Lido di Camaiore is one of the most popular and best-equipped seaside resorts in Europe. Its lovely golden sand beach, stretching between Marina di Pietrasanta and Viareggio, is washed by the Ligurian Sea. The city is conveniently located to explore the charming Tuscan countryside, and is an excellent starting point towards the major tourist destinations and art heritage cities in Tuscany and Liguria. The elegant promenade, lined with beach resorts, restaurants and shops, is the hallmark of the town, and the iconic Bellavista Vittoria pier offers a stunning view over the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apuan Alps, just behind. Sports enthusiasts will love the many beach activities and the long cycle track running from Viareggio to Forte dei Marmi. The hilly inland area is a major destination for hiking, biking and horse riding among the lush greenery, while the mountains (within short driving distance) offer a variety of routes. Lido di Camaiore has often been Giro d’Italia finish city in 1997, in 2002 and in 2007, and currently hosts the opening stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico.
Camaiore lies at the heart of Versilia, a charming region with long-established traditions, and has a varied landscape. Only a few other places on earth can boast such a combination of contrasting yet harmonising sceneries: from the heights of the Apuan Alps to the gentle rolling hills, dotted with lovely villages, to the beaches in Lido di Camaiore.
The customs and traditions of the city, such as the sawdust carpets and the oil-lamp procession commemorating the death of Jesus, made it a major tourist destination. Camaiore has a typical chessboard layout, and is surrounded by defensive walls. Major landmarks include the famous Collegiate church and the Benedictine Abbey. The town bursts into life especially in the summertime, offering a wealth of tourist attractions. The Palio takes place in June and in July, with the six town’s districts challenging each other in a set of athletic and entertaining competitions. The town of Camaiore is also known to sports and cycling enthusiasts for the historical “Gran Premio Città di Camaiore”, which was raced from 1949 to 2014, while in recent years it has become a permanent feature of the Tirreno-Adriatico route.
Scarpaccia: A savory pie, traditionally prepared with zucchini, flour, salt, pepper and onion.
Torta di pepe or “co’ pizzi”: A savory rice pie, with the alternative name referring to the lace-like design of the puff-pastry crust. The filling is made with rice, chard, bread, eggs, pepper, parsley and pecorino cheese.
Tordelli: A pasta dish, similar to ravioli, stuffed with ground beef and pork, chard, parmesan, eggs and breadcrumbs. It is served in a rich meat sauce.
Norcineria camaiorese: “Norcineria” refers to artiginal pork products, and in the Camaiore area this food originates from the butchers of the village of Gombitelli. This is a linguistic island that has hosted a Longobard population since the Middle Ages. Typical products are lard, pork mortadella, or “sbriciolona”, and biroldo. The sbriciolona is sweet and delicate tasting, made with shoulder loin, neck and pork belly, to which are added aromas and spices – salt, pepper, fennel seeds, cinnamon and cloves. Biroldo is a blood-based pork sausage, made with parts considered less noble, such as head, lungs, heart, tongue and sometimes intestines.
Badia di San Pietro: A monumental complex located near the historic center. The first documents mentioning it date back to the time of Lombard domination. At the beginning of the 12th century, the abbey reached its maximum splendor as a Benedictine one.
Pieve di Santo Stefano: The presence of this parish church is documented since the 9th century, and it is located in a hilly area below Mount Prana along the Via Francigena. It is of Romanesque-Lucchese style, and on the inside, there is a marble sarcophagus of Roman origin dating back to the 2nd century AD.
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta: Located at the center of the city’s ancient urban layout, the church was founded in 1278 following the transformation of the existing rural village. Between 1350 and 1365 the imposing bell tower was built. It houses paintings by Marracci.
Teatro dell’Olivo: Theater of the typical style called “teatro all’italiana”. It is of seventeenth-century origin and stands in the place that once was used for the production of wool fabric. The theater was renovated during the early 2000’s and now delivers a popular program each season.
Villa Borbone delle Pianore: Located in the fraction of Capezzano Pianore, and the place where Zita di Borbone, the last empress of Austria, was born. The villa stands in the middle of a picturesque park, created by the landscape architect Deschamps.
