From the sea at Civitanova Marche to the hills of Macerata

Civitanova Marche is a popular seaside resort on the Adriatic coast, boasting a fishing port and a marina.
The northern shore is wide and sandy and the water is shallow: it is suitable for children, who can bathe and play safely; the southern shore, instead, is both sandy and pebbled. The long beach is divided by the fishing port and the marina. Three biking trails are available: the Castellaro trail, the Chienti trail and the third  trail along the promenade to the north and south. 
The town centre is around wide Piazza XX Settembre and offers plenty of stylish window-shopping, green public gardens and Liberty style apartment houses. The northern area is characterized by tree-lined Vittorio Veneto street, where stands the former House of Balilla, now housing the Civic Library and the Teatro E. Cecchetti Cinema. 4 km inland from the town stands the medieval hilltop borgo of Civitanova Marche Alta, partly surrounded by its old walls; here you can visit the historic theatre Annibal Caro; the Municipal Art Gallery Moretti, boasting the collection of contemporary art especially carvings; the former Church of St. Augustine; the Church of St Francis; the Church of St Paul. It's worth visiting the Tramway Station in Art Nouveau style, the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions and the Historical Museum of Trot, few miles from the town centre. Nestled between the hilltop town and the resort is Villa Conti, an Art Nouveau villa built in 1910, surrounded by a park with an Italian style garden. Nearby is Palazzina San Michele, a rare example of Art Nouveau style in the area of Macerata. A large amount of fashionable shoe shops and outlets can be found near Civitanova Marche: the town is actually in the heartland of the Marche’s shoe industry. Different sports can be practiced: sailing, golf and horseback riding. The most important events taking place in Civitanova Marche are : Civitanova Danza, an International Dance Festival, offering forms of modern dance of different countries in the world ; the Sea Festival, a good opportunity to sample fish dishes and discover the local fish recipes.

Civitanova Alta is an ancient village built on a hill surrounded by the walls of a medieval castle. Here lies the historic theater Annibal Caro  that hosts , along with the other two theaters of Civitanova Rossini and Cecchetti, an important theater season. It is named after the most famous local character, whose birthplace is also located in the village. Another highlight of the city is Civitanova Danza, an international event, that reminds another prestigious fellow citizen, Enrico Cecchetti, primo ballerino at the court of Russia in the nineteenth century. The Pinacoteca Comunale Moretti (with a permanent exhibition of paintings by Carrà, Morandi, De Chirico, Guttridge and Ligabue) and the former Church of St. Augustine are two other cultural sites of the city where, for some years, summer exhibitions are held. Also interesting are the Tramway Station (1900) in Art Nouveau style, rich in polychrome ceramics, the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions, with many artifacts of the peasant culture of the Marche, and the Historical Museum of Trot, unique in its kind, out of the town.

Porto Recanati it is the northernmost coastal town in the province of Macerata. The central strip of the coast features pebbled and sandy beaches with steep sea. The area is completely flat and is located nearby Mount Conero.

The central belt of the coast is generally pebbly but there are also sandy beaches; the sea is rather deep. The area, by the Monte Conero, is perfectly flat. This, along with its calm and peaceful atmosphere, makes it especially fit for walking with strollers along the boardwalk. Modern beach resorts equipped with playing gardens for children and the possibility of practicing water sports, three biking tracks (by the Potenza river, close to the provincial “Sorbelli” road and in the Scossicci area) make Porto Recanati one of the most visited holiday resorts in Marche.

The town preserves some important witnesses of its past. In the main square stands the medieval Castello Svevo, donated by Frederick
II to the city; it hosts in the first floor the Civic Art Gallery “Attilio Moroni.” The Sea Museum documents the maritime tradition of Porto Recanati; it is located in the complex of the former fish market - a modern two-level palace built between 1975 and 1980. To the south of the city is the archaeological area of the Roman city Potentia, where there are the ruins of the Abbey of Santa Maria in Potenza, founded in the twelfth century by the order of the Cross-bearers; moreover, there are the statue finds coming from diggings, preserved in the keep of the Castello Svevo. In the valley of the Scossicci area stands the church of the Banderuola, built on the place where, according to tradition, the Holy House (now housed in the famous Sanctuary of Loreto) stopped for the first time during its transfer to Italy.

On the south of the town, lies the archaeological area of the Roman town of Potentia, where it is possible to visit the ruins of some buildings. There are also statuesque findings, kept inside the keep of the Swabian Castle.

Porto Recanati is a popular seaside resort, boasting 8 km of both wide sandy and gravel beaches , with an attractive view of the peak of Monte Conero to the north. Porto Recanati is an ideal holiday destination: the coastal area has an abundance of leisure facilities, including recreation grounds for children and modern beach resorts. It’s a lively place with a fun nightlife too.
The most pleasant stretch of beach - and the highest concentration of good hotels - runs from the centre of town southwards.
In the central Corso Mazzini stands its castle and narrow streets of brick houses.
There are plenty of reasonably priced restaurants serving the Marche version of fish stew - brodetto - which must be made with 13 species of fish, no more, no less.

