte Alta (HighCourt) built on the orders of Federico daMontefeltro, the Cittadella with the remains of theRocca Malatestiana and, in the locality SanMartino del Piano, the ancient Roman town ofForum Sempronii, recognised as a RegionalArchaeological Park.Worth admiring: the remains of the ancient town wallsof Cartoceto, Sant’Ippolito, Barchi, Mondolfo and

Mondavio, famous for the scenic Rocca designed byFrancesco di Giorgio Martini, and Monte Porzio.Not to be missed: Orciano di Pesaro with the renais-sance Chiesa di S. Maria Nuova (Church of St. Mary theNew); Fratte Rosa, a tranquil village perched on the topof a hill surrounded by walls where much terracotta isstill produced; San Lorenzo in Campo with the splen-did Abbazia di San Lorenzo (Abbey of St. Lawrence),the Palazzo dei Principi Ruspoli (the Ruspoli Princes’Palace), the Palazzo Pretorio, the Teatro Tiberini(Tiberini Theatre) of 1816 and the Municipal Museum;Pergola, which kept its mediaeval structure and look,with ancient palaces, the Gothic Chiesa di S. Francesco(Church of St. Francis) , the Chiesa di San Giacomo(Church of St. James) , the Cathedral and the famousGilded bronzes from Cartoceto di Pergola of the Julian-Claudian age, testifying to its glorious past.Worth making a detour to see: Frontone with the old vil-lage huddled around the evocative Castle, the splendidEremo di Santa Croce di Fonte Avellana (FonteAvellana Hermitage of the Holy Cross) located in a soli-tary wooded valley near Serra Sant’Abbondio; theenchanting town of Cagli gathered around its grandiosePalazzo Comunale (Town Hall), famous for the majesticellipsoidal Tower by Francesco di Giorgio Martini and thePonte Mallio (Mallio Bridge) from Roman times.Worth discovering: the evocative Burano Gorge andCantiano, a village characterised by an interestingmediaeval structure which features a fine 17th-centuryCollegiate Church and a beautiful Roman Bridge.

12. Barchi13. Serra Sant’Abbondio, Fonte Avellana14. Fossombrone

15. Fano16. Cagli17. Mondavio18. Pergola

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AUDITORE

PETRIANO

ISOLA DEL PIANO

FERMIGNANO

MONDOLFO

MONTECICCARDO

SERRUNGARINA

CORINALDO

FRATTE ROSA

OSTRA VETEREEE

TAVOLETO

URBINO

FANO

S. COSTANZO

S. GIORGIO DI PESARO

BARCHI

SANT'IPPOLITOANFOSSOMBRONE

CANTIANOOOO

CAGLI

PERGOLAA

SERRA S. ABBONDIO

S. LORENZO IN CAMPO

ARCEVIA

BARBARA

SERRA DE' CONTI

S.S. 257

S.S. 4

S.S. 424

PIAGGE

GOLA DEL FURLO

MONTEFELCINO

MONDAVIO

MARKET FAIRSFano: Antiques Market Fair, second Sunday inthe month; National market fair of books andold prints, July.Montefelcino: Feudatory’s Market, everyTuesday from the middle of July to the middle ofAugust.Fossombrone: Market fair of the Bianchettospring truffle, March.Orciano di Pesaro: Ancient market of St.Rocco, August.

Sant’Ippolito: Scolpire in piazza (Sculpting in the Square), Art ofsculpture in sandstone, July.Montecarotto: Verdicchio Festival, June-July.Pergola: Wine festival, end of July.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSMombaroccio: Museum of Rural Civilisation.Isola del Piano: Sulle tracce dei nostri padri (In the Footsteps ofOur Fathers), Montebello Monastery.Sant’Ippolito: Museum of the Territory - the Stonemason’s Art.Fratte Rosa: Museum of Terracotta and Terra Cruda (Raw Earth),St. Victoria’s Convent.Orciano: Museum of Ropes and Bricks.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSMondavio: Boar hunting, August.Orciano di Pesaro: Museum of Ropes and Bricks.Pergola: Mediaeval festival, first Friday after the August bank holi-day.Serra Sant’Abbondio: Palio della Rocca, middle of September.Cagli: Gioco dell’Oca (Game of the Goose) and Palio, first andsecond Sunday in August.Cantiano: La Turba, re-enactment of the Good Friday Passion.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSMeat from the Catria Horse is of very high quality; Cantiano isrenowned for its famous amarene (sour cherries).Worthy of note is the brodetto alla fanese (Fanese broth), a tastyvariant containing tomatoes and vinegar.The Bianchello del Metauro DOC wine is produced in the area. Some typical cakes are: the Amaretti of Valcesano and the Bacimarchigiani (Marche Kisses) of Fonte Avellana. These are cakesmade with hazelnuts.Cartoceto oil is excellent; this is the first and only Marche extra-vir-gin olive oil with the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) mark.

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Along this itinerary there are at least three pointswith an extraordinary craftwork tradition:

Fano with its goldsmiths, Sant’Ippolito with itsstone workers and Fratte Rosa with its terracotta.Gold-working is found in Fano with master artisansof international renown, making original creations.These are the product of an untiring search fordesigns and a skilful mastery of the techniques ofrepoussé and chasing, drawing and filigreeing. Thetown also stands out for wood-, iron-, glass- andmetal-working; in addition, thanks to the annualcart procession of the Carnevale dell’Adriatico(Adriatic Carnival), papier-mâché techniques arewell-developed; this material is predominant in theconstruction of allegorical floats.Stone- and marble-masons operate in this area, inparticular in Sant’Ippolito, where they workedfrom the fourteenth to the end of the nineteenth cen-tury, but the tradition is still alive today and is renew-ing itself in an extraordinary conjunction with sculp-ture. Just as ancient but original in its shapes anddesigns (owing in part to the new-found energybrought by the young who are being attracted to thiswork), is the terracotta production in Fratte Rosaand Barchi: the type varies, ranging from kitchen-ware to typical jars, from furniture accessoriesto souvenirs, all made of a red clay and left naturalor coated with a luminescent black-purplish enamel.In Mondolfo it is worth noting the restoration ofantique furniture, while in Pergola, famous in theMiddles Ages for the wool industry and dyeing,there are workshops in the restoration and conserva-tion of art works. Cagli is known for restoration ofantique furniture, and glass-, stone- and iron-work-ing; Cantiano for the production of millstones,sandstone wheels for knife grinders, and artisticlamps; Cartoceto for wicker-weaving; MontePorzio for iron-working Fossombrone for gold,watches and barometers. In Frontone and SerraSant’Abbondio print engraving is done on glassand copper.

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Velvety beaches and delightful hills are the dis-tinguishing features of this area, a land which

produces fine DOC wines.Worth admiring: in Senigallia, a renowned seasideresort, the Rocca Roveresca, which overlooks awide square with the Palazzo del Duca (Duke’sPalace) and the Palazzetto Baviera, the seven-teenth-century Chiesa della Croce (Church of theCross), the Chiesa di S. Martino (Church of St.Martin), the Duomo (Cathedral) alongside thePinacoteca Diocesana, (Diocesan Art Gallery) theCasa natale di Pio IX (House in which Pius IX wasborn) and the scenic Portici Ercolani; in the imme-diate interior the renaissance chiesa di Santa Mariadelle Grazie (Church of Our Lady of Graces) whichhouses a fine Madonna in trono e Santi (Madonnaon the Throne and Saints) by Perugino.Worth visiting: Monterado, dominated by a seven-teenth-century noble palazzo; Castel Colonna andRipe, both surrounded by defensive walls;Corinaldo, picturesque mediaeval town with spec-tacular town walls, the Santuario di Santa MariaGoretti (Sanctuary of St. Maria Goretti) the FamilyHome of the Saint, the Chiesa dell’Addolorata(Church of Our Lady of Sorrows), the scenicPiaggia with Pozzo della Polenta (Polenta Well)and the former Benedictine Convent which housesthe Civic Art Collection.Not to be missed: Castelleone di Suasa noted by itsmediaeval Castle and by archaeological finds of the

ancient Roman city of Suasa Senonum kept in theRegional Archaeological Park and in the CivicArchaeological Museum; Barbara whose “Castellaro”looks towards the sea, is a village full of works of art;Ostra Vetere, a small, lively town with an interesting,old centre; Ostra, in a position dominating the Misavalley, with the imposing Civic Tower and the Santuariodella Madonna della Rosa (Sanctuary of Our Lady ofthe Rose), a destination for pilgrims and BelvedereOstrense, with its well-preserved old centre.Worth seeing: the picturesque village of Morro d’Alba,still gathered within the fifteenth-century walls charac-terised by high escarpment curtain walls; Monte SanVito, whose noble eighteenth-century Collegiate Churchis full of fine paintings; Chiaravalle, where you canadmire the Abbazia di S. Maria in Castagnola (Abbey ofSt. Mary in the Castagnola), one of the oldest establish-ments founded by the Cistercians; the historic centre ofMontemarciano in which the 19th-century Teatro Alfieristands out; Falconara Marittima, with a fine mediaevalCastle in the high part and the village of CamerataPicena not far from the historical nucleus of the Cassero,an ancient, fifteenth-century fortification.Along the Esino valley you come to Jesi, the RomanAesis which has a harmonious architectural structure,with mediaeval quarters, noble palaces, ancient church-es and the imposing Palazzo della Signoria, byFrancesco di Giorgio Martini. The town was the birth-place of Frederick II of Swabia and of the musicianPergolesi to whom the fine Theatre is dedicated.Palazzo Pianetti, which houses the Civic Art Gallerywith masterpieces by Lorenzo Lotto, is a significantexample of eighteenth-century architecture.

