Ascoli Piceno is a historic town surrounded by the Monti Sibillini and Gran Sasso National Parks in the Apennines. It can be an excellent base for people who like active tourism, and at the same time has many interesting monuments, mainly from the Middle Ages.
The city developed during the Roman period as a trade center on the salt route connecting Lazio with the Adriatic coast. After the fall in the early Middle Ages, it was reborn in the 12th century as an independent republic and a large trade and craft center. A memento of the heyday are numerous monuments located within the city center.
Ascoli Piceno's main attractions include its Gothic and Renaissance architecture. It is centered around Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Arringo. The most important monuments include the Cathedral of Sant'Emidio, the Gothic Church of St. Francis with the adjacent monastery, the Romanesque church of St. Thomas, erected with the use of elements from the nearby Roman amphitheater and the Palace dell'Arengo. Around the old town, you can see the remains of the city walls with several gates preserved.
The surroundings of Ascoli Piceno are very scenic. From here you can make excursions to the two national parks of the Apennines, Monti Sibillini and Gran Sasso. They offer numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty, and thanks to the possibility of climbing quite high towards the ridge of the Apennines, they make it possible to make one-day trips.
