Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The church stands on the imposing Piazza del Popolo, which since Roman times has
been Ascoli's
salotto
(sitting room). The square is flanked on the west by the 13th-century
Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo. The statue of Pope Paul III above the main entrance was
erected in recognition of his efforts to bring peace to the town.
Pinacoteca
(
www.ascolimusei.it
;
Piazza Arringo; adult/reduced €8/5; 10am-7pm Tue-Sun summer, 10.30am-5pm
winter)
Gathered around a tree-shaded courtyard, the second-largest art gallery in Le
Marche sits inside the 17th-century
Palazzo Comunale
. It boasts an outstanding display of
art, sculpture and religious artefacts; there are 400 works in total, including paintings by
Van Dyck, Titian and Rembrandt, and a stunning embroidered 13th-century papal cape
worn by Ascoli-born Pope Nicholas IV.
Your ticket also gives you entry to two small collections in Ascoli's old quarter: the
Gal-
leria d'Arte Contemporanea
and the
Museo dell'Arte Ceramica
( 0736 29 82 13; Piazza San Tom-
maso)
, which has displays on the major Italian pottery towns, including Deruta, Faenza
and Genoa.
MUSEUM
Duomo della Città
di Ascoli Piceno
(Piazza Arringo; 7am-6pm)
Topped by a pair of mismatched towers, Ascoli's
duomo
was
built in the 16th century over a medieval building and dedicated to St Emidio, patron saint
of the city. In the
Cappella del Sacramento
is the
Polittico,
a polyptych executed in 1473 by
Carlo Crivelli. The
crypt of Sant Emidio
has a notable set of mosaics.
Next to the cathedral and something of a traffic barrier today, the
battistero
(baptistry)
has remained unchanged since it was constructed in the 11th century.
CATHEDRAL
Vecchio Quartiere
The town's Old Quarter stretches from Corso Mazzini (the main thoroughfare of the
Roman-era settlement) to the Castellano river. Its main street is the picturesque Via delle
Torri, which eventually becomes Via Solestà; it's a perfect spot to wander round.
On Via delle Donne (Street of Women) is the 14th-century
Chiesa di San Pietro Martire
(Piazza Ventidio Basso; 7.30am-12.30pm & 3.30-7pm)
, dedicated to the saint who founded the
Dominican community at Ascoli. The chunky Gothic structure houses the
Reliquario della
Santa Spina
, containing what is claimed to be a thorn from Christ's crown.
HISTORIC QUARTER
