Ascoli Piceno

It is situated on a hill at an altitude of 154 meters which the “Castellano nel Tronto” merges into and is enclosed on three sides. The old city centre, with its colourful streets, surrounds the monumental public Square of the People which is encircled by Renaissance palaces and dominated by the Palace of the People (XIII century).

Other sites of interest are the gothic church of San Francesco with the “Loggia of the Merchants” (XVI century), the Romanesque churches of San Vincenzo and San Anastasio, the cathedral (XV century) which has been restructured many times over the years and includes a baptistery of the XII century, the Malaspina Palace (XVI century) and the Roman bridge of Solestà on the Tronto river. The Pia Fortress, erected by Pope Pio IV in 1564, dominates the city from the hill of the Annunziata. The city was hit on 28-29 November 1972 by strong earthquakes (8 degrees on the Mercalli scale) that triggered very serious damage to many buildings in the historical centre.

The regional capital of a mostly farming area, Ascoli Piceno has developed industrially over the last few decades to create a new and differentiated market alongside the traditional functions of agriculture (wines) and the administrative centre. This is accompanied by an extension of services and a good valorisation of tourist resources – the consequence of the formation of a modern industrial area along the public road “Piceno-aprutina” and the sub-urbanization of some villages (Castel di Lama, Folignano and Maltignano).

The industries are small-medium sized, but have a very good export market. The most developed are mechanics, chemicals, plastics, paper, ceramics and food (pasta); on the decline is the silk industry that in the past worked with cocoons produced in the region. The annual avicunicola and fur animal fair is an important event. The service industries employ most of the active population. Ascoli is the homeland of Pope Niccolò IV and of the poet and philosopher Francesco Stabili, also called Cecco d’Ascoli.