Discover Civitanova Alta

Civitanova Alta offers culturally minded travellers a range of points of interest: Renaissance defensive architecture, church architecture, theatre and collections. These buildings and cultural venues do not tell a single, unified story. Their themes range from medieval origins and Baroque interiors to graphic art and local crafts. This makes it easy to shape a stay around your own interests, without reducing the upper town to a single landmark.

Gates, Towers and Views

Porta Zoppa, also known as Porta San Paolo, stands on the southern side of the city walls and is considered a distinctive example of Renaissance defensive architecture. A double flight of open-air stairs and a barrel-vaulted passage lead through the gate towards Piazza della Libertà. Porta Marina, also known as Porta Sant’Angelo, is on the eastern side of the walls and offers a view of the sea. It was built of brick in the Ghibelline style in the mid-15th century at the behest of Francesco Sforza; its features include a double pointed arch and a tower. The two gates thus offer contrasting architectural accents.

The towers also differ in age and form. The Torrione is a surviving example of Renaissance military architecture and can be viewed up close on a walk through the town. By contrast, the Torre dell’Acquedotto, built in 1935, is a Neo-Renaissance-style structure with an octagonal ground plan and Ghibelline battlements. The Giardino della Pinacoteca Civica offers a different view of the surroundings: its terrace, covering around 250 m², looks out over the Monti Sibillini and the Marche countryside.

Art, Graphic Art and Local History

The Pinacoteca Civica “Marco Moretti” is housed in the historic home of Annibal Caro’s family. Its collection includes paintings, drawings and graphic works by important 20th-century artists, as well as numerous Italian prints associated with the Urbino school. The MAGMA – Museo Archivio Grafica Manifesto focuses on graphic art and poster art. It was established with a donation of more than 20,000 posters, volumes and graphic artefacts; its specialist library contains around 3,000 volumes. The MAGMA programme includes exhibitions, meetings with international graphic designers, educational activities and guided tours.

The Archivio storico comunale preserves historically significant records created or received by the municipal administration in the course of its institutional activities. Alongside the art collections, this offers another perspective on Civitanova Alta: the documentary record of the town’s municipal history is a distinct area of interest, in addition to exhibited works and graphic art.

Churches, Theatre and Cultural Spaces

The Teatro Storico Annibal Caro was built between 1869 and 1872. Its horseshoe-shaped auditorium is a defining architectural feature. The churches span a longer period: the first records of the church that now houses the Spazio Multimediale San Francesco, formerly the Chiesa di San Francesco, date from the 13th century. The restored former church is now a cultural venue within the upper town’s museum circuit.

The Ex Chiesa di Sant’Agostino has Romanesque-Gothic origins. Its interior is decorated in the Rococo style and features stuccowork attributed to Agostino Varlè. The building has been converted into an auditorium for cultural events, performances, exhibitions and other artistic presentations. In the Chiesa del Santissimo Sacramento, six side chapels define the interior, which was designed in the style of the Marche Baroque; they house paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Antiquarium next to the church preserves sacred vestments, liturgical objects, paintings and religious artefacts dating from the 16th to the 19th century.

The Chiesa di San Paolo also brings together several historical dates: its origins go back to 1212, while the present building was constructed between 1736 and 1753. Its furnishings include an 18th-century organ attributed to Antonio Callido. Those interested in comparing architecture and art history will find both early origins and later phases of construction and furnishing here.

A Distinctive View of the Town

Via dei Sediari recalls Civitanova Alta’s historic chairmaking craft and the women who hand-wove the seats of wooden chairs. This detail complements the town’s major architectural and artistic themes with a glimpse into its working history. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you are especially interested in gates and towers, church art, graphic art, theatre or local crafts. If you are looking for a hotel in Civitanova Alta, these different points of interest provide a clear thematic framework for your stay.

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For the main travel overview: Macerata.