Acquasanta Terme
Welcome to Ascoli Piceno!
Hi everyone! Today I am going to talk about a beautiful Italian city: Ascoli Piceno. With its 45,688 inhabitants, this municipality located in the Marche region is a gem waiting to be discovered. The heart of the city is its historical center in travertine, one of the most monumental in Italy. But let's go in order.
The city of a hundred towers
Ascoli Piceno has an ancient history that is reflected in its historical center, where a medieval atmosphere reigns. In the past, the center was characterized by the presence of about two hundred towers, but today only a few of them remain. Frederick II of Swabia destroyed ninety-one of them, but some were preserved and have become a symbol of the city. It is precisely for this reason that Ascoli Piceno is known as "The City of a Hundred Towers".
Ascolane olives and more
Ascoli Piceno is a city that has many peculiarities, but certainly one of the most famous specialties are the Ascolane olives. This dish was born in Ascoli Piceno and is widespread throughout Italy and even abroad. But the city offers much more. Local craftsmanship, for example, is renowned, particularly the processing of leather and copper.
The territory of Ascoli Piceno
The city of Ascoli Piceno is in a fantastic location, in the southern part of the Marche region, just 28 km from the Adriatic Sea. The surrounding territory is very interesting, especially for nature lovers, with two protected natural areas: the Gran Sasso National Park and the Monti Sibillini National Park.
But let's go back to the city: its urban center is located in the confluence area between the Tronto River and the Castellano stream, surrounded on three sides by mountains. Ascoli Piceno borders with various municipalities, including some in Abruzzo. The city's climate is sub-Apennine, given that it is close to important mountain ranges.
Rivers and mountains
As I just mentioned, the territory of Ascoli Piceno is very varied and suggestive. The rivers that cross it are the Tronto, the Castellano stream, and the Chiaro stream. But what makes this territory even more interesting are its mountains. One of the most famous is Mount Ascension, but it is not the only one. There is one that stands out in the northern area of the city: the Hill of the Sacred Heart. This hill has taken on this name following the presence of the monument dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On the hilltop area, there are also fourteen travertine sculptural works, created by the artist Antonio Mancini, dedicated to the passion of Christ and depicting the themes of the Via Crucis.
Conclusions
Ascoli Piceno is a beautiful city full of surprises. Its historical center, its towers, the Ascolane olives, local craftsmanship, the rivers, and the mountains surrounding it... Everything contributes to making it a magical place, to be discovered at least once in a lifetime. There's no doubt about it: it's worth a visit!