Civic Archaeological Museum: Piazza Francigena is the location of the Civico Museo Archeologico, and the museum has undergone a long restructuring work for functional adaptation. Now it is exhibiting numerous archaeological and historical artefacts from this territory, documenting a continuity of settlement from prehistoric times, to the Middle Ages up to the proto-industrial age.
Museum of Sacred Art: Born as a place for collecting and storing furnishings, paintings, vestments, sacred furnishings from the 14th to the 16th century, the Museo d’Arte Sacra was established in 1936. It is located in the headquarters of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament of San Michele and San Vincenzo, a seventeenth century building. Standing out in the collection, is the Virgin of the Annunciation in polychrome wood by Matteo Civitali, a fourteenth-century Madonna with Child, also in polychrome wood, and a Flemish tapestry with scenes from the Passion of Christ, executed on cardboard in 1615 by Pieter Pannemaker or Giusto di Gand.
The name derives from the Latin “Campus maior”, meaning “the big camp”. The name then transformed into Campomaiore and finally into the current Camaiore. The inhabitants of the town are called “camaiorese”. The history of Camaiore begins already in prehistoric times, as revealed by the archaeological sites at Grotta all’Onda and Candalla.
Inhabited by the population of the Ligurian Apuans, later subjugated by the Romans, Camaiore was an important stopover along the Via Francigena during the Middle Ages. You can still see remains of the old town, like parts of the city walls that are still standing, and the urban plan itself. The plan is symmetrically ordered and marked by streets and districts according to the design of the “Terre nuove” (new lands) of the fourteenth century. Camaiore was elevated to the rank of a city in 1836 by Carlo Lodovico di Borbone, and it hosts numerous testimonies of the presence of nobles such as Villa Le Pianore where Zita di Borbone, the last empress of Austria, was born.
Follonica lies at the heart of the Gulf bearing the same name, in the Tuscan Maremma, between the promontory of Piombino and Punta Ala, opposite the Elba Island. Its strategic location and mild climate make it a popular destination for seaside, sporting, cultural and eco-tourism. The coastline is a stretch of white thin sand beaches, with shallow waters that gradually grow deeper. The surrounding scrubland and lush greenery offer endless possibilities for leisure, relaxation and recreation activities – not just at the beach – such as hiking, biking and horse-riding routes, breath-taking bays and wildlife sanctuaries. The gulf and the surrounding hills offer a large, diverse range of stunning landscapes with a rich history, from the turquoise blue sea, to the mountains and the woods of Cornate di Gerfalco and Montieri. Between the two, a variety of places, villages and hamlets surrounded by unspoilt nature, with their unique customs, traditions and landscapes. Nearby are a number of must-see sites, such as the villages of Scarlino, Castiglione della Pescaia and Suvereto, the mediaeval city of Massa Marittima, and the archaeological sites of Populonia, Vetulonia and Roselle. Local food and wine are just as rich and varied: wine is king, and is best paired with some tasty “pappardelle al cinghiale” (fresh pasta with wild boar sauce), the traditional Maremman specialty, or with more delicate, classical fish dishes, such as cacciucco.
Follonica lies at the heart of the Gulf bearing the same name, in the Tuscan Maremma, between the promontory of Piombino and Punta Ala, opposite the Elba Island. Its strategic location and mild climate make it a popular destination for seaside, sporting, cultural and eco-tourism. The coastline is a stretch of white thin sand beaches, with shallow waters that gradually grow deeper. The surrounding scrubland and lush greenery offer endless possibilities for leisure, relaxation and recreation activities – not just at the beach – such as hiking, biking and horse-riding routes, breath-taking bays and wildlife sanctuaries. The gulf and the surrounding hills offer a large, diverse range of stunning landscapes with a rich history, from the turquoise blue sea, to the mountains and the woods of Cornate di Gerfalco and Montieri. Between the two, a variety of places, villages and hamlets surrounded by unspoilt nature, with their unique customs, traditions and landscapes. Nearby are a number of must-see sites, such as the villages of Scarlino, Castiglione della Pescaia and Suvereto, the mediaeval city of Massa Marittima, and the archaeological sites of Populonia, Vetulonia and Roselle. Local food and wine are just as rich and varied: wine is king, and is best paired with some tasty “pappardelle al cinghiale” (fresh pasta with wild boar sauce), the traditional Maremman specialty, or with more delicate, classical fish dishes, such as cacciucco.