19. Ostra20. Falconara Marittima21. Ostra Vetere

22. Chiaravalle23. Jesi24. Corinaldo25. Senigallia

19 20 21 22 23

24

25

MONDOLFO

CASTELLEONE DI SUASA

MONTECAROTTOTTT

MONTERADODO

RIPE

CORINALDOLDO

CUPRAMONTANA

CHIARAVALLE

S. MARIA NUOVACASTELPLANIO

A14

S. COSTANZO

S. GIORGIO DI PESARO

MONTEPORZIO

BARCHI

ARCEVIA

SERRA DE' CONTI

OSTRA

MONTEMARCIANO

MONTE S. VITO

JESI

FALCONARAM.MA

POLVERIGI

FILOTTRANO

MERGO

SERRA S. QUIRICOOO

S.S.

360

S.S. 362

MONTEMAGGIORE AL M.

PIAGGE

MONDAVIO

MARKET FAIRSSenigallia: Exhibition of the goldsmith’s art,beginning of July; Market fair of craftworkand antiques, every Wednesday in Julyand August; Pane Nostrum, September.Monterado: Market fair of artistic and his-torical craftwork, beginning of October.Ostra Vetere: Montenovo in Festa, end ofJanuary.Ostra: National Exhibition of Antiques and

Artistic Craftwork, first half of August.Jesi: Tipica, December.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSSenigallia: “Sergio Anselmi” Sharecropping History Museum.Corinaldo: Sala del Costume e delle Tradizioni Popolari (Hallof Costumes and Folk Traditions).Belvedere Ostrense: International Museum of Postal Images.Morro d’Alba: Utensilia - Museum of Sharecropping Culture.Jesi: Lo Studio per le Arti della Stampa (Printing Arts Studio).Ostra Vetere: Parish Civic Museum.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSCorinaldo: Contesa del Pozzo della Polenta (Polenta WellContest), third Sunday in July.Jesi: Palio di San Floriano, first week in May.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSThis is an area with a great variety of wines, including the cel-ebrated Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, the White and RedEsino, the tasty Lacrima di Morro d’Alba.Among vegetables noteworthy are the Suasa onion, the cauli-flowers and artichokes of Jesi, the cicerchia (grass pea,Lathyrus Sativus) and broad beans in the Ostra area.

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SENIGALLIAMONTERADOCASTEL COLONNARIPECORINALDOCASTELLEONE DI SUASABARBARAOSTRA VETEREOSTRABELVEDERE OSTRENSEMORRO D’ALBAMONTE SAN VITOCHIARAVALLEMONTEMARCIANOFALCONARA MARITTIMACAMERATA PICENAJESI

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Like other seaside towns, Senigallia has numer-ous small shops selling local products which

are the result of a combination of maritime cultureand farming traditions, applied to objects fordomestic use, pottery, glass, costume jewellery,fine jewellery and restored wooden furniture.One of the most significant centres for antiquesand restoration is Ostra, where there is a Schoolfor Old Furniture Restoration, specialised in thesectors of wood and iron (with courses on embroi-dery, internal painting and decorating and glass-working) which makes use of the technical skillsand consolidated experience of the local artisans.The valleys of the Misa and the Esino are charac-terised by a particularly innovative and advancedindustrialisation process in the fields of engineer-ing and clothing: the surprising thing is howeverthe “against the flow” choice made by numerousyoung people, who have decided to carry on tra-ditional artistic craft trades recovering ancienttechniques like the typically French one of artisticwindows.In Jesi, for example, the centuries-old gold-work-ing tradition is continuing. The tradition can beseen by the street names such as Via degli orefici(Goldsmiths’ Street - today however renamed ViaPergolesi) in which, until a few years ago, heldnumerous well-equipped workshops. The townproduces leather accessories and decorations onglass, and iron and wood are worked, while silk-worm cultivation and silk-working have now fall-en into disuse. The wide distribution of these istestified by the numerous spinning mills andfarmhouses in the area with dovecotes. It is alsoworth noting the typical luthier’s workshop. Gold-working and restoration workshops and shopsselling paintings and antique furniture may befound in Chiaravalle, Montemarciano,Falconara Marittima, Ostra Vetere and Ripe,a place in which the craftwork tradition is so well-rooted that it is called “the town of trades”; inCamerata Picena artistic fabrics are made, whilein Monsano refined embroidery work is done.

4

12

Wonders of nature such as the Frasassi Caves,pristine landscapes and a great variety of artis-

tic and historical assets make this route so memorable.Worth visiting: Fabriano, birthplace of Gentile andof other great artists, known for its ancient paper-works founded between the 12th and the 13th cen-turies. The town has kept its mediaeval aspect, mod-elled around the Piazza del Comune (Town HallSquare) with the thirteenth-century FontanaSturinalto and the Palazzo del Podestà, the Civic ArtGallery, housed in the Spedale di Santa Maria delBuon Gesù (Hospital of Our Lady of Good Jesus),the fine historical Teatro Gentile, the Duomo(Cathedral), the Oratori del Gonfalone e della Carità(Oratories of the Town Banner and of Charity).Worth admiring: a few kilometres away, in anenchanting natural area protected by the RegionalPark of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi, the Grotte diFrasassi (Frasassi Caves), a karst environment ofextraordinary beauty, and the Benedictine Abbey ofS. Vittore alle Chiuse, founded probably at the end ofthe 10th century.Worth stopping to see: Genga, which still has itsoriginal mediaeval town plan and the noble Palazzodei Conti della Genga; Sassoferrato, dominated bythe remains of the Keep built on the orders ofCardinal Albornoz with Palazzo Montanari, Palazzodei Priori, Palazzo Oliva, the Romanic Church of S.

Croce (the Holy Cross), the Church of the Clarisse (PoorClares) which houses works by the painter GiambattistaSalvi, known as Sassoferrato) and the Roman town ofSentinum, today a Regional Archaeological Park.Worth driving along: the panoramic road which leads toArcevia, where you can visit the Collegiate Church of S.Medardo which houses significant paintings by LucaSignorelli and Ercole Ramazzani; and terracotta worksby Fra’ Mattia and Giovanni della Robbia. Of particularinterest are the surroundings, characterised by Castles,including the picturesque fortified villages of Palazzo,Piticchio, Loretello, Nidastore, Castiglioni andAvacelli. Not to be missed: Serra de’ Conti, with the GothicChurch of S. Michele (St. Michael) and the mediaevaltown walls in which stands the imposing Monastero diSanta Maria Maddalena; (Monastery of St. MaryMagdalene) the characteristic centre of Montecarottowith its Municipal Theatre with three tiers of balconies;Moie, where you must visit the Romanic Abbazia diSanta Maria (Abbey of St. Mary); the ancient and evoca-tive villages of Castelbellino, Monte Roberto andMaiolati Spontini, birthplace of the musician GaspareSpontini; Cupramontana, interesting for the ruins of theEremo dei Frati Bianchi (White Friars’ Hermitage) andfor the Badia del Beato Angelo (Abbey of the BlessedAngel); Staffolo, still mostly surrounded by a great circleof walls and, perched on hills on the opposite side of thevalley, the old fortified villages of Castelplanio, Rosora,Mergo and Serra San Quirico, renowned for its cop-ertelle, roads covered by houses built on the remains ofthe castle walls, and the baroque Chiesa di Santa Lucia(Church of St. Lucy).

26. Sassoferrato27. Serra San Quirico28. Serra de’ Conti

29. Fabriano30. Staffolo31. Arcevia32. Genga, Grotte di Frasassi

26 27 28 29 30

31

32

MONTECAROTTOTTT

S. PAOLO DI JESI

STAFFOLO

FRATTE ROSA

OSTRA VETEREEE

GUBBIOPERUGIAROMA

PERGOLA

FRONTONE

SERRA S. ABBONDIO

SASSOFERRATO

ARCEVIAA

BELVEDEREOSTRENSE

OSTRA

S. MARCELLO

MONSANO

JESI

SERRA S. QUIRICOA

GENGAG

FABRIANOB

CERRETO D'ESI

APIRO

CINGOLI

S.S

S.S. 424

S.S. 76

S.S.

