Belforte del Chienti and the polyptych of Giovanni Boccati
Belforte del Chienti is a small medieval village (castle walls go back to 14th century), watch post of the Chienti river valley, originally under control of the Da Varano family and then of the Church State. The flagship is, of course, the Polyptych of Giovanni Boccati (1468), an artwork guarded in the Church of Sant’Eustachio, located in the old town, in Umberto I square, in front of the Town Hall. Walking through the street of the town centre, after the old public wash-house, you reach V.Emanuele II square, where you can see the Poor Clares Monastery, now closed because of the 2016 Earthquake. Leaving the main square you’ll find the deconsecrated San Sebastiano’s Church, now home of M.I.D.A.C. (International Dynamic Museum of Modern Art). Leaving the centre, moving downtown, you will see San Giovanni’s Church, Santa Maria’s Church and the San Pietro Monastery, which preserves an old Byzantine brass cross. Finally, Fonte Grande is counted between the “places of silence” in Marche region.
Caldarola and Pallotta castle
Caldarola, strongly affected by the 2016 earthquake, is a little gem located near Chienti river Middle Valley. It reaches its finest hours thanks to Caldarolese School (among which we quote Simone De Magistris, influenced by Raffaello and Lorenzo Lotto) and Pallotta Family, owner of homonymous Pallotta Castle. After visiting the Municipal Theatre, you will find all around the town centre many military fortifications like Pievefavera’s Castle, Croce’s Castle and Vestignano’s Castle, as well as Collegiata di San Martino and Madonna del Monte Sanctuary.
Serrapetrona and its vernaccia docg
Serrapetrona is located around Lake of Caccamo, famous for the production of famous and very particular wine Vernaccia di Serraptrona DOCG, a red sparkling wine. Every year, local producers celebrate the Vendemmia during Appassimenti Aperti, an event that let people visit the wineries and discover the making of Vernaccia.
Tolentino, the basilica di San Nicola and Fiastra abbay
Tolentino is a thermal centre and one of the most important industrial pole of the area, historically remembered for the Tolentino Treaty, signed by Napoleone Bonaparte and Pio 6th, as well as the battle of 1815 (celebrated every year nearby the Rancia Castle). Also famous as birthplace of La Rancia Company, founded by art director Saverio Marconi, Tolentino hosts the International Bienniale of Humor in the Arts. Other very important places of interest are Basilica di San Nicola, San Catervo Cathedral, Vaccaj Theatre and Chiaravalle di Fiastra Abbay, an exemple of Cistercian architecture in Marche.
Sibillini national park, Pilato’s lake and the Frasassi caves
Sibillini National Park offers hundreds of trails along the Sibillini Big Ring, to be discovered by foot or mountain bike. Among the suggested itineraries, one of the most interesting is the one which leads you from Castelluccio di Norcia to Pilato’s Lake (m 1941), hidden in the middle of Mount Vettore and house of Chirocefalo del Marchesoni, a most unique species of crostaceous. A very fascinating way is the one that leads you from Fiastra’s Lake to Lame Rosse, the suggestive canyon in the heart of Marche region. Finally, the Gola Rossa and Frasassi Regional Park hosts the Frasassi Caves, discovered by chance in 1971, and one of the most important natural sites visited in Marche.