Founded in the Roman period, not far from the Via Flaminia and the banks of River Clitunno, Trevi lies among the olive groves and is part of the “Oil Cities” circuit. It has a well-preserved Roman heritage, such as the majestic 1st century BC walls surrounding the town centre, and mediaeval heritage, including Porta del Bruscito, Porta del Cieco, Porta San Fabiano and Arco del Mostaccio, which greatly contribute to the unique charm of the city. Piazza Mazzini, bounded by the 13-century Town Hall and civic tower, lies at the heart of the historic district. The verdant hill on which the town was built offers endless possibilities for open air activities, such as guided tours, walks in the fields to look for wild herbs and learn how they were used in the rural civilisation, biking, orienteering, bird watching or horse riding. As the town and its surroundings are renowned for the production of high-quality olive oil, visiting the local oil mills is an unmissable experience to discover the entire manufacturing process, from olive feeding to oil bottling.
Lying halfway between the more renowned Perugia and Assisi, Foligno is an excellent destination worth discovering. Piazza della Repubblica, the true heart of the city, features an outstanding architectural “ensemble” comprising the Duomo, the Town Hall and Palazzo Trinci. The Duomo, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, St. Feliciano, is Neoclassical-Baroque in style. The Museo Capitolare Diocesano and the Crypt, inside the cathedral, are definitely worth a visit. Neoclassicism also inspired the 13-century Town Hall and crenelated tower. Rising near the Duomo is Palazzo Trinci, housing the city’s art gallery (Pinacoteca). Completed in 1407 and restored in 1949, the building has a neoclassical façade and a stunning Gothic staircase. Palazzo Orfini, nearby, was the former abode of Emiliano Orfini, the typographer who printed the first Italian edition of the Divine Comedy, and has an amazing 16-century gate. Parco dei Canapè, surrounded by the ancient city walls, between Porta Romana and Porta Todi, is the perfect choice if you are looking for a place to unwind. Local cuisine offers a wealth of traditional Umbrian delicacies such as spaghetti con il rancetto (a sauce made of pancetta, tomatoes and marjoram) and “rocciata”, a local rendition of the apple strudel with nuts, cocoa and alchermes liqueur.
Rising upland, right of River Tennacola and against the background of the Sibylline Mountains that seem to protect the town, Sarnano is an Orange Flag certified by the Touring Club of Italy. Among the red cotto tiles, major landmarks include the church of S. Maria di Piazza, Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo dei Priori, the San Giacomo baths and the Sassotetto ski resort. The medieval old town has survived undamaged to the present day; it still has the shape of a castrum, a fortified centre that expands in concentric circles, starting from Piazza Alta, and descending all the way to the foot of the hill, with tiny streets and lovely houses creating an evocative atmosphere where time seems to have stopped. Taking a first glance at the historical district of Sarnano, it really feels as if everything has retained its original appearance: the mediaeval layout and the defensive walls are still recognisable, and Porta Brunoforte still marks the entrance into town. Sarnano is also home to a ski resort extending from Monte Sassotetto to the Santa Maria Maddalena pass, with a unique feature: on a clear day, the view reaches the sea. As the Sibylline Mountains are just 50 km away from the Adriatic coast, skiers can enjoy a stunning view that ranges from the mountain tops, through the hills and to the sea.
Castelraimondo lies almost at the end of the upper Potenza River valley, in the province of Macerata, in a lovely natural setting and among the gentle rolling hills. Introducing the city from a distance is an ancient mediaeval tower, called the “Cassero” – the legacy of a glorious and evocative past. The town has found further momentum and growth in handicraft and industrial activities; however, the special relationship between past and future, between tradition and modernity is still alive both in the town and in the surrounding “frazioni”, with their rich historical, artistic and cultural heritage. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the town was renowned for its terracotta manufacture, and was home to a number of earthenware makers (called “cocciari”) and famous blacksmiths. The hilly territory around Castelraimondo is known for the production of Verdicchio di Matelica, a top-quality and world-renowned wine (together with Verdicchio di Jesi). The organic wine produced by the “ColleStefano” winery, made from grapes harvested late in October and hence sporting unique organoleptic properties, is exported especially to Germany and the US.
