Discover Jesi

Topics include a piazza with Roman connections, collections and museum offerings, as well as protected natural areas. Consider which of these aspects interests you most, and plan your trip around specific places and experiences.

Cultural history and collections

Frederick II of Hohenstaufen was born on December 26, 1194, in Piazza Federico II in Jesi. At the same time, the piazza occupies a large part of the site of the ancient Roman forum. Two distinct historical points of reference therefore come together in one place: the Roman past and the history of the Hohenstaufen ruler. For a cultural-history trip, this is a striking starting point for exploring the city’s history.

The Museo Federico II Stupor Mundi is the world’s first museum to recreate the life and work of Emperor Frederick II. Projections, stage sets and virtual installations are used in sixteen themed halls. The multimedia approach makes the way the story is presented an important part of the museum visit. If you are particularly interested in the era of Frederick II, you can pair this focus with the piazza where he was born.

Other collections focus on different periods. The Biblioteca comunale Planettiana in Palazzo della Signoria holds around 110,000 volumes, manuscripts and incunabula dating from the 15th to the 19th century. The Pinacoteca Civica in Palazzo Pianetti displays paintings from the 14th to the 19th century, including a significant collection of works by Lorenzo Lotto. Jesi’s cultural history can therefore also be explored through books and fine art.

Palazzo Pianetti is a residential palace built in the 18th century, with an Italian-style garden and a Rococo gallery. The Pinacoteca Civica is also housed in the palazzo. Visitors interested in architecture can see the connection between the building and the art collection in one place. The Teatro Giovan Battista Pergolesi also has a distinctive architectural feature: its auditorium is elliptical, with three tiers of boxes and a gallery.

The Palio and historic printing

Every year, on the weekend after May 4, the historic center of Jesi hosts a historical reenactment of the Palio di San Floriano. The program includes a procession of mayors and archery competitions.

Some of the printing presses at the Museo delle Arti della Stampa are operational. They are used for educational workshops and to teach historic printing techniques, including woodcut, engraving and lithography. If you are particularly interested in a workshop, check the current offerings before your trip, as visitor activities may change.

Routes and nature around Jesi

The Ville e Vigneti route connects Jesi with Castelbellino and is ideal for walking and cycling through parks, gardens, historic villas and vineyards. It also links up with the regional tourist cycling route along the Esino River. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the landscape features mentioned along the Ville e Vigneti route and its connection to the cycling route by the Esino.

The Riserva Naturale Regionale Ripa Bianca offers a different focus. This protected, biodiverse natural area includes land that was once heavily shaped by human activity and has since recovered ecologically. The Centro Educativo Ambientale Sergio Romagnoli offers experiential educational activities focused on the river, lake, wetlands and agricultural environment. Nature and environmental topics take center stage here, while Jesi’s museums primarily explore historical, artistic and technical subjects.

Discover more destinations: Montecarotto, Ostra Vetere, Moie, Agugliano, Polverigi, Sirolo, Castelbellino, Serra San Quirico.

For the broader travel overview: Ancona.