{"id":50060,"date":"2025-08-20T09:36:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T07:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.winalist.fr\/blog?p=50060"},"modified":"2026-04-20T11:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:39:15","slug":"visit-ascoli-piceno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winalist.com\/blog\/italy-wine-region\/marche\/visit-ascoli-piceno","title":{"rendered":"Visit Ascoli Piceno Italy: The City of a Hundred Towers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Get ready for stone-paved streets, tower-studded skylines, and seriously addictive food. Known as the city of a hundred towers, Ascoli Piceno<\/strong> is a medieval marvel tucked between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. This underrated gem in Le Marche blends dramatic architecture with a taste for the good life. You\u2019ll wander through Renaissance palaces, snack on crispy olive all\u2019ascolana in sun-drenched piazzas, and sip your way through nearby Marche wineries<\/a>. It\u2019s got the beauty of a film set, the rhythm of real Italian life, and just enough edge to keep you exploring.
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Best things to do while you visit Ascoli Piceno<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wander through Piazza del Popolo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Piazza del Popolo is the showstopper of Ascoli Piceno, a stunning square lined with gleaming travertine buildings and perfect symmetry. It\u2019s the place that pulls you in and makes you want to stay a while. Grab a table at Caff\u00e8 Meletti, a local icon since 1907, and try the city\u2019s signature anise liqueur. Things really come alive in summer, when open-air concerts and festivals turn this elegant piazza into a celebration of local culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore the Church of San Francesco<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Standing tall over Piazza del Popolo, the Church of San Francesco is a striking example of Gothic architecture from the 13th century. Its elegant bell tower and soaring dome make it one of Ascoli Piceno\u2019s most iconic landmarks. Step inside to explore quiet chapels, centuries-old frescoes, and the kind of atmosphere that tells you this city has stories carved into every stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visit Palazzo dei Capitani<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Anchoring the southern edge of Piazza del Popolo, Palazzo dei Capitani mixes Romanesque muscle with Gothic flair. Once the political nerve center of Ascoli Piceno, today it opens its doors to art shows, concerts, and cultural events that reveal just how layered this city\u2019s history really is. From its stone facade to its vaulted halls, every corner still hums with old power and new energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walk to Piazza Arringo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Just around the corner from Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Arringo is the oldest square in Ascoli Piceno, and it still knows how to make an impression. With the Cathedral of Sant\u2019Emidio towering on one side and twin fountains glinting with bronze dolphins and sculpted shells, it\u2019s a mix of grandeur and charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Get lost in the historic Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Wander through the maze of travertine alleys that give Ascoli Piceno its unmistakable character. Around every turn, there\u2019s something to catch your eye: a quiet medieval courtyard, a fragment of Roman stonework, or a Gothic arch casting shadows over centuries-old paving. No map needed, just follow your curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taste Olive all\u2019Ascolana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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You can\u2019t visit Ascoli Piceno without tasting olive all\u2019ascolana. These plump green olives, stuffed with seasoned meat and fried until crisp, are a delicious symbol of local pride. Order a plate in a family-run trattoria, pair it with a glass of Marche red, and you\u2019ve got the full Ascoli experience in one bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marvel at the Loggia dei Mercanti<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Right next to the Church of San Francesco, you'll find the Loggia dei Mercanti, a graceful Renaissance loggia built around 1513 by the city\u2019s wool traders' guild. Its five travertine arches rest atop Corinthian columns, creating a stylish open-air gallery that once displayed the goods of Ascoli's merchants. Look closer and you\u2019ll spot a plaque with the exact brick measurements used in historic construction, proof that even architecture here has stories to tell. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best things to do around while you visit Ascoli Piceno<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Head to Civitella del Tronto<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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15 miles southwest of Ascoli Piceno (around 30 minutes by car), Civitella del Tronto<\/strong> brings big drama in all the best ways. This hilltop village is home to one of Europe\u2019s largest fortresses, a sprawling military stronghold that looks like it was carved straight out of the mountain. You can explore secret tunnels, climb ancient stone steps, and take in wild views of the Gran Sasso peaks in the distance. Bonus: it\u2019s also where you\u2019ll find la Ruetta<\/em>, officially one of the narrowest streets in Italy, try walking through it without turning sideways. Visit Civitella del Tronto<\/a> for a quirky, scenic, and refreshingly offbeat detour from Ascoli.

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Stroll through the Sibillini Mountains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Roughly an hour from Ascoli Piceno, Monti Sibillini National Park is where the Marche region reveals its wildest self. Skip the crowds and head into a landscape of jagged peaks, hidden villages, and hiking trails that stretch for days. Legend says a prophetess once lived in a cave here, so don\u2019t be surprised if the place feels a little magical. Between dramatic valleys, eagles overhead, and sweeping views, it\u2019s the perfect contrast to Ascoli\u2019s polished travertine streets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walk to the artistic heritage of Fermo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Less than an hour northeast of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo<\/strong> is a hilltop town that rewards curious travelers with a rich mix of art, history, and sweeping countryside views. Dive into the Pinacoteca to see Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces, then wander the halls of Palazzo dei Priori or step into the quiet grandeur of the city\u2019s cathedral. Below the main square, the Roman cisterns reveal an ancient engineering marvel few visitors expect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For anyone visiting Ascoli with an eye on culture, don't forget to visit Fermo Italy<\/a>, it offers a perfect next stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drive for wine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Nestled just over an hour\u2019s scenic drive from Ascoli Piceno, the Moroder Alessandro winery<\/strong>, high above the conero coastline, makes a perfect day-trip stop for wine lovers. Founded in the late 1700s and now run by the Moroder family, its organically farmed vineyards sit in the Monte Conero Natural Reserve, yielding standout wines like the award-winning Dorico Montepulciano \u201ccru.\u201d Enjoy tasting sessions on the terrace overlooking the sea-swept vineyard, then explore the barrel cellar and take in views that prove the detour\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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