The city of Macerata is located between the Adriatic Sea and Apennine Mountains in the area of Marche, within a postcard-perfect setting which includes rolling hills carpeted with olive groves and vineyards. With a strong cultural presence, it has a fair place among the cultural capitals of the Marches.
Macerata met its peak during the Renaissance period and a testimony of this is the many palazzi lining its streets. It is a beautiful and lively city with many cultural events, the most important of which is the annual Opera Festival held every July in a classical style open-air amphitheater. Piazza della Liberta' is the city's focal point where everyone gathers and is home to the Gothic cathedral dedicated to San Giuliano. The arcades of the Loggia dei Mercanti are the gem of the city, while the Lauro Rossi theater, built in 1774, is an awe evoking building. Palazzo Ricci houses a contemporary art gallery and a natural history museum. The Basilicata of Santa Maria di Misericordia has an impressive marble-clad interior, and of course you can’t miss the high clock tower, Torre Civica, 64 meters tall where from the views are amazing. In the old part of the town do not miss the pretty palaces, especially Palazzo dei Diamanti, named for the stone diamond-decorated facade.
Macerata reinforces its strong cultural fame with a university, a music school and an arts academy. Outside the city, worth visiting are the Roman remains of Helvia Recina at Villa Potenza, which dates to the 2nd century BC, and the pretty Romanesque church of San Claudio, in the homonymous hamlet. Around the province, you'll find a lot of outlet shops with famous brands at great bargains. A bit off the center are Urbisaglia and its Archeological Park, the Medieval village and the Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra, a peaceful oasis within a nature reserve. For those looking for relaxation, the area offers thermal spas in Sarnano and Tolentino.
Marche is one of the twenty regions of Italy, located at its center. The region stretches for around 100 miles along the Adriatic coast. Marche is a relatively undiscovered land of Italy with respect to the better known Tuscany and other regions. Well known for its shoemaking tradition this place is a hidden gem!
The birthplace of the Roman Empire and Renaissance, Italy, showcases many of the world’s greatest artworks, architectural buildings and over the top gastronomical proposals. This is the country where the word “style” expresses the whole nation. Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country; among them are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Michelangelo’s David and Sistine Chapel and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
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