Macerata and its surroundings

The most famous monument in Macerata is certainly the neoclassic Sferisterio, now used for open air concerts and for the opera season which is now renowned throughout Europe.  The centre of the town is the Piazza della Libertà with the Palazzo dei Priori on the western side (now the town hall) while on the southern side we have the Palazzo della Prefettura. Opposite there is the clock tower next to the "Lauro Rossi" theatre.  The municipal art gallery is well worth a visit as are the municipal museum and library and the cathedral.  In the surroundings of Macerate you can find interesting historic towns such as Pollenza, with its church of Santa Maria Assunta di Rambona, Treia, a well preserved medieval village, Cingoli, with its unforgettable views of the sea, while going down the gently undulating hills you come across places like Corridonia, with  well preserved parts of its city walls and monuments, Monte San Giusto with a well preserved historic centre, Civitanova Alta still surrounded by its old walls and Civitanova Marche, an important industrial and tourist centre.

Camerino.
The  medieval part of the historic centre is more or less intact. The town is rich in cultural and artistic traditions with its university (a 14th century "studium") and the 15th century painting school of Camerino. The centre of the town is Piazza Cavour with the Cathedral and the Ducal Palace. The latter (which now houses the law faculty of the university) was completed in the second half of the 15th century by Giulio Cesare Da Varano with its great quadriportico in clear renaissance style. There is a wide balcony (closed since the earthquake in 1997) over the botanical garden which offers spectacular views over the Camerino basin as far as the Sibillini mountains. There are elegant arcades, beautifully frescoed rooms and an underground part now used by the university (Sala della Muta) for lectures and exhibitions. Until 1997 the Valentini municipal library, founded by Sebastiano Valentini in 1802,  was housed here with  numerous and rare volumes. After the earthquake this library was moved to the San Paolo area of the town. In spite of the changes brought about during the baroque period, the Romanesque-Gothic church of St. Francis (13th century), still has its original poligonal apse, part of the portal and early 15th century frescoes.

Recanati.
Recanati  is famous as the birthplace of the poet Giacomo Leopardi, who lived here for many years. He  immortalised many parts of the town, especially the square in "Sabato del Villaggio" and the "colle dell'infinito". Many buildings still remain that remind us of the rich merchants who owned them, together with works of art in the churches and museums.
The town is the seat of the World Poetry Centre. The 18th century birthplace of Leopardi, still lived in by his descendants, is open to the public. It was redesigned in its present form by the architect Carlo Orazio Leopardi towards the end of  the 18th century. Its library houses over 20,000 volumes, many of them rare and antique, collected by the poet's father, Monaldo Leopardi.



Tolentino.
The historic centre is of great interest with the large Basilica of San Nicola, which has precious frescoes and the Cathedral with its sarcophaghi of the saints Catervo, Settimia and Basso. Nearby is the Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra which has reclaimed most of the surrounding land, and the archeological site of "Urbs Salvia", an ancient town called Urbisaglia, with a well preserved amphitheatre.