Ascoli Piceno: The City of a Hundred Towers in Le Marche

In the heart of Le Marche, where the Sibillini Mountains caress gentle hills, rises one of Italy's most fascinating art cities: Ascoli Piceno. Known as the "City of a Hundred Towers," this architectural pearl will win you over with its golden travertine palaces, Renaissance squares, and an artistic heritage that tells centuries of Italian history.

Walking through Ascoli Piceno means immersing yourself in a unique atmosphere, where every stone tells stories of Roman dominions, medieval splendors, and Renaissance rebirths. The local travertine, extracted from surrounding quarries, gives the city that particular luminosity that makes it recognizable and unforgettable, creating a scenic effect that changes with the light of day.

It's not only architecture that makes Ascoli special: it's the authentic soul of a city that has managed to preserve its traditions without giving up modernity, where art blends with gastronomy and culture with Marchigian hospitality.

Piazza del Popolo: The Travertine Drawing Room

Considered one of Italy's most beautiful squares, Piazza del Popolo represents the beating heart of Ascoli Piceno. This extraordinary open-air drawing room, entirely paved with travertine, is surrounded by elegant porticoes housing historic cafés, boutiques, and artisan shops.

The square is dominated by the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo, an imposing 14th-century building that testifies to the ancient power of the free commune of Ascoli. Its façade, enriched with mullioned windows and Guelph battlements, harmoniously reflects in the travertine of the square, creating a play of lights and shadows that enchants visitors.

At the center of the square, the Church of San Francesco represents one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Le Marche. Its construction, begun in the 13th century, continued for over two centuries, resulting in a structure that combines Romanesque and Gothic elements in perfect harmony.

The Historic Cafés of the Square

You cannot visit Piazza del Popolo without stopping at one of its historic cafés. Caffè Meletti, founded in 1907, still preserves its original Art Nouveau furnishings and represents a true museum of taste, where you can sample Anisetta Meletti and other traditional liqueurs.

The Hundred Towers: Symbols of Medieval Power

The nickname "City of a Hundred Towers" is no coincidence: Ascoli Piceno still preserves over fifty medieval towers today, silent witnesses of an era when every noble family built their own tower as a symbol of power and prestige.

The Ascoli towers, built mainly of travertine and brick, rise majestically above the city's rooftops, creating a unique and immediately recognizable urban profile. Many of them are still inhabited or used for commercial purposes, keeping alive the urban function that has characterized them for centuries.

Among the most significant, these stand out:

• Torre degli Ercolani: 40 meters high, represents one of the best-preserved examples
• Longobard Tower: testifies to ancient barbarian dominations
• Civic Tower: located near the Palazzo dell'Arengo, offers panoramic views of the city

Piazza Arringo: The Center of Religious Power

A few steps from Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Arringo represents the center of religious and administrative power in Ascoli. This square, older and more austere than its more famous sister, houses some of the city's most important monuments.

The Cathedral of Sant'Emidio, dedicated to the city's patron saint, dominates the square with its imposing 18th-century façade. Inside, visitors can admire a precious polyptych by Carlo Crivelli, one of the masterpieces of Marchigian Renaissance art.

Next to the Cathedral, the Baptistery of San Giovanni represents one of Ascoli's oldest buildings, with its dodecagonal structure recalling early Christian and Romanesque models.

Palazzo dell'Arengo and Art Gallery

The Palazzo dell'Arengo, seat of the municipality, houses the Civic Art Gallery, one of the most important art collections in Le Marche. Here you can admire works by local and national artists, among which the collection of paintings by Cola dell'Amatrice, a Renaissance painter from Ascoli, stands out.

Sant'Emidio alle Grotte: Spirituality and Art

Outside the historic center, but easily reachable, is the Temple of Sant'Emidio alle Grotte, one of the most venerated sanctuaries in Le Marche. This religious complex, built on the site of the patron saint's martyrdom, represents an extraordinary example of Baroque architecture.

The crypt, carved into the rock, still preserves traces of Sant'Emidio's martyrdom and constitutes a place of intense spirituality. The upper church, decorated with precious frescoes and golden stuccos, offers a spectacle of rare artistic beauty.

The temple is particularly dear to the people of Ascoli, who come here on pilgrimage during patronal festivities, keeping alive centuries-old traditions that bind the city to its patron saint.

Culinary Traditions: Authentic Flavors of Le Marche

Ascoli Piceno is not only art and architecture: it's also a city that knows how to delight the palate with unique culinary specialties. The famous olive all'ascolana are just the appetizer of a gastronomic journey rooted in Marchigian tradition.

These golden morsels, tender Piceno olives stuffed with a filling of mixed meats, breaded and fried, represent one of the city's culinary symbols. The original recipe, passed down through generations, calls for the use of veal, pork, and chicken, amalgamated with Parmigiano Reggiano and local herbs.

Other Typical Dishes

• Vincisgrassi: Marchigian lasagna with white ragù and truffle
• Brodetto all'ascolana: Adriatic fish soup
• Maccheroncini di Campofilone: fresh pasta typical of the territory
• Fave dei morti: traditional sweets prepared for the commemoration of the dead

Events and Festivals: The City in Celebration

Throughout the year, Ascoli Piceno comes alive with events and festivals celebrating its history and traditions. The Quintana, a medieval tournament held on the first weekend of August, represents the most important and spectacular event of the year.

This historical reenactment, which has roots in the 15th century, sees the city's six districts compete in an equestrian skill contest involving the entire population. The historical parade, with over 1,500 participants in period costume, transforms the city into a Renaissance stage of extraordinary charm.

Other significant events include:

• Fritto Misto all'Italiana: gastronomic festival dedicated to regional fried foods
• Ascoliva Festival: celebration of the Ascoli olive
• Concerts in the Hundred Towers: summer music festival

Ascoli Piceno awaits you to offer an unforgettable experience, where art blends with tradition and architectural beauty with Marchigian authenticity. Come discover the secrets of the City of a Hundred Towers: every stone, every tower, every square has a story to tell you.