502

GOLA DEL FURLO

MARKET FAIRSFabriano: Market fair of craftwork,September.Genga: Market fair of craftwork, August.Sassoferrato: Old Time Market, lastSaturday in the month, from May to August.Arcevia: Grape Festival, last weekend inSeptember.Serra de’ Conti: Serrantiqua, third Saturdayin the month (from April to September);

Cicerchia (Grass Pea) Festival, last Sunday in November.Montecarotto: National Festival of the Questua della Pasquella(a kind of collective door-to-door busking at the Epiphany), 6January.Maiolati Spontini (Moie): Antiquariato e Collezionismo(Antiques and Collections), first Sunday in May and first Sundayin September.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSFabriano: Mestieri in Bicicletta (Trades on Bikes), permanentexhibition of vintage bicycles for old trades.Fabriano: Museum of the Mazzolini Giuseppucci Pharmacy.Fabriano: Museum of Paper and Filigree.Fabriano: Museum of Rural Civilisation.Fabriano: Grande Museo (Large Museum).Sassoferrato: Cabernardi Sulphur Mine Museum.Sassoferrato: Museum of Folk Arts and Traditions.Serra de’ Conti: Le stanze del tempo sospeso (The Rooms ofSuspended Time). Museum of Monastic Arts.Cupramontana: International Label Museum.Staffolo: Art of Wine Museum.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSFabriano: Palio di San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist),flower carpets and Sfida del Maglio (Hammer Challenge), 24June.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSCupramontana, Serra de’ Conti, Montecarotto and Staffolo,together with other towns in the Vallesina (Esino Valley), are typ-ical areas of production for the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, arenowned DOC Marche wine. Famous among typical productsis the tasty Fabriano salame.

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FABRIANOGENGASASSOFERRATOARCEVIASERRA DE’ CONTIMONTECAROTTOCASTELBELLINOMONTE ROBERTOMAIOLATI SPONTINICUPRAMONTANASTAFFOLOCASTELPLANIOROSORAMERGOSERRA SAN QUIRICO

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In this strongly industrialised area we areamazed by the beauty of the rural landscape

marked by large vineyards and the conservationof the mountains, sometimes covered by greenwoods, sometimes harsh and rocky.In the heart of this area lies Fabriano, a townwhich, before the current industries took off,was wholly identified with the production ofpaper and with the invention of the particular fil-igree technique which is the essence and distinc-tive feature of paper instruments and banknotes.In the Museo della Carta e della Filigrana(Museum of Paper and Filigree), housed in theformer Convento di San Domenico (Monasteryof St. Dominic), you can still follow the ancientprocessing techniques and admire the engineer-ing of the instruments from the middle ages.Traditional handmade paper production, whichtoday is the subject of considerable interest, wasdone by Cartiere Miliani.You can still buy pottery decorated with the nowclassic patterns of the former CeramicaBolzonetti, and of particular significance is therecovery of the refined technique of art printing.One activity, once widespread, was iron-work-ing, as shown by the blacksmiths who appear onthe town’s arms.The extraordinary influx of tourists created bythe Grotte di Frasassi (Frasassi Caves), stimu-lated the recovery of other traditional tradesassociated both with the sale of souvenirs, gifts,jewellery (giving a new impulse to goldsmiths’craft workshops), and with the ancient tech-niques of furniture and wood restoration inCupramontana, Arcevia, Maiolati Spontini,Rosora, Serra de’ Conti and Sassoferrato.The art of embroidery is practiced inMontecarotto, Castelbellino and Castelplanio.

5

14

This evocative itinerary leads to the discovery ofthe Riviera del Conero and the towns of the inte-

rior, full of art and ancient memories.Worth visiting: Ancona, capital of Marche, foundedby Syracusans, the history of which has always beenlinked to the imposing port dominated by theCattedrale di San Ciriaco (Cathedral of St.Cyriacus) and characterised by the Arco di Traiano(Trajan’s Arch, 100-115 AC); nearby is the eigh-teenth-century Arco Clementino (Clementine Arch),the baroque Porta Pia and the extraordinary MoleVanvitelliana, where exhibitions and shows are heldalmost year-round.Worth seeing: the neoclassical Teatro delle Muse, thefifteenth-century Loggia dei Mercanti, the RomanicChurch of S. Maria della Piazza (St. Mary of theSquare), Palazzo Ferretti, which houses theNational Archaeological Museum of Marche, theChiesa di S. Francesco (Church of St. Francis), thesixteenth-century Palazzo Bosdari which houses the“F. Podesti” Civic Art Gallery, Piazza del Plebiscito,flanked by the sixteenth-century Tower, by thePalazzo del Governo and by the Chiesa di S.Domenico (Church of St. Dominic) and in CorsoMazzini, the Fontana del calamo (Reed PenFountain). It is worth stressing the quality of thesculptures, created by the artists Trubbiani,Mattiacci, Sassu, Fazzini, Pomodoro, Ligi. Theystand at the city’s focal points and have becomewell-known at an international level, also for theirskilled metalwork.Worth making a detour to see: Agugliano, wherethere is a Home-made Ice Cream Study Centre,

Polverigi and Santa Maria Nuova in a panoramic posi-tion; Offagna, in the land where they produce RossoConero, dominated by the spectacular 15th-centuryRocca (Keep); Filottrano, an important clothing indus-try centre, the historical core of which was built entirelyof brick, boasts as a rare work of rural architecture, theneoclassical Casino Beltrami (approx. 1820); Osimo,full of ancient vestiges, including the thirteen Romanstatues from the Imperial Age conserved in the TownHall, the Romanic Cathedral and the Battistero(Baptistry), the Sanctuary of S. Giuseppe da Copertino,(St. Joseph of Copertino) the Teatro La Nuova Fenice(New Phoenix Theatre) and the prestigious PalazzoCampana with alongside the small theatre designed byA. Vici and the Civic Museum;and the adventuroushypogeum walk.Not to be missed: Castelfidardo, the accordion capitalwhich has a monument commemorating the historic bat-tle of 1860; Loreto, partially surrounded by sixteenth-century walls and bastions, is home to the largest MarianSanctuary built on the spot where, according to the story,the House of Nazareth was flown away from Palestine byangels. Alongside the Basilica, is the Palazzo Apostolico(Apostolic Palace) built by some of the most illustriousarchitects of the Renaissance following Bramante’splans. Its rooms house the Museo Pinacoteca dell’AnticoTesoro (Art Galley and Museum of Ancient Treasure);unique of its kind is the itinerary of the Rocchette: splen-did patrol walkways overlooking the sea.We recommend stopping at: Numana, a well-knownseaside resort whose Antiquarium Statale (StateAntiquarium) exhibits remains of the Picene civilisation;Sirolo, a charming village perched over the sea andheadquarters of the Monte Conero Regional Park; theBay of Portonovo with the Torre Clementina and thesplendid Romanic Church of Santa Maria (St. Mary);Camerano, birthplace of the painter Carlo Maratti ofwhom there are works in the Parish Church and in theChurch of St. Faustina. Of great interest to tourists is avisit to the underground caves dug in the sandstone.

33. Ancona, Portonovo34. Loreto35. Sirolo

36. Osimo37. Numana38. Offagna39. Ancona

33 34 35 36 37

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39

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S. MARIA NUOVA

CAMERATA PICENAA

AGUGLIANO

OFFAGNA

POLVERIGI

FILOTTRANORANONOO

OSIMO

CASTELFIDARDO

PORTONOVOP

NUMANA

LORETOO PORTO RECANATI

MONTEFANOMOMO

MONTECASSIANOOOOO

RECANATI

ANCONA

S.S.

76

S.S.

361

S.S. 571

S.S. 362

MARKET FAIRSAncona: Antiques market, last Sunday ofthe month (except for June, July andAugust); Mercatino Al Riò Dej Archi, thirdSunday of the month and the Saturdaybefore.Numana: Spring Festival, Easter Sundayand Monday; Summer Craft Market, Julyand August.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSFilottrano: Biroccio (Two-Wheeled Cart) Museum.Filottrano: Beltrami Museum.Castelfidardo: International Accordion Museum.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSOffagna: Mediaeval Festivals and Contesa della Crescia,last week in July.Filottrano: Contesa dello stivale (Boot Contest), first Sunday inAugust.Loreto: Corsa del Drappo, 6 September.Loreto (Villa Musone): Re-enactment of Good Friday Passion.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSThis is a wine-making area particularly suited to the productionof the renowned Rosso Conero DOCG.It is worth mentioning the “Serpe” (Snake) of Filottrano (theoriginal recipe is the one conserved by the Nuns of SaintClare), a typical Christmas cake in the shape of a spiral withground almonds and icing.The stoccafisso (stockfish) and the brodetto all’anconitana(Anconitan Broth) are delicious.

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ANCONAAGUGLIANOPOLVERIGIOFFAGNAFILOTTRANOOSIMOCASTELFIDARDOLORETONUMANASIROLOCAMERANO

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The most significant craftwork tradition in thisarea is accordion making, which places

Castelfidardo as one of the leading global centresfor this instrument.In the Eighties, in an attempt to reconcile the pastwith current, a florid industry of various musicalinstruments was developed but has since sufferedfrom the competition from the oriental market.A period of crisis was however followed by rapidmanufacturing reconversion, which has consoli-dated and re-launched traditional accordion andpiano accordion making.The town is also known for gift items, furnishingobjects and accessories made of gold and silver.Loreto, with the Santa Casa (Holy House), hasdeveloped an extraordinary production of reli-gious articles, including sacred images on goldand silver plate, innovative silver objects, rosariesand a wide range of souvenirs which, while fol-lowing the most fashionable materials quickly butwith unchanging artistic flair, give priority to thelocal tradition of pottery and wood carving.In the centre of Ancona, very close to the quaysfrom which hundreds of thousands of peopleembark every year for Mediterranean countries, inthe alleys that wind their way between theentrance to the port and Piazza del Plebiscito, youcan find small shops selling gifts, art prints andrestored antiques, costume jewellery and artisticgold items, and textile and leather workshops, runby young people and artisans, who still hand downtheir ancient processing techniques.Noteworthy are also the embroidery, tailoringand restoration activities in Filottrano, wood,iron, glass and metal processing and musicalinstrument making in Osimo, wood and metalprocessing in Polverigi and typical pottery pro-duction in Sirolo. Embroidery work is done inAgugliano, while in Camerano they makewatches, giftware and gold items.

