THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno
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Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno
Check out must-see sights and activities:
Piazza del Popolo, Cattedrale di Sant'Emidio, Churches & Cathedrals, Points of Interest & Landmarks. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
Piazza del Popolo, Cattedrale di Sant'Emidio, Churches & Cathedrals, Points of Interest & Landmarks. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Food & Drinkfromper adultAU$54- fromper group (up to 4)AU$202
Food & Drinkfromper adult (price varies by group size)AU$1,848- fromper adultAU$1,008
Historical Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)AU$135- fromper adultAU$143
Food & Drinkfromper adultAU$236- fromper adult (price varies by group size)AU$504
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Food & Drinkfromper adult (price varies by group size)AU$420
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Historic Sites
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Historic Sites
Other Top Attractions around Ascoli Piceno
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What travellers are saying
- Mairwen1United Kingdom11,166 contributionsPiazza del Popolo is centrally located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by a medieval palazzo, porticoes and the Gothic Church of St Francis. There’s a lot to see here, concentrated in the one spot.
The two main historic sights are the church and the Palazzo dei Capitano de Popolo.
The 13th - 14th century palazzo is next to Meletti’s. It’s the one with two clocks and a tall, central tower. We sat on the front steps in the sun here and soaked up the piazza atmosphere. Later we watched as a large wedding party arrived and then appeared on the Romeo-and-Juliet style corner balcony on the top floor for photos.
The monumental Church of St Francis was started in 1258 but took some 300 years to finish (entry is free).
Attached to it and fronting onto the piazza, is a long, verandah-like structure - the Loggia dei Mercanti. This was built by the powerful guild of wool merchants in the 16th century. A small craft market was being held in the loggia when we were there and we were able to watch an interesting display of fine, traditional lace-making.
The highlight in the piazza is the historic, Michelin listed Caffe Meletti. This is where the aromatic herbal liqueur, Meletti, was first created in 1870. It’s definitely something to try while in Ascoli Piceno.Written 17 December 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mairwen1United Kingdom11,166 contributionsThe Cathedral was our starting point for exploring the town’s historic centre. It’s an imposing church with a 16th century facade that dominates Piazza Arringo.
It was a good place to begin. From the Cathedral, we did a looped walk, along Corso Mazzini to Piazza del Popolo, then Piazza Roma, and back to the Cathedral.
Unfortunately our Cathedral visit was limited because a mass was on. This isn’t ideal for seeing the church or crypt.
I was interested to see the Carlo Crivelli polyptych and the 14th century crypt, which has elaborate mosaic work and is supposed to be quite special, but it didn’t feel appropriate to stroll around so we stayed at the back of the church instead.
If I was visiting again, I’d check the mass times first.
The cathedral has beautiful artwork on the high vaulted ceiling. It’s a deep, rich blue, scattered with golden stairs and scenes of saints. However it was largely obscured by netting which was draped across almost the entire ceiling. It made it difficult to see the deep blue and gold painting.
I think this was due to renovation work but it may have been to prevent birds from lodging in the roof?
The ancient Baptistry is in a separate building, next door but, unlike the Cathedral, its not open very often and was closed when we were there.
Entry to the Cathedral is freeWritten 22 December 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - myf_pritchardExeter, United Kingdom20 contributionsOnly 10 minute drive to this pretty village but gate locked so couldn’t access view from church, due to earthquake damage possibly. There is a road to walk further up which we followed for a while and can enjoy the fantastic views. Also restaurant was open at lunchtime in the week. Not a long trip out but worth visiting.Written 15 October 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mairwen1United Kingdom11,166 contributionsPalazzo dei Capitano de Popolo is one of several large and striking buildings in Piazza del Popolo, in the historic centre of Ascoli Piceno.
It’s easy to identify because it’s the one with two clocks and a tall, central tower. The Michelin listed Caffe Meletti is next door.
The palazzo dates back to the mid 13th - 14th century. Two or more medieval buildings were merged into one and the crenellated noble tower was retained and converted into the bell tower.
It was a symbol of power and authority. It served as the headquarters of the Capitano del Popolo, (the Captains of the People), a sort of local chief magistrate elected by the merchants and guild members to represent their interests.
The palace has had a long, so times tragic, history.
In the mid 1500s, it became the seat of the Papal Governors. Tragedy struck at Christmas in 1535, when noble rebel families barricaded themselves in the palace. It quickly became a siege like situation. The papal commissioner decided to put an end to setting the palace on fire. For two days, it burned and then smouldered. The building was very badly damaged. The resulting restoration gave the building much of its current form.
