Pioraco
The Province of Macerata: a Geographical Overview
The Province of Macerata is located in the Marche region and has a population of 303,684 inhabitants. Covering an area of 2,774 square kilometers, it is the largest province in the region. One of the main changes in territorial ownership occurred in 2009 with the transfer of Valmarecchia from the Province of Pesaro and Urbino. The province borders the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Province of Perugia in Umbria to the west. Following the establishment of the Province of Fermo in 2004, Macerata became the only province in Marche to border three other Marchigiane provinces. The terrain is characterized by hills and mountains, with the Maceratese Apennines and Subapennines hosting three mountain union municipalities. The province was created in 1860 by the delegation of Macerata of the State of the Church, with subsequent territorial modifications, including the transfer of some areas to the Province of Ancona. In 1929, the municipality of Visso was acquired from the Province of Perugia.
The Economy of the Province of Macerata
The economy of the Province of Macerata is characterized by the presence of numerous small, highly specialized enterprises. One of the significant sectors is the shoe industry. In 2006, the Bank of the Province of Macerata was established to support local enterprises and development projects.
Infrastructure and Transport
Before the automobile era, the Province of Macerata was crossed by roads leading to Rome, some of which date back to ancient times. The most important was the Via Lauretana (Umbria-Marche), which crossed the province from Foligno, passing through the town of Plestia in the Colfiorito Plateau, and then reaching Tolentino, the Sanctuary of the Holy House, and finally the port of Ancona. With the arrival of trains, the Rome-Ancona Railway through the Fossato di Vico-Fabriano-Vall'Esina Pass became the main railway artery, eliminating the possibility of a direct railway connection with the capital. However, in 1885, a railway line was created to connect Albacina to Ancona, passing through many cities in the province, including Macerata, Matelica, San Severino Marche, Tolentino, Corridonia, and Montecosaro. Additionally, the city of Camerino was connected to the Castelraimondo-Camerino Railway, which has since been dismantled and replaced with a bus service.
In summary, the Province of Macerata is a vast region of Marche with a population of over 300,000 inhabitants. Its economy is primarily based on small enterprises, such as those involved in shoe production, and the Bank of the Province of Macerata, which supports local growth. In the past, the province was crossed by historical roads leading to Rome, but the main connecting artery today is the Rome-Ancona Railway. However, there is still a railway line that crosses several cities in the province, including Macerata, and road transport connects the region to nearby urban centers.
