Skilful hands: Artisan craftsmanship

Fano - Handicraft in Fano

Fano is famous for jewellery-making, thanks to internationally known craftsmen; the jewels are well-refined and show a skilful mastery in drawing and filigree techniques. The town boasts also a long standing tradition in wood and iron working, glass and metal making; do not forget papier-mâché making, used for the construction of wagons during the annual Carnival parade.
Since the '80s Fano has been hosting the fair-antiques market; it is held every second Saturday and Sunday of each month and draws many exhibitors of furnishings, furniture, ceramics, jewelery and religious items.

Pesaro city of ceramics

Since the late Middle Ages Pesaro has been known as a city of ceramics; the art of producing fine majolica ware has been carried on almost without interruption from the late Middle Ages to the twentieth century.
The production of majolica was always protected and encouraged, first by the city’s mediaeval rulers – such as the Della Rovere family – and subsequently by the government of the Papal State and so on to the present day. In the late fifteenth century the city became one of the foremost centres in Italy for the production of fine artistic ceramics. If you wish to learn more about this chapter in Pesaro’s history, just pay a visit to the Ceramics section of the Municipal Museum.

Proponents of the ceramic art in Pesaro today include: Molaroni (Via Luca Della Robbia 9/11) and Tiziano Donzelli produce the traditional designs known as “all'istoriato” (showing mythical or historical scenes), “a raffaellesche” (Raphaelesque), “alla rosa” (the rose design) and “al ticchio” re-interpreted in a modern key.
Atelier Franco Bucci, Laboratorio Pesaro and Verzolini experiment with techniques and materials in a new way, producing objects on the borderline between craft and design.

A wide range of objects and publications concerning the world of the ceramic art can be found at the Municipal Museum bookshop.

Urbino - The majolica and the typical handicraft

Urbino is famed not only for majolica (the collection in the Palazzo Ducale boasts works from the workshops of Patalnazzi and Nicola da Urbino), but also for metals, fabrics, antiques and the preservation of cultural and art heritage. The tradition of printmaking and book restoration is deeply rooted in town.

Urbania - The former "Castel Durante" and its majolica

Formerly known as "Castel Durante", Urbania boasts a long standing tradition in majolica production. Skilled local potters, thanks to the Roveresca court, could work with famous painters, giving life to the genre of Istoriato.
The splendid examples of Durantine pottery dating back to the Middle Ages can be admired in the Civic Museum, housed in the Ducal Palace, and in the Diocesan Museum: there are drawings showing the techniques and the styles of the earthernware, like pump plates, jugs, bowls, amphorae, etc.
The town council ofter organizes educational trips in order to learn ancient techniques; around the town centre there are workshops where pottery, wrought iron and wicker are made.

Sant'Ippolito - The town of stone cutters

Since the XIVth Sant'Ippolito has been identified with the land of stone cutters, thanks to the skilful and talented sandstone workers living there. The local yellow and blue sandstone quarries have favored the actity of stone cutters. More recently the art of stonecutters has been fostered and supported by master Francesco Maria Rossi. In the central Piazza del Popolo stands the Museum of Land-Art of Stonemasons, which documents the activity of stonemasons over the centuries: there is a large collection of tools used to carve stone and informative boards about the work in the quarries.
In July Sant'Ippolito hosts "Scolpire in piazza" (Carving in the square): during this event many sculptors realize sandstone works, specifically designed for urban regeneration and environmental projects in small municipalities and in nature areas of the Marche region.
The town is an open air museum: along the streets, on the facades of the houses and churches, you can enjoy the stone sculptures created by stonemasons.

Terre Roveresche - Terracotta production

Like the nearby Fratterosa, the municipality of Barchi is renowned for the production of pottery.
In Barchi a must see attraction is the Museum of Orci (terracotta pots) and Banda Grossi potters, collecting valuable terracotta pots.
The Terracotta pot company was founded in the 60s by a group of artisans and now is run by a keen and skilful family (the Pandolfi brothers).
The production of pottery is renowned not only in Barchi, but also in the surrounding villages (Vergineto, San Bartolo and Villa del Monte).

Fratte Rosa - The production of pottery

Fratte Rosa boasts a long standing tradition in the production of pottery.
The production of the so called "shards of Fratte Rosa", which owe their name to the typical pink color of the brick houses, is very popular.
The Franciscan monastery of Santa Vittoria, now housing the Terracotta Museum, opened on June 22, 2002, deserves a visit. The museum documents all stages of pottery production: you can observe raw materials, their processing, and a wide range of finished objects, in different forms and design (crockery, typical earthenware, homeware, furniture accessories and party favors).

