Among the 20 most beautiful squares in Italy, Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno deserves a place of honor. Many call it the “living room of Italy” because it perfectly combines historical culture and architectural beauty confirming, even today, a meeting point for all citizens.
Fonte: lonelyplanetitalia.it
Piazza del Popolo has always been the centre of the city of the Marche region and has been chosen as the place of choice for the most important events not only at a citizen’s level, but also at national level. At the same time, it is much loved by tourists who love art and architecture.
The history of Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno
Piazza del Popolo di Ascoli Piceno is of Roman origin; compared to its original extension has expanded considerably over time so that, if already in the fourteenth century it was the center of public life due to the presence of the Church of San Francesco and the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo, in the sixteenth century it was enriched with arcades and travertine columns.
Fonte: itinari.com
Currently, the square consists of a rectangle of 2500 square meters that turns out to be a spectacle even in the rain: the slabs of polished travertine with which the floor was made, in fact, with water become a real mirror.
What to see in Piazza del Popolo di Ascoli Piceno
As mentioned, Piazza del Popolo has always been the fulcrum of the city thanks to the buildings it houses inside; who is on site, therefore, can not avoid visiting:
Palace of the Captains of the People
The Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo has always been the center of power of the city, so much so that, even today, it is the seat of the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno. You can admire both from the inside and from the outside: the Renaissance courtyard, the Sala della Ragione, the Sala degli Stemmi and the numerous archaeological finds deserve great attention.
Fonte: wikimedia.org
Church of San Francesco
The Church of San Francesco is the religious center of the city par excellence. Its construction dates back to the mid-thirteenth century, in Gothic style, following the visit of San Francesco.
Fonte: terradeifioretti.it
Caffè Meletti
Much more recently, Caffè Meletti was founded in 1905 and is one of Italy’s historic cafés. It was here that artists such as Guttuso, Sartre, Hemingway, Pertini, Mascagni and many others came together to exchange ideas and experiences.
Fonte: italia.it
What to see in Ascoli Piceno
If Piazza del Popolo is, in itself, full of buildings to visit, not least is the entire Ascoli Piceno, which offers a large number of towers, churches, squares and palaces to discover.
Piazza Arringo
Eternal rival of Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Arringo (or dell’Arengo) plays an equally important role as a civil and religious center of the city. Its name derives from the statements that were held in the past right inside where, even today, you can admire the Cathedral of Sant’Emidio (patron of Ascoli), the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Palazzo dell’Arengo (headquarters of the Pinacoteca Civica) and the Episcopal Palace.
Fonte: wikimedia.org
Tempietti di Sant’Emidio
There are several places that in Ascoli Piceno are linked to its patron saint; in addition to Piazza Arringo, in fact, there are two small temples dedicated to him: the Temple of Sant’Emidio alle Grotte, which rises where (according to legend) the Saint brought his head beheaded to be buried, and the Temple of Saint Emidio Rosso, erected where instead the Saint was beheaded.
Fonte: googleusercontent.com
Forte Malatesta
Forte Malatesta is one of the most beautiful fortified buildings of the Renaissance period in Italy. It already existed in Roman times, while its current structure is due to Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, who carried out the restoration commissioned by Pope Paul III Farnese. Its name, however, comes from Galeotto Malatesta.
Fonte: parcocalanchiascensione.it
Teatro Romano
The Roman Theatre of Ascoli Piceno is a must-see even outside the historic centre. It dates back to the Augustan Age and has returned to light thanks to excavations in the first half of the twentieth century. Today it is possible to admire only the ancient tribunes, that is the steps arranged in a semicircle where the spectators sat down to watch the performances.
Fonte: tripadvisor.com
What to eat in Ascoli Piceno
To draw attention to Ascoli Piceno not only its Piazza del Popolo and other works of art that it preserves within its walls, but also and above all its gastronomic tradition; between first and second courses, sweets and local wines, you certainly can not give up making a stop to taste the delicacies of the place.
Fonte: foodblog.it
The absolute best are:
- fried cremini: they consist of small pieces filled with breaded pastry cream and then fried; together with the Ascoli olives they make the traditional Ascoli mixed fried;
- spaghetti all’ascolana: a first course of pasta seasoned with tuna sauce, anchovies and green olives Ascoli;
- maccheroncini di Campofilone: another irresistible first course, based on egg pasta served with a preparation of pork, beef and chicken giblets;
- timballo all’ascolana: the timballo is a typical dish of Ascoli cuisine and consists of a kind of lasagna topped with meat sauce of beef;
- vincisgrassi: you can taste in various areas of the Marche and consist of baked pasta topped with meat sauce cut coarsely;
- coratella di agnello: a second dish that derives from the poor tradition based on coratella (heart, lung, liver and spleen) of lamb cooked in a pan with lard, minced garlic, onion, parsley and chilli pepper and then served with eggs;
- fried mixed all’ascolana: the most delicious dish of the city that includes green olives and cremini, but also vegetables and lamb chops, all strictly fried;
- chicken or ngip ‘ngiap rabbit: the ngip ‘ngiap preparation requires the meat, both of meat and rabbit, to be cut into pieces and then browned in a pan with oil, aromatic herbs and ascoli olives;
- cheese pizza: a high and soft savory cake, preferably with ciauscolo, a typical Marche sausage;
- cacciannanzë: focaccia ascolana seasoned with garlic, oil and rosemary to be combined with local salami;
- Frustingo: one of the typical Ascoli sweets based on stale bread, dried figs, chocolate and spices;
- fried ravioli: another typical dessert filled with chestnuts, cocoa and liqueur.
Ascoli Piceno does not lack, of course, fine and tasty wines: in addition to Rosso Piceno DOC and Falerio dei Colli Ascolani, it is also recommended to taste a good glass of Passerina, Pecorino and Rosso.
Another must is Anisetta, a typical anise-based liqueur, to round off a meal in Ascoli.
https://amarche.it/prov/ascoli/cosa-vedere-ascoli-piceno/
Copertina: italia