Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno: the city of a hundred towers
Ascoli Piceno is an Italian city located in the Marche region and has a population of approximately 45,688 inhabitants. It is the capital of the province of Ascoli Piceno and its historic center is among the most monumental in Italy. The city is known for its travertine architecture and for being the "City of a Hundred Towers".
The history of Ascoli Piceno
In medieval times, Ascoli Piceno was characterized by the presence of around two hundred towers, the construction of which began after the turn of the millennium. According to tradition, Frederick II of Swabia had ninety-one of them destroyed in 1242 and their reduction continued in the following centuries. Even today, the city preserves several examples of gentilitial and bell towers.
The beauty of Ascoli Piceno's historic center
Ascoli Piceno's historic center is built almost entirely of travertine and is considered one of the most monumental in Italy. Among its beauties, one can admire the Renaissance Piazza del Popolo with its incredible checkerboard-shaped terracotta and travertine pavement. Additionally, the city possesses numerous monuments of great artistic and cultural interest such as the Church of San Francesco and the Cathedral.
Ascolan olives and other gastronomic specialties
The city of Ascoli Piceno is also famous for its Ascolan olives, a delicious gastronomic specialty made with green olives stuffed with meat, breaded, and fried. Ascolan olives are a highly appreciated and widespread dish throughout Italy and beyond.
But it's not just Ascolan olives that merit being tasted in Ascoli Piceno. The city offers a wide range of high-quality gastronomic products such as cured meats, cheeses, wines, and homemade pasta.
Physical geography of Ascoli Piceno
The city is located in the southern part of the Marche region and is about 28 km from the Adriatic Sea. Its urban center is located at an altitude of 154 meters above sea level, in the confluence zone between the Tronto river and the Castellano stream, surrounded on three sides by mountains such as Monte Ascensione, Colle San Marco, and Montagna dei Fiori.
The territory of Ascoli Piceno is located in the Tronto Valley and borders the municipalities of Venarotta, Rotella, Castignano, Appignano del Tronto, Castel di Lama, Castorano, Colli del Tronto, Folignano, Maltignano, Ancarano, Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata, Civitella del Tronto, and Valle Castellana. The area is characterized by a sub-Apennine climate, being located near important mountain ranges.
Rivers and streams
Near the Papal paper mill, there is the Tronto river, the Castellano stream, and the Chiaro stream.
Mountains
The territory of Ascoli Piceno is surrounded by numerous mountains such as Monte Ascensione, Montagna dei Fiori, and the Sacred Heart hill. The latter stands out in the panorama of the northern part of the city and dominates the Campo Parignano neighborhood. Along via Monte Ascensione, the road that leads to the summit of the hill, there are also fourteen travertine sculptures made by the artist Antonio Mancini, dedicated to the passion of Christ and depicting the themes of the Via Crucis.
Civil protection and climate classification
The territory of Ascoli Piceno is classified as "Zone 2" in the seismic classification of Italy by civil protection, that is, a zone with medium seismic activity. Furthermore, the city is marked as "Zone D" in the climate classification of Italian municipalities.
Conclusions
Ascoli Piceno is a very fascinating Italian city that offers numerous points of interest such as the Renaissance Piazza del Popolo, the presence of a hundred towers, gastronomic specialties like Ascolan olives, surrounding mountains, and much more. The city is an excellent destination for those who want to spend a vacation discovering Italian culture and nature.
