Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0736 25 60 44;
www.palazzodeimercanti.it
; Corso Trento e Trieste 35; r €80-190; )
This
16th-century
palazzo
was once part of the Sant'Egido convent. Today you'll count your
blessings in rooms with soothing pastel tones, hand-crafted furniture and nice touches like
bathrobes (handy for the spa's whirlpool, sauna and hammam). The
palazzo
successfully
blends original stone-vaulted interiors with a contemporary aesthetic.
Palazzo Guiderocchi
( 0736 25 97 10;
www.palazzoguiderocchi.com
;
Via Cesare Battisti 3; s €60-140, d €70-170;
)
Not many places offer the history, atmosphere and comfort of this 16th-century
palazzo
. Beautifully gathered around an inner courtyard, it retains the romance of vaulted
ceilings on the 1st floor, low wood-beamed ceilings on the 2nd, and frescoes and several
original doors throughout. During slow months, palatial rooms can be an absolute steal.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
€€
Albergo Piceno
( 0736 25 30 17;
www.albergopiceno.it
;
Via Minucia 10; s € 60-75, d €90-115; )
Just round
the corner from the
duomo
on a narrow street, this is a great boutique place in a converted
17th-century
palazzo
with large rooms decorated in a bright modern style (but with the
odd bit of rustic stone poking out here and there to give it character). It offers a generous
breakfast plus a gym to help you work it off.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
€€
Eating & Drinking
ITALIAN
€
Degusteria 25 Doc & Dop
( 0736 31 33 24; Via Panichi 3; meals €15; Tue-Sun)
Strings of garlic and chilli hang from
the ceiling of this convivial deli-
enoteca,
where the locals squeeze in or spill out onto the
terrace for wine and tasting plates of regional
salumi
, cheese and, of course,
olive
all'ascolana
. They also rustle up decent day specials for pocket-money prices (€6).
Il Desco
( 0736 25 07 57;
www.ildescoristorante.it
;
Via Vidacilio 10; meals €30-40; closed Mon and dinner
Sat)
Funky chandeliers, high vaults and white distressed wood create a country-chic back-
drop at this gorgeously styled
palazzo
. When the weather warms, diners spill out into the
garden courtyard, lit by tealights. A clever use of herbs elevates seafood-focused specialit-
ies, from homemade pasta with prawns and zingy lemon to filet of sea bass with zucchini
and almonds. It's all delicious.
MEDITERRANEAN
€€