In the south of the built-up area, not far from the arhaeological site of the ancient Potentia, stands a well-constructed complex covered with a very old tree-lined park. The structure, widely restructured all over the years, hosted for a long time a monastery-hospital run by the Order of Cruciferous. 

The Abbey, probably founded between 1160 and 1180, become the main settlement of the Order in the Marche and in a short time it bad large properties. In 1656 the Order of Cruciferous was dissolved by Pope Alexander VII. The Abbey's properties adn assets ended up in the resulted settled in the complex since 1794. In 1808 Napoleon confiscated all properties and assets and assigned them to the royal domain; in 1812 be garantes them to the viceroy of Italy Eugenio of Beaubarnais who remained the owner until his death (1824). On the second half of the nineteenth century, the ex Abbey and its land passed into the hands of a group of representatives of the rich Roman nobility.

If you arrive from the main road, you can notice at once the semicircular apse of what used to be the ecclesiastical building, decorated on top by a small loggia made in pure Romanesque style; Little is left of the interior.

As far ad decorations are concerned, the triptych kept on the altar (Virgin Mary with Baby, with Saint Bernard on her right and Abbot Saint Anthony on her left) is of Prof. Cesare Peruzzi, born in the nearby village of Montelupone (MC).

In a large saucepan, fry the chopped onion in  an abundant quantity of olive oil. Add chopped squid, cook it on a low heat, and cover them with the same fish soup, two ladles of tomato paste and zafferanella, salt and pepper. Place the fishes on different layers, by arranging the most tender fishes at the end; cook for other 15/18 minutes. Once cooked, put the slices of toasted bread on the dishes and cover them with the fish and sauce. Serve it as one-plate meal accompanied by dry white wine or young red wine or a fresh rosé wine.  

Loreto, a small town of Ancona Province, is known all over the world for its Sanctuary that makes it one of the most important places of pilgrimage and pray for the Catholics, together with Medjugorje and Lourdes. The believers go to Loreto to give prays of devotion to the ruins of the Holy House where Jesus lived in Nazareth. On the basis of a former ancient tradition and latter historical and archeological researches, it is confirmed indeed that the Loreto Sanctuary keeps the Nazarene House of Mary; according to tradition, when in 1921 the crusaders were driven from Palestine out, the walls of the house of Mary were brought first to Illyria (to Tersatto, the present Croatia) and then to Loreto (10 December 1294).

Inside the Sanctuary you will admire: The Dome – The Crucifix Chapel – the French Chapel or Sacrament’s – the Slavic Chapel or Cirillo and Metodio Saints – the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel or American’s – the Choir Chapel or German’s – the Sacred Heart Chapel or Polish’s – the St John Sacristy or Signorelli’s – the Urbino Dukes Chapel – the St Joseph Chapel or Spanish’s – the Swiss Chapel or Gioacchino and Ann Saints – St Mark Sacristy or Melozzo’s – the side Chapels –the Treasure Room or Pomarancio’s.

The square outside the Sanctuary ends in the northern and western sides with the Apostles Palace, in the eastern side with the front of the Basilica, and in the southern side with the Illyrian Palace; on you r left hand you will admire the Bell Tower drawn by Luigi Vanvitelli; instead, in the middle there is the Fountain by Carlo Maderno and Giovanni Fontana.
We have to mention the impressive Basilica of Loreto Dome built in the octagonal drum, up to the eaves by Giuliano da Maiano; it was vaulted by Giuliano da Sangallo in only eight months, from September 1499 to May 1500.

“The Loreto Holy House is the first Sanctuary of International importance dedicated to the Virgin and the true Marian heart of Christianity”. (Pope John Paul II)

The library of Count Monaldo Leopardi (1776-1847) significantly documents how cultivated social classes from the Marche were much interested in antiques’ research and local history. This was a tradition of local studies which reached its peak at the end of the 18^th century thanks to the monumental work by the abbot Giuseppe Colucci “Picene antiquity”.

The library was opened by Monaldo Loepardi, the poet’s father, in 1812. At that time it was a very large library, as it consisted of 16,000 books stored in four rooms, divided into topics, except for the second rooms which was entirely dedicated to religious literature.

The collection of books includes several sections: the Fathers of the Church, dogmatic, critical but also Protestant theology.

Besides, it’s made up of Enlightened books, also from the 18^th century anti-philosophical point of view, and foreign literature of that time. These books were read by Giacomo Leopardi who therefore elaborated a vision of the world and of history which was opposite to his father’s views.

Most part of the library was bought by Count Monaldo at the fairs of Recanati and Senigallia and some travels to Rome on occasion of the suppression of religious orders and convents during and after the Roman Republic. Monaldo also bought many books written in Greek for his son Giacomo but mainly for his love for antiques. The profound collector’s love for books and also coins, medals, inscriptions and a vast knowledge of documents chosen by him is reflected also in his works of local history.

