Porto Recanati is a town on the Marche coast, in the province of Macerata, located a short distance from the Conero Regional Natural Park. Its birth dates back to the thirteenth century and the will of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, who built a port and the castle, but today it is a popular tourist and seaside resort, an ideal place where history, culture and natural beauty come together in an ideal mix.
The historic center of Porto Recanati, which contains all the characteristics of a fishing village, contains the Abbey of Santa Maria in Potenza, founded by the Order of Crucifers around 1160 as a hospital and a place of welcome for pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land along the Adriatic coast. Also worth seeing is the fourteenth-century Church of the Weathervane, where, according to tradition, stopped the angels carrying the Holy House of Loreto, and the Swabian Castle, a fortress surrounded by walls — on which runs the walkway — and equipped with towers.
In locality Santa Maria in Potenza you can also visit the archaeological area of the ancient Roman city of Potentia, with the remains of the domus with mosaic floors and wall frescoes, the porticoed forum with tavernae, and a temple. The remains of statues and sculptures from the area are exhibited in the exhibition «Divi & Dei».
Porto Recanati, in addition to art, the beauty of nature
With 9 kilometres of coastline, Porto Recanati offers sandy or pebble beaches bordered by the Pineta Volpini. The beaches of the center are those most equipped with facilities, equipped with beach volleyball, playgrounds for children, entertainment and entertainment. In the area of Scossicci the beaches are particularly popular with water sports enthusiasts.
The events of Porto Recanati
In the second week of July, is held in Porto Recanati the Feast of the Sea, with the procession of fishing boats, at the head of which advances that brings on board the picture of the Madonna del Soccorso, according to the legend found in a box caught in the net of a fishing boat. The Bara de Notte, however, is a suggestive procession that takes place on Good Friday, with the canopy of the Dead Christ parading through the city center. In August, however, it is the turn of the historical re-enactment dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of the city: a relay race involving the 7 districts of Porto Recanati.
Porto Recanati: between food and bike rides along the beach
The culinary heritage is strongly linked to the maritime tradition. The dish par excellence is the «brodetto di Porto Recanati«, which is distinguished from other versions of Marche for the lack of tomato and, above all, for the use of saffron pistils of Conero. To this exquisite specialty is dedicated «The week of brodetto», held in the first week of June, to which all local restaurants adhere.
Among the desserts, the «Pà nuciatu» is prepared in the autumn with pecorino cheese, parmesan, pepper, nuts and raisins, and then «le beccute», based on leftover polenta mixed with dried figs, or walnuts and almonds, «the fava of the dead», typical amaretti of the month of November, and the «sciughetti», based on yellow flour, wine must, chopped nuts and pumpkin seeds.
The territory is crossed by a series of cycle paths that connect the pedestrian promenade, Santa Maria di Potenza and the river Potenza, up to the South Shore and the North Shore. To stay in Porto Recanati there is plenty of choice between hotels of all levels, holiday homes by the sea and b & b.
Cover Image: Beach Searcher