From Ancona to Civitanova Marche

The journey continues towards Sirolo which is located at 125 m s.l.m., on the slopes of Monte Conero, almost all of its territory is part of the Conero Regional Park; the “Beach of the Two Sisters” it is the most representative of the coast and consists of white pebbles and rocky spurs that set it in the cliff. To visit the Theater “At the Quarries” which takes its name from its history: it was in fact obtained in a stone quarry of the Conero now in disuse, where a characteristic open-air theater with a natural stage has been created for some years, that animates the Sirolese nights. Its main feature is the acoustics which make it unique and exceptional for opera and any other type of music. Near Sirolo we find Numana where we can visit the State Antiquarium, established in 1974 as completion of the exhibition of the National Archaeological Museum of the Marche of Ancona, which starts from prehistoric times, through the Iron Age, and reaches the Roman imperial age.

We head south, coming to Pedaso, located on the Adriatic coast, at the mouth of the Aso river, where we turn inwards crossing Montefiore dell’Aso, Montefortino, embraced by the amphitheater of the Sibillini Mountains where the highest peaks can be seen in wide panoramas: from Monte Carrier to the south, to Monte Sibilla, to Mount Priora (all exceeding the 2000 meters of altitude), up to Monte Amandola and in the distance to the north the Pizzo di Meta. From here to Castignano, on the slopes of Mount Ascension and then head towards Ascoli Piceno,

The next stop will be Accoli PIceno which takes its name from its founders the Piceni centuries before Rome was founded. A city of towers, churches, squares and buildings. The stone, so, is the protagonist of the landscape: the entire historic center was built by sculpting the travertine blocks of the nearby Piceno quarries. This makes it extraordinarily harmonious and uniform, elegant and welcoming. The synthesis of all this beauty meets in Piazza del Popolo, overlooked by the Church of San Francesco, the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popoli, medieval houses and arcades.Here we can visit the nearby Piazza Arringo Civic art gallery considered among the most important in the region which is home to the first and second floors of the Palazzo dell’Arengo. The current fifteen exhibition halls house a large number of sculptures, frescoes, numismatic collections, pottery, musical instruments and miniatures; the museum itinerary is also enriched with furnishings, from the Baroque style to the Empire style, which form an incomparable frame to a collection of paintings among the most important in Italy.

Moving towards the’Abruzzo south we come to Teramo, hill town located on the slopes of the Gran Sasso, in an area full of vineyards and olive groves. However Teramo is not beautiful to visit only for its natural landscapes, but also for the great artistic and cultural heritage that distinguishes it: the testimonies that have come down to the present day tell the story of very different eras, so much so that visiting Teramo means making a real journey back to the past, meeting a great variety of peoples and cultures. Martyrs of Liberty Square it is the nucleus of the historic center of Teramo, overlooked by some of the main historic buildings of the city, including the Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and the Bishop's Palace, also you can go to theAstronomical Observatory of Abruzzo which is one of the Italian public astronomical observatories and part of the National Institute of Astrophysics, founded by the astronomer Vincenzo Cerulli. The site is surrounded by a large park with pine trees, cypresses and firs with the unmistakable white dome of the main pavilion, represents one of the most characteristic features of the local landscape. Located on the small hill of San Venanzio, the Monica Castle and the surrounding Borgo are nothing more than a nineteenth-century reconstruction of a complex of buildings (of which the Castle represents the main nucleus) which recalls the style of the medieval period.

We can stay overnight in the area ending the first day of our itinerary.

let's start again and move towards the Lazio to a country notorious for the seismic events of 2016. Amateur, Municipality of the province of Rieti, it is part of the mountain community of Velino and is home to the agri-food hub of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park. In 2015 it had become one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, but what remains of it has nothing to do with the previous beauty of the places. Amatrice was defined as “the country of 100 churches", but the earthquake did not spare one, however, the natural Lazio entrance to the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park remains.

Another infamous country is Accumoli, , in the heart of Sabina, "The country that no longer exists", the small villages of central Italy, once reported among the most beautiful in the country.. E’ border place between Lazio, Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo, for this starting point for excursions to the della Laga and Sibillini Mountains.

To follow we find Campotosto, its lake is larger than Abruzzo, it is located on the border between the Gran Sasso and the Monti della Laga. It is an artificial lake, an extension of an old natural lake to which three dams have been added for hydroelectric exploitation. To get there, we cross the Capannelle pass, the road that you also take to go to Prati di Tivo or to 100 Waterfalls.

Passing from Lazio to Umbria we arrive at Norcia, home of the Black Truffle and the art of pork butchery. Built close to the Sibillini Mountains and considered the most evocative center of the Valnerina, offers splendid scenery of unspoiled nature. Especially during the flowering period, when the Castelluccio plateau shows its best natural spectacle, many visitors come to Norcia to admire the carpet of colors and scents that stretches out in front of their eyes! Other scents that you will not forget are those of gastronomy, of the truffle of the butchery. The city is also known as the birthplace of a great religious figure: St. Benedict, first monk of Christianity, and founder of the Benedictine order, who lived astride the 500. On the river Corno, between Norcia and Cascia, for enthusiasts it is possible to dedicate themselves to rafting descents.

Let's go back to the coast, going down towards Sant”Narco Anatolia, then in the direction of Foligno and a comfortable freeway leading to the last stage of our tour: Civitanova Marche in the province of Macerata. It has very ancient origins, the prehistoric settlements date back to the Paleolithic period, We can distinguish two centers: the High City, ancient village built on a hill enclosed within the walls of a medieval castle, excellent example of Renaissance military architecture, and the coastal town, very popular seaside resort. Tourists especially choose it for its comfortable well-equipped beaches, both of fine sand and pebbles in the southern area beyond the port, and the numerous night clubs, among the most famous of the Adriatic coast to have fun and find a little’ of relaxation. Also known for the numerous footwear industries that are located in its territory, which are among the most famous in the world. Close to the port, among the many structures present, is located there Church of Cristo Re, whose particular bell tower also acts as a lighthouse for boats. Civitanova Marche represents a place to be experienced, the bright colors of the center, flanked by the wonderful blue color of the Adriatic Sea, the well-kept gardens, the many shops, night and afternoon life, the seafront make this place a real wonder.