6

“The history of the white lacewhich in circles, diamonds and stripesstarts, winds its way and finishesto the rhythm of a perfect game...”

V. Castelli, Le Merlettaie (The Lace Makers), 1950

“…and the small tea tablewas ready, with cups andsaucers in majolica fromCastel Durante, ancientshapes of inimitable grace…”

G. D’Annunzio, Il piacere (Pleasure), 1889

18

Places of art full of Leopardian echoes, pleasantand well-equipped beaches and a landscape of

rolling hills characterise this route.Worth seeing: Porto Recanati, dating back to thetime of Frederick II in a spot not far from theRoman colony of Potentia, the fifteenth-centurySvevo Castle grew which now houses theMunicipal Art Gallery; Recanati, birthplace ofGiacomo Leopardi with the square and the monu-ment dedicated to him, his memoirs conserved inthe Town Hall, Palazzo Leopardi, the CivicMuseum in Villa Colloredo Mels which has somesignificant works, including four paintings byLorenzo Lotto, the Diocesan Museum, the OlivieroPigini Guitar Museum and the Beniamino GigliMuseum, housed in the nineteenth century PersianiTheatre and the Church of S. Domenico (St.Dominic) with a fine white stone portal byBenedetto da Majano.Not to be missed: the imposing Montefiore Castlenear Montefano; Montecassiano which has anunusual urban structure with concentric streetssurrounded by stairs and is full of mediaeval andrenaissance buildings; Macerata, famous for itsold University, significant monuments such as theArena Sferisterio (which houses the MacerataOpera Festival), the almost completely intact oldwalls which surround a series of alleyways and the

old centre, the Church of La Misericordia (Church ofMercy), the Loggia del Grano (housing the universi-ty), Piazza della Libertà with the Loggia dei Mercanti,the Clock Tower, the Town Hall and the Palazzo dellaPrefettura (Prefecture), the eighteenth-century LauroRossi Theatre and precious art collections: Museodella Carrozza (Cart Museum) in PalazzoBuonaccorsi (you can also visit the Aeneid Galleryand the noble floor) and the 20th-Century ItalianCollection in Palazzo Ricci.Worth making a detour to see: the Church of SanClaudio al Chienti (St. Claud by the Chienti - 11th cen-tury) at Corridonia Stazione; Corridonia, the ancientPausulae, in the interesting Parish Art Gallery whereyou can admire a Madonna con Bambino (Madonnaand Child) by Carlo Crivelli; Mogliano, where there isa fine Madonna in Gloria e Santi (Madonna in Gloryand Saints) by Lorenzo Lotto; Monte San Giusto, withPalazzo Bonafede and the Chiesa di S. Maria inTelusiano which houses the celebrated Crocifissione(Crucifixion) by Lorenzo Lotto; the ancient village ofMorrovalle; the splendid Romanic Church of SantaMaria a Piè di Chienti (St. Mary at the Foot of theChienti) at Montecosaro Stazione.Worth visiting: Civitanova Marche, a comfortable sea-side resort, which has a high part Civitanova Alta, thebirthplace of Annibal Caro to whom the Theatre of thesame name is dedicated, characterised by town wallswith towers, bulwarks, two gates, fine noble palaces,churches and the well-stocked M. Moretti Modern ArtGallery; Potenza Picena, renowned for the renaissanceVilla Buonaccorsi with its splendid Italian garden.

40. Corridonia41. Porto Recanati42. Civitanova Alta

43. Montecassiano44. Morrovalle45. Recanati46. Macerata

40 41 42 43 44

45

46

CIVITANOVA MARCHE

MONTECOSAROSTAZIONE

CORRIDONIASTAZIONE

FILOTTRANO

CASTELFIDARDOLORETO

PORTO RECANATI

PORTO POTENZA PICENA

MONTEFANOFAMMOMO

MONTECASSIANO

URBISAGLIA

COLMURANOLORO PICENO

POLLENZA

MONTE S. PIETRANGELI

PETRIOLO

MOGLIANO

RECANATI

POTENZA PICENAMONTELUPONE

MONTECOSAROONTNT

CIVITANOVAAAALTA

MORROVALLE

PORTOSANT'ELPIDIO

SANT'ELPIDIO A MARE

MONTEGRANARO

RAPAGNANOFERMO

MASSA FERMANAAA

S.S. 7

7

S.S.

77

S

S.S. 77

S.S. 2

10

S.S. 362

S.S.

361

S.S. 571

MARKET FAIRSPorto Recanati: Craftwork Market Fair,every Sunday in July and August.Macerata: Il Barattolo, second Sunday inthe month (excluding July and August);Central Marche Trade Fair, April.Civitanova Marche: Tesori in piazza,(Treasures in the Square) second Sundayin the month (excluding July, August andDecember); Market Fair of Craftwork and

Artistic Antiques, fourth Sunday in the month (excluding Julyand August); Market Fair of Craftwork and Artistic Antiques,every Saturday evening in July and August; Cartacanta (PaperSings) National Market Fair, October.Apiro: “Art and Land” Market Fair (first half of August).Montelupone: Apimarche, August.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSMacerata: “La Tela” workshop-permanent exhibition ofancient looms.Macerata: Cart Museum.Macerata: Typological Nativity Scene Museum - CasseseCollection.Morrovalle: International Nativity Scene Museum.Civitanova Marche Alta: Museum of Folk Arts and Traditions.Civitanova Marche: Historical Trotting Museum.Montelupone: Arts and Ancient Trades Museum.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSMontecassiano: Palio dei Terzieri, July.Corridonia: Contesa della Margutta, first Sunday inSeptember.Mogliano: Mogliano 1744, beginning of July; Re-enactmentof the Good Friday Passion.Potenza Picena: Palio del Grappolo d’Oro (Bunch of Gold),end of September.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSThe entire hill territory of the Province of Macerata is involvedin the production of Colli Maceratesi White and Red wines.Among fruits and vegetables worth noting are the roveja (alegume, the field pea) the artichokes of Montelupone and thefigs of Recanati. The brodetti (thin broths) of Porto Recanatiand Civitanova Marche are excellent. Characteristic of theMacerata area is the ciauscolo, a particular type of softsalume sausage.

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PORTO RECANATIRECANATIMONTEFANOMONTECASSIANOMACERATACORRIDONIAMOGLIANOMONTE SAN GIUSTOMORROVALLE MONTECOSAROCIVITANOVA MARCHEPOTENZA PICENA

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The itinerary winds through an area dense infootwear production where Civitanova

Marche (also a wrought iron and wood processingcentre) and Monte San Giusto emerge as the head-quarters of national and international brands, and arefull of a myriad of small workshops.Worthy of note are the other towns characterised bycraftwork, such as that of cane, wicker and willow inMogliano (the town of basket-makers) and the man-ufacture of silk damasks and brocades made by thenuns of the Istituto Figlie dell’Addolorata(Daughters of Our Lady of Sorrows Institute) inPotenza Picena.The area of footwear and leather-working (whichthrives in Corridonia), is part of the larger industri-al district which includes the bordering area of theProvince of Fermo and is the result of growth inwhich inventiveness has combined with skill in theuse of materials, creative design and organisationalabilities.The typical contribution of craftwork is still essentialtoday, even though it is very different from the pastwhen it was done in small workshops which openedonto the alleys of the old town centres.In the area that includes the municipalities of PortoRecanati, Recanati, Montecassiano and PotenzaPicena, where the nearness to Loreto is more influ-ential, precious metals are processed and religiousitems manufactured.Leopardi’s town - which has always been famous forthe production of combs obtained from carving oxand buffalo horns, is renowned for briar root pipesand toy factories.The territory is full of furniture restorers and oldpainting restorers (significant in this sector isCorridonia), and there is no shortage of smiths spe-cialised in wrought iron (in Morrovalle); fromMacerata, also known for the arts of printing, glass,precious metals, embroidery and for its “master tai-lors”, to the smallest walled villages which are scat-tered along the itinerary, the pleasant surprises arenever ending.

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The name of “Land of Harmonies” is a perfectway to describe the Province of Macerata.

Worth visiting: Cingoli, the Balcony of Marche offersunforgettable views over the surrounding area, withits palaces, the Collegiate Church ofSant’Esuperanzio (St. Exsuperantius) and the Churchof San Domenico (St. Dominic) which houses theMadonna del Rosario by Lorenzo Lotto and the“Donatello Stefanucci” Municipal Art Gallery.Worth making a detour to see: Apiro, with the inter-esting Roman Abbazia di Sant’Urbano (Abbey ofSt. Urban); Appignano, with a mediaeval core stillsurrounded by walls; Treia, with the charmingPiazza, the portico of the Town Hall which housesthe Civic Archaeological Museum, the Church ofSan Filippo (St. Philip) and the Palazzetto of theGeorgian Academy; Pollenza, an old village nearwhich stands the Church of Santa Maria Assunta diRambona (Our Lady of the Assumption ofRambona - 8th century).Worth seeing: Tolentino with the Basilica di SanNicola (Basilica of St. Nicholas), whose celebratedCappellone (Large Chapel) is decorated with agrandiose series of frescoes of the fourteenth-centu-ry Riminese school, the Cathedral, the Terme diSanta Lucia (Spa of St. Lucy) and the nearbyCastello della Rancia (Rancia Castle).

