Discover Cupra Marittima

If you choose Cupra Marittima as your base, cultural history, the coast and cycling offer different focal points. Its archaeological remains span long periods; on the coast, a protected dune and seasonal conditions for wind sports take centre stage. This lets you plan your trip around the topics that interest you most.

Museums and archaeological history

Founded in 1977, the Museo Malacologico di Cupra Marittima is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. Covering 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, it displays more than one million specimens; the collection also includes over seven million shells. These figures represent two different scales: the number of specimens on display and the size of the shell collection.

The archaeological site of Cupra Marittima is designated an Archaeological Park and covers about 32 hectares near the northern edge of the present-day town. The settlement’s history documents its development from pre-Roman times through the Roman imperial period and into the post-antique era. The forum is roughly rectangular and measures about 90 metres from east to west and about 60 metres from north to south. These approximate dimensions illustrate its extent and orientation.

The Museo Archeologico del Territorio di Cupra Marittima offers a different perspective on the past: it displays evidence of human presence from the Palaeolithic to the late Roman period and is divided into three sections—prehistoric, Picene and Roman. Its exhibits include stone artefacts and faunal remains from Contrada Boccabianca in Cupra Marittima. They attest to human use of the area during the Lower Palaeolithic; the site is 128,000 years old and is attributed to Neanderthals.

Roman remains can also be found beyond the archaeological site: along the Statale Adriatica, just outside the Roman town of Cupra Marittima, the structures of a villa with a nymphaeum are visible. They were in use until the 4th century AD. To help you decide what to focus on, the timelines can be distinguished: the museum’s evidence reaches back to the Palaeolithic, while the history of the archaeological site also includes the post-antique era.

Marano and local traditions

The fortified Borgo di Marano is the medieval core of Cupra Marittima. The earliest traces date back to the 9th or 10th century; from the 11th century onwards, Marano was a free commune. The history of the borgo thus adds a much later period to the archaeological themes.

Every November, Marano hosts “Castagne al Borgo” on the first weekend of November after All Saints’ Day. Check the dates for the current edition before you travel. The event serves handmade chestnut-based sweets, roasted chestnuts, pork chops and other local specialities in recreated old taverns and cellars. The food on offer may vary from one edition to the next.

Another local story is linked to fishing: Concole fishing in Cupra Marittima began in 1926, when master carpenter Egidio Taffoni built the first Concolara. The specific starting year and the craftsman’s name give this tradition a distinct historical connection.

Coast, nature and cycling

The coastal dune of Cupra Marittima is designated an SAC, or Special Area of Conservation. It is one of the few unaltered stretches of coastline on the central Adriatic. The windy days of spring and summer are suitable for windsurfing and kitesurfing; the beach and coastal stretch set aside for these activities is among the widest in the area. The season and wind conditions are therefore the key differences between these coastal activities.

For cycling, there are the five Anelli Piceni. They extend across the natural area between Cupra Marittima and the neighbouring municipalities of Ripatransone and Massignano. The routes follow wide gravel tracks, a few paved sections and mule tracks, and pass through farmland and wooded areas. The Anelli Piceni can be ridden all year round. At several points, route information with QR codes provides direct access to popular cycling apps for smartphones.

The choice of travel focus comes down to a clear comparison: the museums and archaeological site reveal different periods in the town’s history, while cycling and coastal activities bring the natural landscape, terrain or seasonal wind conditions to the fore. You can plan your trip around whether you are most interested in historical remains, exploring the landscape by bike or wind sports.

Discover more destinations: Castignano, Cossignano, Colle San Marco, Montalto delle Marche, Colli Del Tronto, Centobuchi, Ripatransone, Massignano.

For the broader travel overview: Ascoli Piceno.