The town is named after Ottrano, the Lombard king who founded the city, as legend has it, and its name translates as “mount of the sons of Ottrano”. Nestled among the hills, the town is surrounded by the castle walls. Vicolo Mura Castellane is a narrow yet fascinating alley that leads from the first storey of the fortress down to the moat. Lying at the heart of the old town, and located almost halfway across Corso del Popolo (the long and charming high street), Piazza Mazzini offers a stunning view over Mount Conero, Macerata, Recanti and Loreto. Major landmarks in Filottrano include the churches of San Cristoforo and San Francesco; the latter houses masterpieces by Ramazzani and Bellini. A short walk on a lovely staircase named the “Porticella” leads you to the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Villa Centofinestre has one of the largest green-plant gardens of the entire region, and is definitely worth a visit. Here, the bond with fashion is strong, as the city and its surroundings are home to some of the best tailors, exporting Made in Italy garments worldwide.
Clear, transparent waters and breath-taking landscapes are the features that make Numana one of the most fascinating places in the Marches region. Its stunning beaches stretch over several kilometres, and its clean, transparent sea has been a European Blue Flag for years. Two souls coexist in Numana: the upper city (Numana Alta) is picturesque and quaint, while the shoreline is more lively and dotted with beach resorts, all the way to Marcelli. The upper town has retained its original maritime “look and feel”: a tangled network of narrow streets weaves its way among the colourful fishermen’s houses and opens up onto a wide belvedere overlooking the sea – a terrace that offers a stunning and unique view over the entire Riviera del Conero coastline. Traveling down the ancient “Costarella” staircase (as fishermen used to do every morning at dawn), from the centre towards the port, leads you to the lower town, modern and lively, teeming with clubs and beach resorts. Numana is a place to experience and explore: it is the perfect destination to spend some lovely days playing sports, having fun and hanging loose, as well as discovering customs and history.
Fano is named “the city of fortune” (Fanum Fortunae) after the Temple of Fortune, around which the town is said to have developed. It is most renowned for hosting the oldest Carnival in Italy, and offers its visitors a wealth of age-old and remarkable monuments, as well as valuable heritage of the past. Lying at the heart of the old town, the church of Santa Maria Nuova houses a majestic altarpiece by Perugino, executed in 1497. Major landmarks include the Arch of Augustus (the symbol of the city), built in the Roman Age and considered as the main gateway to the colonia, and the defensive walls that Augustus had built and that were completed in 9 AD. Two thirds of the original circle have survived undamaged to the present day. Fano is also a major seaside resort, owing to its quiet pebble beaches, such as the lovely spiaggia dei Gabbiani (seagull beach). The wonderful spiaggia degli Arzilli, just two kilometres away from the city centre, is a lovely stunning beach made of both shingle and sand, washed by a crystal sea, and with a gently sloping seabed. As Fano lies on the coast, fish is the main ingredient of local cuisine. Main delicacies include sardines with parsley, a simple, popular and tasty dish.
An oasis of palms and greenery and a Blue-flag winning sea, paired with top-quality tourist reception facilities, fabulous food, a lovely climate, leisure activities for children, a bustling nightlife, sports and culture. San Benedetto del Tronto is all of this – and much more. The seafront is the city’s crown jewel: stretching four kilometres, it is considered one of the most beautiful promenades in Italy. The port, one of the most important ones in Italy, also has a large tourist harbour. San Benedetto started to develop in the late 19th century, following the construction of the Adriatic Railway and the creation of the first beach resort. Since then, San Benedetto del Tronto has been thriving around the sea, which is its source of economic and cultural wealth. Fishing has moved from contributing to people’s livelihoods to being the mainstay of local economy. At the same time, tourism has grown remarkably, intensely and unstoppably, and San Benedetto del Tronto has become the first city in the Marches region in terms of hotel stays. The popular “brodetto alla sambenedettese”, a fish stew with bell peppers and vinegar, which makes it different from any other recipe, is a must-taste in local cuisine. It has been a one of a kind since forever, and just a spoonful of it will take you back in time.
The Brodetto alla Sambenedettese fish soup is without doubt the finest example of local cuisine.