We recommend stopping in: Belforte del Chienti sur-rounded by town walls and known for the preciouspolyptic by Giovanni Boccati (15th cent.);Serrapetrona, to taste the excellent Vernaccia;Caldarola, birthplace of the De Magistris painters,where you can admire the Castello Pallotta rebuilt in thelate sixteenth century and walk the “path” dedicated topainters, as far as the Croce district; Cessapalombowhere you can visit the old fortified village and enjoy apleasant rest in the public gardens; Sarnano, a busy skiresort and renowned spa, famous for the “cotto rosso”(red brick tiles) of the roofs, the steep narrow streets, theArt Gallery and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta;(Our Lady of the Assumption) Monte San Martinoknown for the Crivelli masterpieces housed in theChurch of San Martino (St. Martin); San Ginesio, a pic-turesque mediaeval village surrounded by large wallsdotted with towers and bulwarks, with the 13th-centuryOspedale dei Pellegrini (Pilgrims’Hospital), the beauti-ful Collegiate Church with its interesting late-Gothicfaçade, the Church of S. Francesco (St. Francis), theMuseum and the Art Gallery.Not to be missed: the fortified villages of Ripe SanGinesio, Colmurano and Urbisaglia, which has animposing 15th-century Rocca (Keep) and was built onthe ruins of the Roman Urbs Salvia, now protected as aRegional Archaeological Park; the Cistercian Abbey ofSanta Maria di Chiaravalle di Fiastra, immersed in theFiastra Abbey Nature Reserve where you can go onnature walks and visit interesting museums.

47. San Ginesio48. Urbisaglia49. Tolentino

50. Cingoli51. Treia52. Caldarola53. Sarnano

47 48 49 50 51

52

53

CORRIDONIASTAZIONE

SERVIGLIANO

FIASTRA

GAGLIOLE

APIRO

POGGIO S. VICINOG

CASTELRAIMONDO

SERRAPETRONA

CINGOLIAPPIGNANO

TREIA

MONTECASSIANOOOOO

MACERATA

LORO PICENO

POLLENZA

CORRIDONIA

PETRIOLO

MOGLIANO

ABBADIADI FIASTRA

FRANCAVILLA D'ETE

MONTELUPONEMOMO

MONTEGIORGIO

MASSA FERMANA

BELMONTEPICENO

MONTERINALDO

MONTELEONE DI FERMO

MONTAPPONE

MONTE VIDON CORRADO

FALERONE

SANT'ANGELO IN PONTANO

PENNA S. GIOVANNI

MONTE S. MARTINO

S. VITTORIA IN MATENANOSARNANO

GUALDO

CESSAPALOMBO

PIEVEBOVIGLIANA

CAMERINO

CCIA

ORINA

361

S.S. 25

S.S.

256

S.S. 7

7

S.S. 361S.S.

502

S.S.

777777

S.S. 77

S.S. 362

MARKET FAIRSCingoli: Mercante in Fiera, (Merchant at theFair) every Tuesday in July and August.Pollenza: Market Fair of Antiques, Restorationand Craftwork, July.Tolentino: Fierantiqua, antiques and local craft-work market, fourth Sunday in every month.Sarnano: National Market Fair of Craftwork andAntiques, end of May and beginning of June.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSTolentino: Pottery Museum. Basilica di San Nicola (Basilica ofSt. Nicholas).Tolentino: Museum of Rural Civilisation at the Fiastra Abbey.Serrapetrona: Museum of Humanity.Sarnano: Museum of Weapons and Hammers.Cessapalombo: Museum of Charcoal-making.Colmurano: Renzo C. Ventura Memorial Museum.Tolentino: Wine Museum at Fiastra Abbey.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSCingoli: Cingoli 1848 and Gioco del Pallone a Bracciale(Bracelet Ball Game), August.Treia: Disfida del Bracciale (Joust for the Bracelet), end of July-August.Tolentino: Tolentino 815, beginning of May; City of TolentinoHistoric Procession, August-September.Caldarola: Giostra de le Castella (Castle Tournament) withPalio, beginning of August.Sarnano: Palio del Serafino, second Sunday in August.San Ginesio: Palio di San Ginesio, 15 August.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSThe area produces the excellent Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, asweet or medium-dry sparkling red wine, and a much-appreci-ated oil.From an ancient confectionery tradition come the Calcioni ofTreia, the Cavallucci of Apiro and the walnut cake of SanGinesio. The mushrooms and celery of Cingoli are particularlywell-known.

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CINGOLIAPIROAPPIGNANOTREIAPOLLENZATOLENTINO BELFORTE DEL CHIENTISERRAPETRONACALDAROLASARNANOMONTE SAN MARTINOSAN GINESIORIPE SAN GINESIOCOLMURANOURBISAGLIA

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Along this route full of events and historicalre-enactments, which range from mediaeval

jousts to pages of nineteenth-century history, thewealth of cultural assets is equal to that of thenatural environments.It is in this Marche of low hills, ready to rolldown to the sea, visible in the distance, or to riserapidly to the snowy peaks of the nearby MontiSibillini (Sibylline Mountains), that the heartand memory of ancient trades live on.Tolentino is the leather-working centre: hereskilled artisans, following an original and uniqueprocessing and finishing tradition, use the finestleather to create not only high-quality clothingaccessories, but also elegant and refined sofasand armchairs. Also found in the area are manyloom weavers as well as the traditional process-ing and weaving of linen and hemp.Whilst in the last few years, Pollenza has gaineda certain importance in the textile industry.Sarnano and above all Pollenza are theMaceratese towns where once the potteryindustry, known popularly as “le cocce” (thefragments), thrived the most . The oldest evi-dence of pottery, relating to the existence of avase workshop, dates from 1509. From thebeginning of the century it declined beforefinally dissolving and transforming its vocationinto wood-working.As well as being an important centre for the pro-duction and restoration of antique furniture,Treia is known for wrought iron working andmosaics.Restoration workshops can be found inUrbisaglia, Cingoli and Caldarola, whileAppignano is well-known for furniture produc-tion and for the rustic terracotta with character-istic finishes ranging from glossy golden or blueenamels, to the classic white base sprayed withgreen, to the traditional “biscotto” (biscuit ortwice-cooked).

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Along this fascinating route, among unspoiltmountains with their ancient legends and towns

boasting an illustrious past, it is inevitable that you’llcome across some of the innumerable examples ofart “hidden” in the area.Worth visiting: Matelica, a town of art, characterisedby numerous historical buildings, including PalazzoPretorio and Palazzo Piersanti housing the ArtMuseum which exhibits oriental porcelains, ivoryobjects, miniatures, and sacred and secular silver-work. Of no less importance are the Palazzi Ottoni,Palazzo Fossa and the G. Piermarini Theatre;Castelraimondo with the nearby Chiesa eremitica diSanta Maria delle Macchie (Hermitage Church ofOur Lady of the Woods) and Lanciano Castle;Pioraco, a small mediaeval village situated in anevocative rocky gorge, famous for its ancient paper-works; San Severino Marche with the Santuario deiLumi (Sanctuary of Lights), the Church of SantaMaria del Glorioso (Our Lady of the Glorious), theold Cathedral, the large elliptic-shaped Piazza delPopolo, the well-stocked Art Gallery and the splen-did Feronia Theatre. This noble town was the ful-crum of a cultural renewal thanks to the presence ofthe Sanseverinate School of painters to which theLorenzo brothers and Jacopo Salimbeni belonged.Of great interest is the town’s ArchaeologicalMuseum and the finds from the Roman Septempeda,now a Regional Archaeological Park a few kilome-

tres from the town centre.Worth seeing: Camerino, an ancient dukedom of the DaVarano family, led the 15th century in an intense econom-ic and artistic flowering which maintained the mediaevalprinciple of defending the surrounding territory as can beseen by the nearby ruins of the thirteenth-century Roccadi Varano. The town has one of the oldest and most illus-trious universities in Europe based in the elegant PalazzoDucale (Ducal Palace); in the old town centre there arealso the Cathedral and the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop’sPalace), housing the Diocesan Museum which housessome famous masterpieces and the Church of SanFilippo (St. Philip) which houses the Madonna in Gloriae San Filippo by Tiepolo.We recommend a detour to: Muccia, Pievebovigliana,of Roman origin, and Pieve Torina, where you can visitthe Hermitage of Sant’Angelo di Prefoglio; the Santuariodi S. Maria (Sanctuary of Our Lady) of Macereto, animposing building of Bramantesque design built in 1528,isolated on a plateau; Visso, headquarters of the ParcoNazionale dei Monti Sibillini (Sibylline MountainsNational Park) and a town with a noble past testified toby much mediaeval and renaissance architecture;Castelsantangelo sul Nera, a small mediaeval villagewith churches on Roman foundations.Not to be missed: Fiastra with its evocative lake and theGole del Fiastrone (Fiastrone Gorge) from which pleas-ant excursions start out for Eremo dei Frati (the Friar’sHermitage or Cave) and the Lame Rosse (Red Blades);Acquacanina, where you can visit the interestingChurch of S. Maria di Rio Sacro (Our Lady of the SacredStream), founded sometime around the year one thou-sand and Bolognola, a picturesque mediaeval village inthe heart of a pristine natural setting.

