Ascoli Piceno, capital city of the eponymously named province in Le Marche, a region on Italy’s Adriatic coast. It lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Castellano and the Tronto. Ascoli Piceno was founded by the Picenians or Piceni. It was linked to Rome and the Roman way of life by the Via Salaria,’ (Burton Anderson:1982, p.322).

The city: The city has two main central squares: Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Arringo. The city’s hallmark is the whiteness of those many buildings (mainly churches) made mainly of travertine. The city’s Caffè Meletti in Piazza del Popolo is one of Italy’s most celebrated Art Nouveau cafès. The round, arched bridge over the river Tronto dates to the Augustan period and at 22 metres is one of the largest of its type. Not far from the city the papal paper mill museum in found in a restored building. This was originally the since Middle Age paper mill workshop. The mill was powered by the river.

Frazioni: Colonnata Alta.

Local food: Olive all’ascolana, plump olives stuffed (with cheese and ham among other things) and deep-fried.

Bibliography

Burton Anderson, Vino – The Wines and Winemakers of Italy (London, 1982).