Itineraries
One of the many marvels of Acquaviva Picena is the
fortress which is the main tourist attraction of the area. Once the residence of the Acquaviva family, it was restored in the 1300s by Giovan Francesco Azzolino after it had been destroyed by the Fermans in 1447. It has a quadilateral shape with a central courtyard. On the sides we find a number of towers one of which is approximately 20 metres high and overlooks a steep escarpment. It was the best defence structure of the area. On the inside we find a beautiful collection of ancient weapons. The other two were much lower and were used to patrol the area giving them a more than ample view of the surrounding area.
Walking through the historical centre you can follow an itinery which allows you to discover a fervid past full of events and rich in artistic elements. Some of the splendid monuments which you can visit are the
Gothic Door, Via Marziale leading right up to the
Piazza del Forte the square in front of the fortress. From here you can visit the fortress or continue through to
Piazza St. Nicolò along the suggestive Via Marziale to the ancient Vicolo
St. Rocco with its homonymous church. Next we find the
Sala del Palio, the Town Hall and Piazza St. Nicolò. Taking via del Cavaliere we stroll along to the
Convent of St. Anna. Admire the spectacular homes along the Colle, the hill. In Piazza C. Ulpiani we find the old church of
St. Lorenzo with the cloister and the beautiful convent of the Agostiniani Scalzi,
the barefoot monks of St.Augustine.
Very famous in Acquaviva is the
"road of the wines", a food and wine itinerary which takes you through the country homes and the cellars to try the typical aroma of the wine of the area. The Rock is one of the most beautiful fortresses of the Marche with its trapezoidal bastions, the escarpment and the cylindrical keep. Don't miss the castle walls with the Gothic Door and the
Museum of Historical Ancient Weapons situated in the
Medieval Fortress.
There are also many churches to be seen amongst which
St. Rocco which dates back to 1000 A.C. with its Romanic facade;
the church of St. Nicolò which preserves the Adoration of the Cross, an oil on canvas painting from the Venetian school of the XVIth century and the Madonna of the Rosary, oil on canvas from the Baroque period of the XVIII th century;
the church of St. Francesco with the Madonna and Child, oil on canvas by Jacopo Arginelli, 1516.
Rather suggestive is the
"Mercatino dell'artigianato e delle Tipicità", a market where artisans display their wares and typical products, held through the streets of the historical centre every Wednesday in July and August.
In August you can enjoy the
"Palio del Duca", a historical reenactment of the marriage between Foresteria of Acquaviva and Rinaldo di Brunforte of Sarnana during which the two districts of the historical centre, the Rock and the Hill, respectively under the emblem of the Eagle and the Owl, challenge each other in a series of medieval games.