54. San Severino Marche55. Visso56. Pioraco

57. Castelsantangelo sul Nera58. Fiastra59. Camerino60. Matelica

54 55 56 57 58

59

60

PIORACO

BELFORTE DEL CHIENTI

MONTECAVALLO

NOCERA UMBRA

FOLIGNOOOROMA

ESANATOGLIA

FIUMINATA

SEFRORR

MATELICAGAGLIOLE

S. SEVERINO MARCHES O MO

CASTELRAIMONDO

TOLENTINO URBISAGLIA

COLMURANO

MONTEFORTINO

SARNANO

GUALDO

S. GINESIOOO

RIPE S. GINESIOP

BOLOGNOLA

MACERETO

USSITA

CESSAPALOMBO

MONTEMONACO

CASTELSANTANGELO SUL NERA

VISSO

PIEVEBOVIGLIANA

CAMERINO

MUCCIA

PIEVE TORINA

SERRAVALLE DI CHIENTIE

S.S. 361

S.S. 256

S.S. 76

S.S. 7

7

MARKET FAIRSMatelica: Antiques and souvenirs market,July and August.San Severino Marche: Second-HandClothes Market, fifth Sunday in the monthand 8 December;Exhibition of Productive Activities of SanSeverino, September.Camerino: Craftwork Market Fair atRocca da Varano, July and August

Muccia: Second-Hand Clothes Market, August.Fiastra: Good Things Market, May.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSPioraco: Museum of Paper and Filigree.Sefro: “Florindo Ferretti” Rural Civilisation Collection.San Severino Marche: “Oberdan Poletti” Territorial Museum.Pieve Torina: Museum of Our Land and Mill on the River.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSCamerino: Corsa alla Spada (Sword Race) and Palio, May.San Severino Marche: Palio dei Castelli, June.Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Visso, Ussita: Torneo delleGuaite (Tournament between Districts), end of July.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSOf particular quality is the Verdicchio di Matelica DOCG, awhite wine with a delicate fragrance.The area of the Monti Sibillini, like almost all the mountainousterritory in Marche, produces excellent pecorini (sheep’scheeses), delicious honey and exquisite lamb.Visso is renowned for its ciauscolo (salami sausage),Camerino for its cold pork meats, San Severino Marche for itssnails, baked and in roast pork.The whole area is an important place for the production of atypical mistrà, a liquor based on aniseed (the Varnelli ofPievebovigliana is famous) and other herbs from the mountainsaround. The black truffle of Ussita, Visso and Castelsantangelosul Nera is excellent.Noteworthy among cakes are the pannociato and the torrone(nougat) of Camerino.

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MATELICACASTELRAIMONDOPIORACOSAN SEVERINO MARCHECAMERINOMUCCIAPIEVEBOVIGLIANAPIEVE TORINAVISSOCASTELSANTANGELO SUL NERAFIASTRAACQUACANINABOLOGNOLA

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In this enchanting mountainous corner ofMarche, the courageous decision to devote

oneself to artistic craftwork has often represent-ed the only way to avoid the dreaded emigration.It has been a hard road to travel, but the resultshave not been long in coming.The fruits of this labour can be admired, in thesummer, in the ancient Rocca dei Da Varano, atthe foot of Camerino, the evocative exhibitionhall for a selection of the most representativeartistic craftwork products made in the region. Itis good to see that a building, long used todefend people, has been transformed into a placethat safeguards the ancient traditions and cen-turies-old processing techniques.Along the itinerary described there are not manyworkshops. Considering its history, the long cul-tural tradition and the extraordinary beauty ofthe landscape, the territory could host manymore. The quality of the workmanship, however,is always excellent: Matelica andCastelraimondo stand out for textile processingand antique furniture restoration, Muccia iswell-known for wrought iron, as is Camerino,where there are also workshops for book andfurniture restoration, whilst San SeverinoMarche is a centre for theatre scene decoration.Particularly significant is paper-working inPioraco, the origins of which date back to the16th century.Pievebovigliana is a textile production centrecombining the ancient loom weaving techniqueswith traditional decorative patterns, includingreal and imaginary animals, stars, diamonds andscenes in movement like those depicting the“saltarello”, a Marche folk dance.

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This itinerary winds through the numerous thrivingtowns of the Province of Fermo, full of works of art.Worth seeing: Sant’Elpidio a Mare, situated on ahill, with intact mediaeval walls, the massive TorreGerosolimitana (Jerusalem Tower), the CollegiateChurch and the Churches of Sant’Agostino (St.Augustine) and Maria Santissima dellaMisericordia (Our Most Holy Lady of Mercy), inter-esting for their architectural structure and preciousworks of art; Montegranaro, which grew aroundthe old core where the ancient churches of Sant’Ugo(St. Hugh) and San Pietro (St. Peter) stood.We recommend stopping: for anyone who wants sunand sea, in Porto Sant’Elpidio, a typical seasideresort with a promenade rich with vegetation, and inPorto San Giorgio, an ancient guard post along acoast infested by Turkish pirates and today animportant tourist resort known for its mediaevalcentre with the Rocca (Keep) and for its moderntown with avenues, trees and gardens.Worth a visit: the noble Fermo, considered themonumental hall of Marche with its ancient andvast Roman cisterns, the panoramic Piazzale delGirfalco on which stands the Cathedral with itsunusual asymmetrical façade, the splendid Piazzadel Popolo flanked by loggias, the Teatro

dell’Aquila (Eagle Theatre), the sixteenth-centuryPalazzo dei Priori which houses the Civic Gallery con-taining precious works such as the Adorazione dei pas-tori (Adoration of the Shepherds) by Rubens and theeight panels of the Polyptic of S. Lucia (St. Lucy) byJacobello del Fiore. Of great interest is the Oratorio diSanta Monica (Oratory of St. Monica) with frescoes inan international Gothic style.Worth making a detour to see: Torre di Palme, a “bal-cony over the sea” very well conserved with numerousmediaeval buildings, also famous for the waters of theFonti di Palme (Palm Springs).Not to be missed: Ponzano di Fermo, known for thePieve di San Marco (Parish Church of St. Mark) found-ed in the high middle ages; Monte Giberto, the ancientheart of which, in a dominant position, is enclosed by itsfourteenth-century walls; Servigliano, built in accor-dance with the town planning rules of the eighteenthcentury, and Falerone, where you can visit the RegionalArchaeological Park which protects the ruins of FalerioPicenus, the ancient Roman city with its splendid the-atre with stage and cavea.Worth discovering: Monte Vidon Corrado, a villagewith the remains of imposing fortifications, birthplace ofthe great painter Osvaldo Licini; Montappone, a smalltown with a mediaeval centre in which the Oratorio delSacramento (Oratory of the Sacrament) stands out;Massa Fermana, where you can admire a fine polypticby Carlo Crivelli, and Montegiorgio, where people visitits celebrated Ippodromo (horse carting racecourse).

61. Massa Fermana62. Porto San Giorgio63. Falerone

64. Montappone65. Montegranaro66. Torre di Palme67. Fermo

150 150 150 150

150

61 62 63 64 65

67

66

A14

MONTECOSAROSTAZIONE

STAZIONE

PEDASO

SERVIGLIANO

MACERATA

LORO PICENO

CORRIDONIA

MONTE S. PIETRANGELI

PETRIOLO

MOGLIANOFRANCAVILLA D'ETE

MORROVALLE

PORTO SANT'ELPIDIO

PORTO SAN GIORGIO

TORRE DI PALME

MONTEGRANARO

RAPAGNANO FERMO

MAGLIANO DI TENNAO

GROTTAZZOLINAGGMONTEGIORGIOO

MASSA FERMANAFEAA

BELMONTEPICENO

RIPATRANSONE

CARASSAIORTEZZANO

MONTALTO DELLE MARCHE

MONTELPARO

MONTERINALDO

MONTAPPONE

MONTE VIDONCORRADO

FALERONE

S.S.

77

S.S. 2

10

MARKET FAIRSPorto Sant’Elpidio: Mirabilia Market,August.Porto San Giorgio: Craft Market, everyTuesday in July and August.Antiques Market, August.Fermo: Tipicità, Festival of Typical MarcheProducts, March; Market Fair of Craftwork andAntiques, every Thursday in July and August.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSSant’ Elpidio a Mare: “Cavalier Vincenzo Andolfi” FootwearMuseum.Montappone: Hat Museum.Montegiorgio: Museum of Rural Culture of the Upper PiceneArea (in preparation).Ponzano di Fermo: Museums of the Field.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSSant’ Elpidio a Mare: La Città Medioevo (The MediaevalTown), third week in July; Contesa del Secchio (BucketContest) and procession, second Sunday in August.Fermo: Palio dell’Assunta, 15 August.Servigliano: Knightly Tournament of Castel Clementino, August.Montappone: The Straw Hat, last week in July.