At the wall of the library hangs an inscription where Monaldo states his intention to open a library not only for himself but also for the people from Recanati. In fact, it was always open for cultivated men, and at present it continues to be open for visitors attracted by the museum and the books.

Casa Leopardi, Leopardi’s Palazzo, houses the library. It’s right opposite the square of the “Saturday evening in the village” and it’s exactly the same as it was at the time of the Count Monaldo. The four rooms of the library entirely occupy the first floor of the palazzo, which also consists of the Manuscript Room, the bedroom and the studio. The first room is characterized by a panelled ceiling; the second room, smaller than the other ones, has a fascinating hand-painted canvas ceiling with paintings in typical Pompeian style; the third and fourth room both have a rectangular shape and hold hundreds of books placed on enormous shelves.

The church was built in the second half of the 15th-century, when a previous church dating back to 1136 was changed in gothic style following the design of Antonio Lombardo. From the outside, the single-sloped brick façade is dominated by hanging arches and flanked by the bell tower.  a rose window in white stone and a lancet window with cusps. The interior is divided into three naves with a cross vaulted ceiling supported by octagonal pillars topped with simple capitals. The church’s altarpiece is in glazed terracotta and was painted by the monk, Mattia della Robbia. It represents the Madonna with Child in glory between Saints Sebastian, Rocco, Peter Martyr and Anthony the Abbot. The predella illustrates the stories from Jesus’ childhood alternated with festoons of fruit, a characteristic of Robbia’s paintings. In the lunette, there is the figure of God the Father while blessing, together with angel musicians and surrounded with festoons and cherubs.

It's a pretty hill town, just north of Macerata; it  belongs to the association of “The most beautiful villages in Italy” and boasts “the Orange Flag”,
and the Green Spike label, thanks to a goog recycling activities and great attention given to, educational activities on environmental issues.
It is surrounded by medieval walls and has a particularly attractive small piazza; overlooking it, the solid 15th century Palazzo Comunale, built over a shady portico, has three beautiful bottle-glazed windows. Steps lead through an archway to one side, up to the parish church, topped by a stubby spire. Inside the sober Gothic brick interior, there is refreshingly un-restored terracotta altarpiece by Mattia Della Robbia (1527), a lesser-known member of the famous Florentine artistic family.
The Compagnucci Palace houses the town picture gallery where works by Girolamo Buratti, an important canvas “Madonna enthroned with Child between Saints Andrew and Helen and musician angels” by the Spanish painter Ioannes Hispanus and the painting representing St. John the Baptist in prison by an unknown painter are preserved. In the Romanesque church of St. Nicolò there’s the oldest bell of the Marche as well as frescoes dating back to the 16th century The church of Saints Philip and James houses a canvas attributed to Pagani; the wooden altar of the church of Santa Croce is unique. The Church of St. John the Baptist houses the museum of sacred art and furnishings; the 19^th century Theatre Delle Logge is embellished by painting decorations and stuccowork. The Collegiate church of St. Lorenzo was largely renovated in 1723; it houses a large crucifix with a triumphant Christ . Worth visiting are the recently restored historic courtyards: the Augustinian cloister, the Garden of San Giacomo and the courtyard of the Monastery of the Poor Clares. The most typical specialty is "sughitti", a kind of pudding made with must, sweet corn flour and walnuts.The most important events are: the historical re-enactment "Palio dei Terzieri" (in July) and the festival of "Sughitti" (in October).

Nestling between Macerata and the coast, it preserves its original layout: its well-preserved walls retain the earliest four doorways and the roads feature the ancient stone paving. Montelupone, where the Orange flag flies, also belongs to the association of The most beautiful villages in Italy. The central Piazza del Comune is overshadowed by the tall tower of the Palazzo del Podestà with its striking battlements. Next to it is the nineteenth-century town hall, with its neo-classical portico, housing the historical Theatre Nicola Degli Angeli.
Not far for the centre, near the river Potenza, a must-see attraction is the Benedictine abbey of San Firmano. Montelupone boasts a long-standing agricultural tradition; the most typical farm produce is the artichoke. Sagra del carciofo, the festival centred around the local artichoke, take places in early May.

The new museum is located in the basement of the Town Hall. It has eight rooms: the field work (plough, gin), weaving, various tools, ateliers (shoemaker, blacksmith,  carpenter, cooper), the school, the typographer, the housework (tailoring, kitchen) and the work in the cellar (the cave).

One of the Marche's earliest and most charming churches, Santa Maria a Piè di Chienti, lies 6 km inland along the SS 485, just below Montecosaro. This beautifully preserved romanesque construction built in the 9th century is one of the region's finest example of Romanesque architecture. Double-decker in form, the upper floor is built within the church at the further end of the high central nave.
The 14th century frescoes in the apse above the upper altar are all the most powerful in their striking contrast with the remainder of the simple brick interior.
The three side chapels built into the semi-circular apse of the lower church are among the few surviving examples of their kind in Italy.