In 1866 it was taken over by the State and then the Province. For some time in the 20th century, it was the seat of the national Fascist Party under Mussolini but today it houses the Department of Culture and hosts City Council meetings. It was most recently restored in 1982-87.
We sat on the stairs in the sun for a while, just taking in the atmosphere. We also had a quick look inside. Immediately you step into a grand central atrium-style courtyard. Look up, and you see 3 orders of overlapping loggias with rows of travertine columns. We could go upstairs but not into the various rooms. Later when we were leaving, a wedding party was gathering. We watched from the piazza as the bride and groom stood at the corner balcony on the third floor for photos.Written 17 December 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Aussies11Montelparo, Italy4,479 contributionsWhen we decided to visit this site we rang the doorbell of the office opposite the entrance and shortly a gentleman came out and offered to be our guide. Mr. Paggi was very informative and took us through the various parts of the temple connecting his description with the history. St. Emidio's remains were in this temple but later moved to the Cathedral which bears his name. We can recommend this visit as Mr. Paggi doesn't rush you through and if visitors are keen to learn more he can show a video presentation next door with more comprehensive details.Written 11 February 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mairwen1United Kingdom11,166 contributionsPiazza Arringo is one of two grand squares in Ascoli Piceno. You will want to see both if you are visiting the town but it’s fair to say that of the two, Piazza Arringo takes a backseat to the more beautiful Piazza del Popolo.
Piazza Arringo was our starting point for exploring the town’s historic centre. It’s a good starting point because the small Tourist Information centre is located just inside the main doors of Palazzo dell Arrengo.
From here, we walked along Corso Mazzini to Piazza del Popolo and tiny Piazza Roma, before doing a loop back to Piazza Arringo.
There’s a lot to see in the piazza. It’s long and narrow and is lined with palazzos. The largest one, Palazzo dell’Arengo, houses a museum and art gallery. The museum has a modest fee but you can wander out the back into the small manicured garden for free. Here, you’ll find a dozen or more marble busts of prominent locals alongside remains of ancient Roman fragments and sarcophagi. It’s like a mini open-air gallery. It’s a well-hidden secret and unless you know its there, you wouldn’t think to look for it.
The Cathedral of St Emidio and Baptistery dominate one end of the piazza. The Baptistery seems to be frequently closed but the cathedral was open quite late when we were there.
A smaller but charming feature in the centre of the piazza are two matching travertine fountains. They are decorated with fantastical bronze horses with scaly dragon-like bodies and trident tails. Tiny bronze mermaid cherubs dance around the base of the main pedestal and a large bronze leaps from the centre of the basin.Written 22 December 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - MidwestKathMDetroit, MI1,086 contributionsWith our time limited in what we could see and do, we decided to visit this beautiful Gothic style church that sits on the north side of the Piazze del Popolo. Construction began in the 13th century and continued until completion more than 300 years later. Many beautiful works to view inside: paintings, woodworking, stained glass, sculptures.Written 27 June 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lyn&MarkfromOzMelbourne, Australia1,101 contributionsThe museum was a bit hard to find as we must have missed any signs. Eventually worked it out and spent an hour or so looking around. Not a large or particularly important collection but the palazzo setting and what they did have especially the violins was well worth the entrance fee (which included access to the ceramics museum and the modern art museum).
The people were lovely and helpful.Written 23 August 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Aussies11Montelparo, Italy4,479 contributionsWe highly recommend a guided tour of this museum, which was a papal paper manufacturing mill being situated next to the Castellano river. It is only open on weekends and public holidays in two hour blocks. The tour starts outside with description and history of the building itself and then moves inside to the various floors and rooms showing how the rapid waters of the river ran through the building so that paper could be made. The mill was also used to grind wheat for bread making and crushing olives to make olive oil. Our guide, Giorgia, was excellent, being very thorough and allowing time for questions. The visual displays were very good, and in a separate hall there was also a well laid out exhibition of how timber logs were transported down river for use in various industries. Guided tours can be booked for english and other languages.Written 11 October 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- calabrusAscoli Piceno, Italy633 contributionsForte malatesta is a well preserved structure just outside centro storico. Built by the Etruscans and then the Romans to control the access to the town from the bridge over the river, it was rebuilt by the popes with a famous architect 500 years ago. Now the fortress is a small museum withvarious seasonal expositionsWritten 13 December 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ruth-Ann MMontreal, Canada5 contributionsWe saw The Magic Flute here in April and were enchanted by the gorgeous theatre, intimate and impressive. Would love to go backWritten 19 April 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
