Ascoli Piceno is the kind of Italian town that makes visitors wonder why they had never heard of it. Built almost entirely of pale travertine, it has one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, a café that has barely changed since 1907, and a local dish that the rest of the country has adopted as its own.
This guide covers what to see in Ascoli Piceno, what to eat, when to catch the Quintana joust, and how to get there, with a simple one-day route at the end.
Where is Ascoli Piceno?
Ascoli Piceno is in the far south of the Marche region, inland from the Adriatic coast and close to the border with Abruzzo. The nearest town on the coast is San Benedetto del Tronto, 26 km away, according to Trainline.
That position makes Ascoli an easy addition to a trip along the Adriatic. It is also a natural gateway to the Sibillini mountains to the west.
What is Ascoli Piceno known for?
Ascoli Piceno is known for its travertine architecture, its medieval towers and its stuffed fried olives. The official Italian tourism site, Italia.it, calls it "the city of white stone," a medieval city of travertine that "shines with golden light."
The towers are part of the city's identity too. Marche Tourism notes that the Ercolani Tower is "one of the remaining towers of the over 200 mentioned in Medieval documents."
What should you see in Ascoli Piceno?
Start with Piazza del Popolo, then walk to Piazza Arringo and finish at the Roman bridge. These three stops cover the heart of the historic centre in a few hours on foot.
Marche Tourism describes Piazza del Popolo as "the unique main square," framed by the medieval Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo, the historic Caffè Meletti, the Church of San Francesco and the Merchant's Lodge. It is at its best in the early evening, when the travertine turns warm and the whole town seems to pass through.
Piazza Arringo, a short walk away, is the older civic square. The same source lists its main sights as the Cathedral, which houses "a polyptych with the Madonna and Saints by Carlo Crivelli," the town hall and the medieval Baptistery of San Giovanni. Finish with the Roman Solestà bridge, another of the monuments Marche Tourism highlights in the city.
What is Caffè Meletti?
Caffè Meletti is Ascoli Piceno's historic café, facing Piazza del Popolo since 1907. Italia.it describes its "splendid Art Nouveau rooms, with original furnishings and floral decorations."
The drink to order is Anisetta Meletti, the local anise liqueur. The city's tourism site, Visit Ascoli, explains that it is traditionally served cold with a roasted coffee bean called the "mosca," or fly. According to Italia.it, King Vittorio Emanuele came to the café to buy the liqueur in 1908 and 1910, and later guests included Pietro Mascagni and Jean-Paul Sartre.
What food is Ascoli Piceno famous for?
Ascoli Piceno is famous for olive all'ascolana: large green olives stuffed with a meat filling, breaded and fried. They are served everywhere in town, from street stalls to restaurants.
According to Italian Wikipedia, the recipe dates to around 1800, when cooks working for local noble families created the filling. The olives are made with the Ascolana Tenera variety, and in 2005 the olive received Protected Designation of Origin status as "Oliva Ascolana del Piceno."
The area's drinks deserve attention too. Marche Tourism lists "the Anisette from Ascoli, the Rosso Piceno Superiore and Falerio" among the local specialties.
When is the Quintana of Ascoli Piceno?
The Quintana is Ascoli Piceno's medieval jousting tournament, held twice every summer. The July joust takes place on the evening of the second Saturday of July in honor of the Madonna della Pace, and the August joust on the afternoon of the first Sunday of August in honor of Sant'Emidio, the city's patron saint, according to Italian Wikipedia.
The same source explains that knights from the city's six districts, the sestieri, compete against each other on the Campo dei Giochi. Marche Tourism calls the Quintana "one of the most authentic and exciting medieval shows in the Marche."
How do you get to Ascoli Piceno?
The simplest way is by train from San Benedetto del Tronto on the Adriatic coast, or by car. Trainline lists around 15 direct Trenitalia trains a day on that route, with an average journey of about 45 minutes.
San Benedetto del Tronto sits on the main Adriatic railway, so it connects easily with Ancona and Pescara, the nearest cities with airports. If you are traveling without a car, our itinerary for two weeks in Marche without a car shows how to use Ascoli as one of your bases.
How many days do you need in Ascoli Piceno?
One full day is enough to see the historic centre, eat well and enjoy the evening passeggiata in Piazza del Popolo. Two days let you add the Sibillini mountains or an afternoon on the coast.
Staying overnight is worth it. Ascoli is at its most atmospheric after the day visitors leave, when the squares fill with local families and the travertine glows under the streetlights.
What is a good one-day itinerary for Ascoli Piceno?
A good day in Ascoli Piceno moves from the grand squares in the morning to food at lunch and a slow evening in Piazza del Popolo. The route below keeps walking short and leaves time to sit down.
| Time | Stop | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Piazza Arringo and the Cathedral | Crivelli's polyptych, the Baptistery and the town hall |
| Late morning | Ercolani Tower and the medieval streets | One of the surviving towers of the old city |
| Lunch | Olive all'ascolana | The city's signature dish, in its home town |
| Afternoon | Roman Solestà bridge | One of the city's Roman monuments |
| Evening | Piazza del Popolo and Caffè Meletti | Anisetta at the 1907 café as the square fills up |
For more places to add around it, see our guide to the best towns to visit in Marche and our Marche travel guide.
Continue north with our guides to Urbino and Ancona.
Can you visit Ascoli Piceno on a private tour?
Ascoli Piceno fits beautifully into a private tour of southern Marche, together with the Sibillini mountains, the wine country of the Piceno and the Adriatic coast. At Sweet Life Italy, we design private, tailor-made tours of Marche, with our own chauffeur service so you never have to worry about trains or parking.
Tell us about your trip and we will build it around your dates and interests. The first estimate is free, and we start with a video call to understand what you are looking for.
About Sweet Life Italy. Sweet Life Italy is a certified incoming tour operator and destination management company based in Castelraimondo, in the Marche region, founded by Marco and Ilaria. We design bespoke Italian holidays with private transport from our own chauffeur service.