Ostra - The antiques and the restoration

Ostra is famed for antique furniture restoration: it actually boasts a prestigious school for antique furniture restoration, specialized in wood and iron.
The school also organizes courses of embroidery, decorative painting of interiors and glass making. There are several workshops of expert and experienced artisans in town. In August Ostra hosts the National Market of Antiques, Arts and Crafts, a must-see event for antiques lovers. Situated on a hill with a fascinating view towards the Misa valley, Ostra belongs to the National Association of Wine Cities, the National Association Cities of Honey and boasts the Orange Flag. According to tradition the town was founded by the refugees from the Roman town of Ostra destroyed by the Goti. It is surrounded by medieval walls featuring nine towers. In its red-brick main square stand the neo-classical town hall and the theatre La Vittoria. Not far from the centre a must see attraction is the eighteenth century Sanctuary of Madonna della Rosa, which houses the miraculous seventeenth century edicola dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The most typical products are: Lacrima di Morro d’Alba, the local red wine, and the extra virgin olive oil obtained from “Raggia” olive, one of Marche’s finest olive variety.

Jesi - Handicraft in Jesi

Jesi boasts a long standing tradition in jewelery making, also attested by Jesi's place names, like "Via degli Orefici" (the Goldsmith Street), now called Via Pergolesi. Until a few years ago many shops were actually concentrated along this street.
Jesi is also a well known center for leather accessories, glass decoration, iron and wood working; sericulture and silk production were popular as witnessed by the various mills and farmhouses with a pigeon. Now the activity has fallen sharply.
Jesi is one of the most beguiling towns in Ancona’s inland and boasts a sophisticated old centre and lively cultural life. As you arrive you must look at its most striking feature - a belt of massive 14thC walls, built on Roman foundations and later strengthened with buttresses and impregnable towers, and topped by houses. Piazza Federico II lies at the north-eastern end of the town where the Roman forum of Aesis once lay. Its name recalls the birth here of the fabled Medieval Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II in a tent on 26 December 1194.
A few steps down Via Pergolesi and you will be in Piazza Colocci and in front of Jesi's most remarkable building, Palazzo della Signoria. This Renaissance palace was built at the end of the 15thC; the large rampant lion above the entrance is the symbol of the power the city once held. Piazza della Repubblica, Jesi's largest square, is dominated by the town's 18thC theatre, Teatro Pergolesi, home to a prestigious autumn opera season and named after the composer Pergolesi, who was born here in 1710.
On Via XV Settembre stands Jesi's most flamboyant building, Palazzo Pianetti; the most extravagant part is the sugar-candy stucco work in the long galleria. The added bonus of the civic art gallery makes it obligatory as here is kept a small group of some of Lorenzo Lotto’s finest works: the Judgement of Santa Lucia, a Visitation, an Annunciation and a restless Deposition.
To find an exhaustive selection of Marche wines you can’t miss the regional “enoteca”, in the city historical centre, where you get to know the delicious Verdicchio, a white wine proudly produced in this area.

Fabriano, city of the paper and watermark

Even back in the 14th century, Fabriano's paper mills were producing a million sheets of paper a year and it was here that watermarked paper was developed. Its paper is still used the world over for bank notes and quality art paper.
So proud is the town of its traditional industry that it has dedicated an interesting modern museum to it - you'll find the Museo della Carta in the former monastery of San Domenico to the south of the town on Largo Fratelli Spacca. The Paper and Watermark Museum traces the town's fascinating history of this important craft, with centuries-old machinery and well-preserved manuscripts
illustrating its prominence over the ages. Watermarks dated back to 15th and 16th century.
Towards the end of the 1200's the craftsmen in Fabriano used to countersign their production with watermarks. Today watermarks witness the perfection attained by the Fabriano paper mills in this sector, in particular for the production of value paper.

Castelfidardo and the manufacture of the accordion

Castelfidardo is situated not so far from the sea, dominating from its hill the Musone Valley and the area of Aspio. It is known throughout the world for its famous music instruments factories, such as accordions, keyboards and organs. When passing by this places, you are invited to go and visit the Accordion International Museum, located in the basement of the City Hall. In the Museum you can find documents about the history of a musical instrument that have had in Castelfidardo the main production centre for over a century, with its 350 unique specimens coming from twenty-two different countries.