TYPICAL PRODUCTSRosso Piceno is a fine wine, the production area includes thehill country of the Provinces of Macerata and Ancona, up toSenigallia. The typical white wine is the Falerio dei ColliAscolani.Particularly delicious is the caciotta cheese of the Fermo area.

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SANT’ELPIDIO A MAREMONTEGRANAROPORTO SANT’ELPIDIOPORTO SAN GIORGIOFERMOPONZANO DI FERMOMONTE GIBERTOSERVIGLIANOFALERONEMONTE VIDON CORRADOMONTAPPONEMASSA FERMANAMONTEGIORGIO

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Towards the end of the nineteenth century in thisarea there were dozens of footwear-making

workshops. This work was, in Montegranaro inparticular, the main economic resource of the area.With the passing of the years, industrial transforma-tion exploded although most firms remained smallfamily businesses, constituting an innovative dis-trict network which has been studied by many econ-omists. The same evolution was experienced by theart of weaving straw and wicker (today cane andbamboo) to make various kinds of objects such asfans, welcome mats, cases, but above all hats.So much so that Montappone which had alwaysbeen a hat production centre further increased itsbusiness following the introduction of machinestogether with Falerone, Monte Vidon Corradoand Massa Fermana.An evocative journey into the past of the ancientcraftwork traditions can involve two museum trips:to the Footwear Museum in Sant’Elpidio a Mare,which presents the historical evolution of footwearin Marche, as well as a collection of old machines,famous people’s footwear and a faithful reconstruc-tion of a craft workshop from the 1940s, and to theHat Museum in Montappone, which illustrates allthe straw processing stages up to the press whichgives the hat its shape and exhibits machinery, pan-els and a selection of varied headgear. In Fermo, ofthe “brickmakers” and “potters”, once found in largenumbers in the city, as is also true of the smiths spe-cialising in casting bells, there remain the “steelsmiths”, makers of gates, grilles, beds, andirons, etc.;there are also workshops of restorers, potters andgoldsmiths, who work following the renownedPicene gold-working tradition. Wood, marble andprecious metals are worked in Porto San Giorgio,Montegiorgio and Porto Sant’Elpidio, which isalso known for pottery production.

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This very exciting route, through rolling hillsand ancient villages, leads us to discover the

beauties and smells of the green Riviera Picena,between the Provinces of Fermo and AscoliPiceno.Worth seeing: Pedaso, a seaside resort; Altidonaand Lapedona, which still conserve most of theirancient castle walls; Moresco, a village with animposing fortified structure; Monterubbiano,birthplace of the painter Vincenzo Pagani.Worth admiring: on the opposite bank of theRiver Aso, in a dominant position, Montefioredell’Aso, birthplace of Adolfo De Carolis, theMuseum Complex which holds a precious trypticby Carlo Crivelli. Worth stopping to see:Petritoli, founded in the 10th century by monksfrom Farfa, with the remains of mediaeval fortifi-cations; Montottone and Montelparo, with itsancient town walls; Montalto delle Marche, atown linked to the memory of Sixtus V with theCathedral, the Town Hall housing the Civic ArtGallery, the Archaeological Museum and theMuseo Sistino Vescovile di Montalto (BishopSixtus Museum of Montalto); Castignano, anancient town of Picene origin perched on a hill;Offida the core of which, surrounded by intactwalls, holds the ruins of the Rocca (Keep),Palazzo Pagnanelli, which houses numerous

museums, and the majestic Abbazia di Santa Mariadella Rocca (Abbey of Our Lady of the Rock).We recommend a detour: along the rolling hills toadmire the beautiful Rocca di Montevarmine nearCarassai; to Cossignano which still has a fine forti-fied village; of great interest is the Church of Pietro ePaolo (Peter and Paul), now a Museum of Sacred Art;to the noble Ripatransone, with the narrowest alleyin Italy, full of archaeological finds and preciouspaintings exhibited in the Civic Art Gallery; toAcquaviva Picena, with its imposing and perfectlyconserved mediaeval keep , and to Monteprandone,birthplace of San Giacomo della Marca (St. James ofMarche).Worth visiting: San Benedetto del Tronto with itspromenade characterised by 7,000 palm trees whichgive the name to this last stretch of the Riviera, theoldest high nucleus with the fourteenth-century Torredei Gualtieri and the Museums devoted to the sea.The maritime tradition, still very much alive, kick-started the frozen food industry, which is thrivingtoday; Grottammare, pearl of the Adriatic with itssplendid mediaeval village with a sea view in whichthere are old houses and narrow streets, still has theunmistakeable flavour of oranges; if you stop in thistown it is also worth visiting the Church of S.Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist), now theSacred Art Museum; Cupra Marittima where youreally must stop off at the Picene Malacological(Mollusc) Museum, at the fortified hamlet of Maranoand at the ruins of the Roman town of CupraMaritima, protected today by the RegionalArchaeological Park.

68. Moresco69. Offida70. Cupra Marittima

71. Grottammare72. Acquaviva Picena73. Ripatransone74. San Benedetto del Tronto

68 69 70 71 72

74

73

CASTEL DI LAMA

MALTIGNANO

FOLIGNANO

MONTE S. PIETRANGELI PORTO SAN GIORGIO

TORRE S. PATRIZIOOO

RAPAGNANO FERMO

MAGLIANO DI TENNAO

GROTTAZZOLINAGGMONTEGIORGIOO

PETRITOLI

CUPRA MARITTIMA

RIPATRANSONEMONTELPARO

CASTIGNANOROTELLA

MONSAMPOLO

S.S. 2

10S.S. 433

S.S.

4

MARKET FAIRSMonterubbiano: Chi Cerca Trova (Seek and YouShall Find), August.Offida: Mercato del Serpente Aureo (GoldenSerpent Market), July and August; Bobbin LaceExhibition, July and August; Sagra delChichiripieno, first Sunday in August; Di Vino inVino, first week in September.

Acquaviva Picena: Craftwork and Antiques Market Fair, everyWednesday in July and August.San Benedetto del Tronto: L’antico e le palme (The Ancient and thePalms), January, June, July, August.Grottammare: Market of Antiques and Craftwork, every Monday in Julyand August, end of March, 8 December.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSMontefiore dell’Aso: Polo Museale di San Francesco (St. Francis’sMuseum Complex) – Museum of Rural Civilisation.Montottone: Pottery Workshop Museum.Montalto delle Marche: “L’acqua, la terra, la tela” (Water, Land, theLoom) Museum.Offida: Museum of Folk TraditionsOffida: Bobbin Lace Museum.Ripatransone: Museum of Rural Civilisation.Acquaviva Picena: “Pajarola” (Handmade Basket) Museum.San Benedetto del Tronto: Museum of the Sea.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSMonterubbiano: Armata di Pentecoste Sciò la Pica and Giostra del-l’anello (Ring Joust), Pentecost (Whit Sunday).Offida: Lu Bov’ Fint (The Fake Ox), Carnival Friday; Sfilata dei V’lurd(Faggot Procession), Carnival Tuesday.Castignano: Templaria, August.Ripatransone: Il cavallo di fuoco, April.Acquaviva Picena: Sponsalia, August.San Benedetto del Tronto: “Notti al museo - I bambini e il mare” (Nightsat the Museum - Children and the Sea).

TYPICAL PRODUCTSThe Maccheroncini of Campofilone, made with durum wheat flour andtwice as many eggs as in normal pasta, can now be found in shop win-dows all over the world. The valleys of the Tronto and the Aso have anextraordinary market gardening vocation: among the numerous productswe can note the white beans of the Tronto and the peaches of the Vald’Aso. Also noteworthy is the excellent brodetto sambenedettese (thinbroth of San Benedetto). The funghetti (small “mushroom” biscuits) ofOffida and the panetti di fichi (fig cakes) of Monsampolo del Tronto aredelicious. The Offida DOC wine is produced in the area.

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Particularly interesting in Acquaviva Picena isthe production of “paiarole” or baskets made

with wheat straw, wicker and various types of marshcanes. From the 1970s, dolls and nativity figureshave also been produced with maize leaves. Theprocessing is completely manual and it is the womenwho prepare the material and make the baskets.It is amazing that, even today, in a world marked byspeed and frenzy, in Offida the laborious and patientart of delicate bobbin lace-making is still practised.This is a very ancient tradition, dating back to the15th century and imported from the Orient, practisedwith skill by the women from Offida who often sitin small groups in front of their homes.The places of the ancient trades are numerous in thisarea, which is known as “Il Piceno”: in SanBenedetto del Tronto there are restoration, gold-smiths’, pottery, tailoring, stone-working and metal-working workshops, as well as boatyards, and netand rope factories; travertine- and wood-workingare present in Grottammare and in CupraMarittima, whilst wrought iron craftwork charac-terises Montefiore dell’Aso, Lapedona andPetritoli and pottery Carassai, Monteprandoneand above all Montottone, a renowned centre forterracotta, as well as of wrought iron and copper.In the numerous museums of folk traditions scat-tered along the itinerary the exhibitions of looms andspinning wheels are evocative, recalling a time, notlong ago, when every farmhouse they made theirown fabrics; there are also wine presses and otherwine-making equipment, testifying to the long wine-making tradition.In the attempt to re-launch the ancient trades andtypical workshops, the commitment of the Board ofthe Monti Sibillini National Park and of the LocalAction Group is a positive factor.

