Ascoli Piceno: Squares, Museums and History

Ascoli Piceno can be explored from a variety of perspectives: Renaissance architecture, archaeological collections, a Roman theatre, views and culinary traditions each offer a different focus. If you are looking for a hotel in Ascoli Piceno, it may help to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip. Are you mainly interested in architectural styles, finds from different periods, or a time of year when Quintana events take place? The highlights below provide practical guidance.

Squares and architectural styles

In the early 16th century, a Renaissance colonnade with arches of varied designs gave Piazza del Popolo its regular, present-day appearance. The Chiostro Maggiore di San Francesco offers a different architectural accent: its 14th-century Gothic portico features twenty round-arched bays, Corinthian columns and an octagonal Gothic fountain. This makes it possible to appreciate a variety of architectural styles and details, rather than reducing the city’s architecture to a single period.

The Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo was created between the 13th and 14th centuries by combining three small buildings. The Area Archeologica del Palazzo dei Capitani adds excavated remains to this theme: its presentation includes an elevated walkway, explanatory panels and artefacts from the site. The Teatro Romano is another archaeological point of interest. It dates to the 1st century BC; remains of the cavea and orchestra have survived.

Collections and architectural history

The collections of the Museo Archeologico Statale di Ascoli Piceno span a broad historical range, from prehistory through Picenian culture to the Roman period. The Museo dell’Alto Medioevo in Forte Malatesta focuses on a narrower period: it displays Lombard grave goods from the necropolis of Castel Trosino, including the complete graves of a woman and a horseman. The collections therefore offer different points of interest, depending on whether you are drawn to a broad sweep of history or to a particular archaeological context.

Forte Malatesta is a Renaissance fortress complex. Its design and/or attribution is credited to Antonio da Sangallo the Younger; it finally reopened in November 2010. When travelling to the Museo Archeologico Statale, take note of the designated restricted-traffic zone. The nearest paid parking areas are listed as Piazza della Viola and Porta Torricella. Check the current access regulations before setting out.

The Musei della Cartiera Papale are housed in a medieval complex of mills and a paper factory powered by the waters of the Castellano River. The Musei della Cartiera Papale are currently closed to visitors for adaptation work. Check before your trip whether this visitor status has changed.

Views, city walks and local traditions

Annunziata Park is located at the summit of the ancient Pelasgic Hill. It offers panoramic views over the city and preserves the Fortezza Pia and Roman caves. A walk through Ascoli Piceno also takes in historic squares paved with travertine, Romanesque church façades and Renaissance architecture, as well as museums. These highlights offer a different focus from the archaeological collections, centring on the cityscape, views and architecture in public spaces.

Culinary traditions offer another way to experience the city. Ravioli incaciati originated in Ascoli Piceno and are traditionally prepared for Carnival. Anisetta Meletti is an anise liqueur distilled from anise seeds and aromatic spices according to an original 1870 recipe; the Meletti family preserves the tradition. These two examples point to different contexts: a seasonal dish and the history of a product and its recipe.

The Quintana di Ascoli Piceno features a historic procession and a jousting tournament, held in July and August. Dates vary. If you want to plan your trip around these events, check the specific event dates before booking your hotel. This lets you weigh architecture, museums, regional traditions and event highlights when choosing your travel dates.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Montecchio, Pedaso, Appignano del Tronto, Montedinove, Porchia, Comunanza, Ponzano, Vallefusella.

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