Pollenza - The Antiques and the collection of pottery

Pollenza is famous for antique furniture restoration and, as well as many workshops outside the walls, there are several shops here to browse around.
It also boasts a long standing tradition in painting restoration. Ancient techniques and original materials, such as nails or handles, are used to make masterpieces. A long time ago there were also different pottery workshops.
The Civic Museum of Palazzo Cento, a former sixteenth century manor house, now houses an art gallery, which collects different archaeological findings, like some ceramics, manufactured in Pollenza between 1810 and 1905, vintage pieces of furniture and crucifixes.
In July Pollenza hosts the Antiques Market, which welcomes thousands of visitors: there are numerous shops, antique dealers, collectors, as well as music events and entertainment.

Tolentino - The leather goods centre

Tolentino is one of Marche's well known centre for leather goods: skilled craftsmen use the most sophisticated leather to make stylish clothing accessories and elegant sofas and armchairs. The area is also popular for linen and hemp working and the traditional weaving loom. In Tolentino worth visiting is the Museum of Ceramics, boasting a remarkable collection offered by Cardinal Giovanni Tacci to to the town concil in 1933, with the obligation to preserve it in the room adjacent to the Basilica of San Nicola. There are ceramics from Deruta, Faenza, Gubbio, Castel Durante, Nove, Bassano, Fabriano, Castles, Savona, Albisola, San Quirico, as well as Chinese and Japanese ceramics. Another tourist attraction in the area is the Museum of Rural Life, housed at the Abbey of Fiastra, with a vast collection of farm tools, kitchen utensils and carpentry items. The most interesting objects are: the old frames, the vats for grape, a wooden plow, a typical Marche's biroccio ("farm cart"), as well as numerous tools used to make ropes and press grapes.

Sarnano - The collection of arms and metals

In Sarnano's historic centre you can't miss Santa Chiara complex, now home of the Art Gallery and the Museum building, where the upper floors houses the Museum of Arms, avifauna, the Hammers and the local painter collection of Modern Art Mariano Gavasci.
The Museum of Arms, was established by the Municipality of Sarnano 25 February 1987 following the acquisition of a first group (460 pieces) of the collection of the local list collects Mario Arra, subsequently increased in 1993 with 57 other specimens of the same collection and in 1995 with 323 other weapons designed to charge to the Museum by the Ministry of heritage and Culture. The design of the museum aims to show the evolution of weapons from a technical perspective, history, art and encompasses military and civilian units, weapons used in the exercise of hunting, weapons of various length and historical epoch.
The Museo dei Martelli, is the collection of Sergio Masini, donated to the City of Sarnano in 1993 by the Masini family. This collection includes more than 500 pieces, from over 40 countries on five-containing and representative of more than 100 trades. Among the oldest objects, you should remember a bat-at-arms of the sixteenth century, an Ottoman flail to twenty-eight bits of the eighteenth century and nineteenth century an English hammer in rock crystal and agate that was used to print on the wax.

Montappone - The straw hat

Montappone, a small medieval town, is well known for the production of handmade straw hat. The Hat Museum documents all stages of straw processing. The last step concerns straw pressing, giving the hat the final shape. In the museum there are photographs, panels and original machinery.
Montappone hosts "The Straw Hat" in July: it's an event that promotes this ancient craft. There are more than two hundred hat makers who show visitors how to make a straw hat. The economy of this little town is based not only on the production of straw hats, but also of handbags made of shavings, rush and other materials. Pottery is popular too.

Offida - The art of pillow lace

It is a typical female tradition of Offida "the art of pillow lace", which today is still passed on by generation to generation. In the historical centre there is the monument devoted to the lace makers, by the sculptor Aldo Sergiacomi.

The tourist, which walks along the alleys and streets of Offida, will surely come across, especially in the summer evenings many women of Offida of all ages, seated near their front doors, working the pillow lace.

A real art, a typically female tradition goes back to the 15th century. At the beginning only the popular class was involved in this work, but gradually the pillow lace's art infected also the religious communities and noble families. The Benedictine nuns, who arrived in Offida in 1655, (see information on St. Marco Monastery) gave a great boost to the diffusion of the pillow lace.

Acquaviva Picena - The production of "paiarole"

The keep of the fortress houses the Museum of Paiarola . The term dialect "paiarole" refers to a typical element of the local: Acquaviva survives in fact the ancient art of making baskets with straw, the so-called pagliarole. 's not uncommon to see, especially in the summer, elderly women country, on the doorstep, weave the wheat straw with formidable skill, using an awl. All work is performed by holding the straw and crolle immersed in water to make them pliable for processing. The process is long and laborious because it provides for the previous stages to the preparation of materials: straw, willow and Cannetta Wild. The pagliarole , in very different forms, are used as sfarinapesce , screens, door fruit door knitting, laundry baskets and ornamental plates. But once the pagliarole could also become the cradles.

Skilful hands: Artisan craftsmanship

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