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The natural values of the nearby mountains withtheir luxuriant vegetation and stupendous views

are combined on this route with a wealth of histori-cal and artistic assets.Not to be missed: Ascoli Piceno, the “city of twohundred towers”, with its treasures held in thenumerous museums and historic churches, such asthe SS. Vincenzo e Anastasio (Saints Vincent andAnastasius), the silent palaces, the splendid squares,the noble octagonal Battistero (Baptistery), theimposing Cathedral (with a precious polyptic byCarlo Crivelli), the enchanting Piazza del Popolowhere the thirteenth-century Palazzo dei Capitanistands alongside the celebrated Caffè Meletti, shin-ing with Liberty gold and decorations, the beautifulGothic Church of S. Francesco (St. Francis) with theadjacent Loggia dei Mercanti (Merchants’ Loggia),the historic Ventidio Basso Theatre and thereminders of the ancient Roman age.Worth making a detour to see: Folignano, Castel diLama, Castorano, Spinetoli and Colli del Tronto,interesting for their craft and eno-gastronomical tradi-tions; the ancient centres of Venarotta, Roccafluvione,and Force, one of the first Farfa monk settlementswhere copper-working thrived; among other thingsPalazzo Canestrai, which houses the Sacred ArtMuseum, contains a 12th-century wooden Crucifix.Worth seeing: Comunanza, birthplace of the threeGhezzi painters, which has a historical centre with

tall old terraced houses perched above the Aso River;Montefalcone Appennino, imposing at the top of asteep cliff, with interesting mediaeval ruins; SantaVittoria in Matenano, founded by the Farfa monks towhom we owe the Church of Santa Vittoria (St.Victoria); other points of interest are Palazzo Melis, theChurch of S. Agostino (St. Augustine), the Torredell’Abate Oderisio (Abbot Oderisio’s Tower) and theMonastero delle Benedettine (Benedictine Convent);Montelparo which overlooks the Aso valley; the typicalmediaeval village of Smerillo, with its beautiful woodand the “Fessa”, a characteristic split in the rock.Worth visiting: Amandola with the churches of S.Agostino (St. Augustine) and S. Francesco (St. Francis),the nearby Abbazia dei Santi Ruffino e Vitale (Abbey ofSaints Ruffinus and Vitalis) and the Lago di San Ruffino(Lake of St. Ruffinus).Worth driving along: the panoramic road leading to theheart of the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini,(Sibyllline Mountain National Park) among an evoca-tive corona of mountains and the green of the woods,and through small villages such as Montefortino, withits narrow stone streets and its extraordinary “F.Duranti” Civic Art Gallery; Montemonaco, interestingfor the remains of its walls and of the Rocca (Keep) anda view that stretches away forever; Montegallo, a pleas-ant tourist resort, and Arquata del Tronto, the onlymunicipality in Italy included in two national parks (thatof the Monti Sibillini and that of the Monti della Laga),with a superb mediaeval Rocca (Keep). A stop inAcquasanta Terme will doubtless turn out to be healthyowing to its beneficial sulphur waters; worth noting isthe Church of S. Maria delle Piane (Our Lady of thePlains) of Roman origin, but enriched by the beauty offrescoes by Augusto Mussini.

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MARKET FAIRSAscoli Piceno: Antiques, Artistic Craftworkand Collections Market, third Saturday andSunday in the month.Arquata del Tronto: Marrone chePassione (Chestnuts How Exciting!), marketfair of typical products of the mountains,last Sunday in October.

MUSEUMS OF FOLK TRADITIONSSpinetoli: Museum of Rural Civilisation at Oasi La Valle.Amandola: Anthropo-geographical Museum - Museum ofRural Civilisation.Montelparo: Itinerant Trades Museum.

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTSAscoli Piceno: Quintana, July and August.Amandola: Processione delle Canestrelle (Basket Procession),August.Arquata del Tronto: Alla corte della regina (At the Queen’sCourt), 19 August.Arquata del Tronto: Re-enactment of the Battle of Lepanto,August (every three years).Arquata del Tronto: Presentation of the legend of the fairies,August (every three years).

TYPICAL PRODUCTSVery well-known and excellent are the Ascolan olives, aboveall the stuffed and fried version. Acquasanta Terme,Roccafluvione, Comunanza and Montefortino are places inwhich the prized black truffle, Tuber melanosporum Vitt, iswidespread, as well as numerous species of mushroom andchestnut. At risk of extinction are the mele rosa (pink apples) ofAmandola and the Cucuccetta pears of S. Emidio.Rosso Piceno Superiore wine is produced in a narrow band oftowns, whilst the anisetta aniseed liquor is typical of AscoliPiceno. It should be noted that in the area of Arquata delTronto there are numerous charcoal workshops.

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The majolica tradition has ancient origins inAscoli Piceno, as is proven by the numerous

fragments from the Italic, Roman and High MiddleAges and the creations of “figuli” (majolica work-ers) operating in the 14th and 15th centuries. After abreak in production, it began again with new vigourin 1812, thanks to the work of the Paci andMatricardi factories which made use of the contribu-tions of artists such as Adolfo De Carolis and Brunoda Osimo. Today production continues with theM.A.A. (Maioliche Artistiche Ascolane) factory andthanks to the work of numerous craft workshopswhich are inspired by the past. The old city centre isalso enlivened by workshops of goldsmiths, antiquedealers, restorers, blacksmiths, tailors and marbleworkers; straw working lives on, while the cen-turies-old paper-making tradition is now in disuse.This latter tradition is testified to by the Opificio diPorta Cartara (Papermakers’ Gate Factory), recent-ly restored.Instead, in our time, copper-working has been lessfortunate. This material was widespread at the end ofthe nineteenth century when, concentrated in partic-ular around Force and Comunanza, there weremore than thirty small workshops of copper-workersand boilermakers who carried out their trade even inan itinerant form around the farmhouses.Amandola, once known for ancient wool-workingand weaving, has been a centre of wood-workingsince the 16th century, as have Comunanza,Montefortino, Roccafluvione and Colli delTronto.In the area of Castel di Lama there is considerableleather-working.In the small village of Colle di Arquata del Trontothe production of charcoal is still important to thelocal economy. This is a technique that consists ofknowing how to transform wood into charcoal leav-ing it to burn in a structure that prevents its completecombustion.In Colle this ancient trade still survives, handeddown from generation to generation, despite thisbeing an activity now becoming extinct. As well asthe pottery tradition, which is also found inFolignano, in the upper Tronto valley, and in partic-ular in Acquasanta Terme, Travertine has beenworked for centuries. This material characterisesmost of the buildings in the Ascoli area and is usedtoday for furniture.

12MONTEGALLOARQUATA DEL TRONTOACQUASANTA TERME

San Benedetto del Tronto (AP)Riviera del Conero (AN)Macerata - Arena SferisterioNational Park of the Monti Sibillini(M. Palazzo Borghese)Villa Potenza (MC) - Ruins of theancient Helvia Rìcina

Ascoli Piceno - La QuintanaThe interior of MarcheGenga (AN) - Frasassi CavesAncona - Cathedral of Saint CyriacusJesi (AN) - Pergolesi Theatre

Loreto (AN) - Piazza della MadonnaUrbino (PU) - Chiesa di San BernardinoAscoli Piceno - Palazzo del CapitanoFermo - CathedralPesaro - Rossini Opera Festival

FOR INFORMATION

CNA MARCHE National Confederation of Trades of Small and Medium EnterprisesVia Sandro Totti, 4 - 60131 ANCONA

Tel. +39.071286091 - Fax +39.0712860928www.marche.cna.it cnamarche@marche.cna.it

Confartigianato Imprese (Confederation of Trades) MarcheVia Fioretti, 2/A - 60131 ANCONA

Tel. +39.0712900134 - Fax +39.0712900135www.confartigianato.it segreteria.fram@confartps.it

Ancona Chamber of CommercePiazza XXIV Maggio, 1 - 60123 ANCONATel. +39.07158981- Fax +39.0712073907

www.an.camcom.gov.it direzione@an.camcom.it

Pesaro and Urbino Chamber of CommerceCorso XI Settembre, 116 - 61121 PESAROTel. +39.07213571 - Fax +39.072131015

www.ps.camcom.gov.it segreteria.generale@ps.camcom.it

Macerata Chamber of CommerceVia Tommaso Lauri, 7 - 62100 MACERATA

Tel. +39.07332511 - Fax +39.0733251622www.mc.camcom.it segreteria@mc.camcom.it

Fermo Chamber of CommerceCorso Cefalonia, 69 (Palazzo Azzolino) - 63900 FERMO

Tel. +39.0734217511 - Fax +39.0734217541www.fm.camcom. it segreteria.generale@fm.camcom.it

Ascoli Piceno Chamber of CommerceVia L. Mercantini,25 - 63100 ASCOLI PICENO

Tel. +39.07362791 - Fax +39.0736262144www.ap.camcom. it segreteria @ap.camcom.it