Ascoli, city of art

Ascoli Piceno, named "the town of one hundred towers" in the past, founded even before Rome has the privilege to contain 14 precious churches in Romanesque style mostly in white travertine and one of the most charming square in Italy, Piazza del Popolo as well as many other suggestive places to discover and appreciate walking through its historical centre, one of the largest of Italy.

During the course of the year many cultural and traditional events take place such as the Antiques Market on the third Saturdays and Sundays monthly.
Ascoli Piceno , city of art built up all in travertine, is a centre in which the past is alive and tangible along with the urban lay-out.

The visitor should begin his tour from the suggestive Piazza del Popolo ( People Square ), the heart of Ascoli. At the side of the square is the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo (Palace of the Captains of the Peoples) erected between the twelfth and thirteen century; the Loggia dei Mercanti (Merchants Loggia) and the old Meletti Café, one of the most famous historic Café in Italy in liberty style with wide mirrors, velvet sofas and wrought iron tables.

Piazza Arringo is the other monumental and oldest square of Ascoli . The Duomo of S. Emidio from Treviri ( Trier - Germany , protector from the earthquake), the Baptisery, erected in the XII century, the Palazzo Vescovile (Bi shop 's Palace) all look out on Piazza Arringo. The Duomo of S. Emidio contains in the Cappella of Santissimo Sacramento (Chapel of the Holy Sacrament) the large polyptych by Carlo Crivelli made in 1473.

And it is also worthy to visit the rich Pinacoteca Comunale (town Picture Gallery) where works of art by Tiziano, Tiepolo, Cola D'Amatrice, Batoni, Bistolfi, Pellizza da Volpedo, Rubens, Duprè etc are exhibited. Every year on the First Sunday of August the Quintana takes place, a knightly joust involving the leaders of six districts of the town called Sestieri.

The Carnevale ascolano (Carnival) is very lively and picturesque with the gathering of the entire population dressed and masked performing funny shows with banters and jokes mostly in dialect.
For ski and trekking fans the Monte Piselli ski facilities are worth of mention, over the Colle San Marco (S. Marco hillside), at only 30 kilometres from the town and 35 from CASALE.