Places To Visit

Montefalcone

Montefalcone is situated on a peak overlooking the valleys of the rivers Aso and Tenna, offering breathtaking vistas ranging from the Sibillini Hills to the Adriatic Sea, from the Maiella and Gran Sasso Mountains to Monte Conero.

There are several interesting places to visit in this old Picene town:

Palazzo Felici, dating back to the beginning of the XVII Century and home to the Environmental Education Centre, which provides a number of interesting services such as guided visits to the areas nearby, fossil-hunting expeditions on rich fossil sites dating back to the lower Picene period, and excursions on nature trails and foot paths in the woods around Montefalcone.

The Alamanno Museum, which contains a very important polyptych by Pietro Alemanno (a pupil of Crivelli’s) painted between the 1475 and 1480.

Old traditions are still very much alive in this small rural town, for example:

  • on Easter Monday ‘lu ciuturellu’, an ancient game with hard-boiled eggs, is played
  • in the first week of August the Falco Festival takes place
  • in the second week of October there’s the ‘Autumn flavours’ market-fair of typical autumn produce

Feast days have always been very important in popular culture and every country town has its patron saint, a historical festival or an antiques market that recalls old, traditional fairs.

Popular events in the area 

  • the ‘Quintana’ at Ascoli Piceno
  • the ‘Palio dell’Assunta’ at Fermo
  • the ‘Contesa del Secchio’ at Sant’Elpidio a Mare
  • the ‘Palio del Duca’ at Acquaviva Picena
  • the ‘Festa del Doge’ at Porto San Giorgio’
  • the ‘Cavallo di Fuoco’ at Ripatransone
  • the ‘Festa del Bove Finto’ at Offida

Worth the visit

There are plenty of places worth visiting in the province, especially medieval towns whose old town centres have changed little over time. Click on the markers on the map to see extra information:

Located on the map are:

  • Ascoli Piceno with its monuments and museums:
    • S.Emidio’s Cathedral, containing Carlo Crivelli’s famous polyptych
    • the Ventidio Basso Theatre
    • Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Arringo
  • Fermo, ancient Firmum Picenum, with its history first as an episcopal and then as an archiepiscopal seat, at the hands of Pope Sisto V
  • Acquaviva Picena, with its fortress, a masterpiece of Marche-style military architecture
  • Montalto Marche
  • Offida
  • Moresco
  • Santa Vittoria
  • Sant’Elpidio a Mare
  • Servigliano
  • the Abbey of San Ruffino, which is nearby
  • Smerillo, a beautiful medieval village only a few kilometers away from Montefalcone