This recipe is handed down from the old fishermen who, once out at sea with their boats, satisfied their hunger by preparing a dish from the part of their catch which was less suitable for market. Vinegar is the fundamental ingredient. The types of fish more commonly use to prepare the brodetto alla sambenedettese include cuttlefish, squid, weever, horse mackerel, white skate, sea-hound, monkfish, scorpion fish, shrimp and mantis shrimp. Essential ingredients include white onions, red-green peppers, yellow peppers, unripe green tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil from our hills. Before serving this dish, add slices of roasted, homemade bread to be soaked in the “brodetto”.A must-try is the traditional “frittura di paranza”, a kind of fish fry only prepared with selected species caught in the Adriatic Sea.
One of the Italian cuisine’s most peculiar dishes, the meat-stuffed olives known as “olive all’ascolana”, takes its name from a place in the Marche region, the city of Ascoli, where the recipe is supposed to be originally from.
San Benedetto del Tronto and the lands of Piceno are the area with the greatest wine production of the Marche region. Piceno was initially known for its red wines, the first to receive national recognition, gradually joined by local whites (Passerina and Pecorino), that are experiencing new vitality today thanks to the general public. At present, the reality of the Piceno wine can count on: DOCG “Offida”, Rosso Piceno DOC ,Rosso Piceno Superiore DOC, Falerio DOC and Falerio Pecorino DOC, Terre di Offida DOC. The Offida DOCG is named after the town of Offida. The DOCG was established in 2011, it includes three types of wine: Offida Rosso, Offida Passerina and Offida Pecorino. The DOC Rosso Piceno is the first DOC born in the Piceno province. Established in 1968 and changed later, its name dates back to the Piceni, the pre-Roman population. The Rosso Piceno Superiore type is produced in a limited area: only 13 municipalities in the province of Ascoli Piceno. It differs from the Rosso Piceno DOC for the additional ageing time spent in wood. The Falerio DOC dei Colli Ascolani was established in 1975 and changed later. The name is linked to the origins of the history of the Piceno area: in fact, it derives from Faleria, an ancient Roman city now known as Falerone (Province of Fermo). The value of this wine lies in the coastal culture, linked to the use of fish: no other wine like Falerio enhances the flavour of white and blue fish that the Adriatic Sea offers the inhabitants of this area. The Offida wines have been acknowledged as DOC in 2001, for the Passerina spumante, vin santo and passito types. The name was changed to Terre di Offida in 2011.
San Benedetto del Tronto has always been connected with sea and sea tradition. The Museums of the Sea includes the Maritime civilization Museum, the Amphorae Museum, the Fish Museum and the Truentinum Antiquarium. The Art Gallery of the Sea, opened in April of 2009, is part of the Museums of the Sea. The MAM (the Museum of Art on the Sea) is a permanent outdoor museum, collecting 145 works of art. The older part of the town, with its fourteenth century hexagonal Gualtieri Tower and red brick houses, sits above the main resort. The most remarkable tourist attractions are: the Sanctuary of the Blessed Sacrament Modonna, the Santa Maria Cathedral of the Marina, the Church of St. Joseph, the Municipal Concordia Theatre, the Lighthouse.
San Benedetto del Tronto was a martyr and a soldier born in Cupra during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian. Shortly thereafter, following the edict of Constantine in 313 AD, some believers built a chapel around the tomb. Since then, San Benedetto has been highly revered by locals. The archaeological findings indicate Roman origins, linking San Benedetto to the ancient city of Alba Picena on the right bank of the Albula river.
The first document which indicated the name of the village dates from 998. In 1478, there was a plague epidemic which decimated the city’s population. The area remained virtually uninhabited until refugees from Romagna repopulated San Benedetto where they were granted land leases. From the 16th century until the 19th century, the Turks repeatedly invaded the city where they captured sailors and forced them into slavery. Since 1650, the urban center expanded beyond the city walls. In 1754, the first marine suburbs. In 1860, the “Cacciatori delle Alpi” freed the city from the dominion of the church. The Royal Decree giving San Benedetto the “del Tronto” attribute was in 1896. From 1943 to 1944, during the Second World War, the city suffered 144 air raids and 6 naval shellings. Following the end of the war, the city’s economy and businesses prospered. Fishing became a cornerstone of the local economy and in the 1960s and 1970s, the city became one of the largest fishing ports in Italy. After the war, San Benedetto became a popular holiday resort on the Adriatic coast.
