San Paolo Di Jesi: Verdicchio, Landscape and Local History

San Paolo di Jesi combines its setting in the Esino Valley with wine, historic buildings and the unusual Vulcanelli di Fango. Landscape, architecture and wine culture each offer a different focus: the Vulcanelli are reached by a footpath across cultivated land, the buildings differ in their history and design, and the wines connect the town with a seasonal festival tradition.

Landscape and the Vulcanelli di Fango

San Paolo di Jesi lies at an altitude of 224 metres and overlooks the valley on the right bank of the Esino River. These details clearly place the town in its landscape and complement its close connection to Verdicchio production. Another landscape feature is the Vulcanelli di Fango: gas-driven mud emerges from the ground there, forming small-scale cones with craters. The material and shape go together: it is mud, whose emergence, driven by gas, creates the characteristic cones and craters.

You can reach the Vulcanelli di Fango on foot, after crossing cultivated land. Take this footpath across cultivated land into account when planning your visit. This natural attraction offers a different reason to visit from the buildings, whose appeal lies in their construction date, façade or imagery.

Buildings and art in the town

The Torre Civica was built at the end of the 18th century and is attributed to the architect Mattia Capponi from Cupramontana. The tower provides a chronological anchor in the town’s history; the attribution also points to a specific connection with architectural history.

The west façade is the main feature of Palazzo Bassi: it is made of stone and masonry and adorned with mascarons and capitals. Mascarons are decorative mask or face motifs; capitals form the upper part of columns or pillars. This allows the building materials and façade decoration to be considered as distinct design features.

The Chiesa della Misericordia is also known as the Chiesa del cimitero. Remains of a fresco attributed to Andrea da Jesi can be seen inside the church. It depicts the Madonna sheltering the people of San Paolo beneath her mantle. The original painting is obscured by a later copy; the surviving remains and the later covering are both part of this image’s history.

Wine and cultural traditions

San Paolo di Jesi is closely associated with the production of Verdicchio wine. Another wine connection is Vino di Visciole, produced by the town’s wineries. The Festa del Vi' de Visciola takes place in October. Check the specific festival dates before your trip if you would like to plan your stay around this event.

Another historic tradition is the Cavata delle zitelle. It dates back to 1702; every year on 8 December, a dowry was awarded by lot. As a historically documented custom, the Cavata, held in December, gives the calendar a different focus from the Visciola festival in October, which centres on wine.

The Anfiteatro Comunale

The Anfiteatro Comunale is a summer arena with 200 seats. Its seating area is shaped like a cavea, and there is also a wooden stage. The cavea is the audience seating area of a theatre, making the design of the seating a defining feature of the venue. With its seating area and stage, the Anfiteatro differs from the historic buildings, whose descriptions focus on a tower, façade decoration or fresco. It adds a venue for events to the town’s history, characterised by its design and clearly stated capacity.

Discover more destinations: Maiolati Spontini, Precicchie, Genga, Montesicuro, Jesi, Ancona, Morro D'alba, Monsano

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