Overview
Camerino is located in the Marche region, at the heart of an unspoiled mountainous area. Its architectural beautiy, the ancient University founded in 1336, the worship of Saint Camilla Battista Varano and the longstanding presence of the Capuchin Friar Monastery since 1528, along with its rich cultural traditions (the town is the birthplace of the most significant Painting School of the Marche region), the cutting-edge sports facilities in an pristine environment and the licious local cuisine make Camerino (awarded the Italian Touring Clubs Orange Flag since 2009) a uniquely attractive destination.
Gastronomic events, conferences featuring renowned experts, international sports, theatre, and music events bring life to the city every day, all year round. Visitors can chose from a wide range of accommodation facilities and outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of a well-equipped Camper service (awarded the Yellow Flag by the A.C.T. Italia).
Camerino was severely damaged by the 2016 earthquake, but it has never lost its charme or its vocation for tourism.
Food
The Francucci Nougat, made with nuts, honey, sugar, egg whites, water, and natural flavors, entered the Guinness World Records in 2007. Its festival is celebrated every January 6.
Vincisgrassi combines egg pasta sheets with rich meat sauce in a flavorful, traditional Marchigian dish.
The Easter pizza is a sweet typical of the Easter holiday, with long leavening and traditional flavor extracts, a source of pride for local housewives.
Ciauscolo, a traditional spreadable salami, is highly prized and recalls homemade pork processing.
La Pasta di Camerino, rough and porous like homemade pasta, is produced using artisanal methods by the Maccari family with a transparent supply chain.
Camerino, the “City of Honey,” has around 45 beekeepers producing artisanal honey, combining taste and beneficial properties.
Points of interest
Rocca Varano, a symbol of the territory and a majestic 13th-century fortress, is one of the most important monuments. This stronghold is linked to the history of the Da Varano lordship, one of Italy’s longest-lived families between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and served as the core of a defensive system of castles, fortresses, and watchtowers. The municipal administration is carrying out restoration work, and it will be open to visitors again in early autumn.
Rocca Borgesca was built in 1503 by the will of Cesare Borgia, designed by Ludovico Clodio, to control the city from the southwest. Its cylindrical towers and keep are examples of Renaissance military architecture. Internally, parts of the convent of San Pietro in Muralto remain. At the highest point is the Belvedere dedicated to Maria Grazia Capulli, a TG2 Rai journalist born in Camerino who passed away prematurely in 2015.
The Basilica of San Venanzio Martyr, built in the 12th century on the site of a paleo-Christian church, is dedicated to the patron saint around whom the historic May reenactment of the Corsa alla Spada e Palio revolves. From the ancient complex remain the 14th–15th-century façade and the apse with a crypt preserving the silver urn and the saint’s reliquary. The 14th-century portal and the lunette sculptures are notable. Inside are the silver statue of the saint (1764), a painting by Turchi, beautiful sacristies, and the museum of the work.
The Monastery of Santa Chiara now has a temporary wooden site after the earthquake rendered the ancient complex linked to the Da Varano family condemned. Giovanni Varano, Camilla’s grandfather, had placed religious communities at the city gates during the restoration of the city walls. The church houses the body of Camilla Battista Varano, who died in 1524 and was canonized by Benedict XVI in 2010, with her face reconstructed through scientific studies.
The Convent of Renacavata, surrounded by countryside, was the first global settlement of the Capuchin Friars’ order, founded here in 1528. The church was built in 1530 by the Duchess Caterina Cybo on a previous abandoned hermitage. The museum houses objects related to the order’s history, which soon spread across Italy and later worldwide. In 2028, the 500th anniversary of its founding will be celebrated.
The Diocesan Museum Giacomo Boccanera, located in the renovated Archbishop’s Palace, offers a clear and engaging route through the main artistic expressions of the archdiocese: painting, sculpture, goldsmithing, and liturgical arts. It connects the medieval origins of popular devotion with Baroque refinement, telling the city’s history through beauty. A journey from the Middle Ages to the Baroque that enhances Camerino’s spiritual and artistic heritage.
Piazza Cavour is the heart of the city, featuring the Statue of Sixtus V by Tiburzio Vergelli (1587). The Ducal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Cathedral overlook the square. Nearby stands Palazzo Bongiovanni, which provides the access to the Teatro Filippo Marchetti, an architectural jewel from the mid-19th century.
The Carmela Cortini Botanical Garden was founded in 1828 by Vincenzo Ottaviani. Covering about one hectare, it lies 27 meters below the city level, accessible from the base of the walls.
The sloped area features large trees, while the flat section hosts numerous herbaceous and shrub species. A large sector is dedicated to medicinal plants. The garden also includes the sculpture “Vegetal Universe” by Gino Marotta.
The Ugo Betti Comprehensive Institute is a modern school complex, one of the first to reopen after the 2016 earthquake by the post-earthquake reconstruction authority, hosting about 500 students from kindergarten to lower secondary school. Thanks to collaboration with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, it offers a unique and excellent educational service in the Marche region.
In Camerino, the ancient blends with innovation at the Franco Corelli Music Academy, donated by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. Spread over two levels and 700 m², its openings recall the “keys” of wind instruments. Ten classrooms and the auditorium combine spatial harmony with bright colors. The Adesso Musica Association allows over 250 young people to attend lessons of the Nelio Biondi Music Institute.
