Ascoli Piceno

Travel Guide
Ascoli Piceno featuring a city and street scenes as well as a small group of people
Gaze up at the hilltop fort that overlooks a gorge. Try the olive specialties in the cafés of the two main plazas.

Ascoli Piceno is a traditional town with a magnificent Vecchio Quartiere (Old Town) full of palaces, plazas and churches from the medieval and Renaissance eras. The town’s relatively flat terrain is covered with chic bars and cafés, while olive dishes are everywhere. Sip espresso and watch people go by as you sit at one of the tables spilling out onto the grand plazas.

Among the highlights in the town is the Cattedrale di Sant’Emidio. Descend into its impressive crypt and marvel at the colorful mosaics. Admire the artworks decorating the walls of the nave. The cathedral is in the stunning Piazza Arringo, a rectangular plaza with two fountains featuring bronze sea horses.

Go to the Palazzo dell’Arengo on the plaza’s southern flank. Admire the period décor and Renaissance fixtures in the stately halls and the religious artworks displayed in the palace’s Pinacoteca Civica gallery.

Walk west to the Piazza del Popolo, where you’ll see the grandiose Palazzo dei Capitani. Gaze up at the light green dome of the Chiesa di San Francesco.

Enjoy a break at one of the typical restaurants on the narrow alleys breaking off from the plaza. Try the olive all’Ascolana, dish of stuffed friend olives that originates from this town. Another insight into the town’s customs is offered by the annual Quintana festival in July and August. Watch the Renaissance reenactments and the parade featuring more than 1,500 actors in period dress.

Visit the museum of the hilltop Forte Malatesta and snap photos of the Castellano River, which is a popular swimming site. Note that locals often refer to Ascoli Piceno by its first name alone.

Find the town near Italy’s eastern Adriatic Coast in the center of the country. Drive northeast from Rome for 110 miles (180 kilometers) to get here in about 3 hours. Visit other nearby towns, such as San Benedetto del Tronto, Ancona and Pescara.

Ascoli Piceno has proud traditions and countless historical gems.

Where to stay in Ascoli Piceno

Ascoli Piceno which includes a city and street scenes as well as a small group of people

Centro Storico

5/5(2 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Centro Storico, Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Arringo are top sights worth seeing.

Centro Storico
Di Sabatino Resort
Di Sabatino Resort
Corso Trento E Trieste 25, Ascoli Piceno, AP
The price is RM374 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
RM374
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Ascoli Piceno. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and room service. Popular attractions Ventidio Basso Theater and Piazza del ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (47 reviews)
"great"

Reviewed on 16 Nov 2023

Di Sabatino Resort
Palazzo Guiderocchi
Palazzo Guiderocchi
4 out of 5
Via Cesare Battisti 3, Ascoli Piceno, AP
The price is RM404 per night from 3 Apr to 4 Apr
RM404
per night
3 Apr - 4 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Ascoli Piceno. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 24-hour room service. Popular attractions Piazza del Popolo ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (93 reviews)
"Sicuramente la struttura può vantare una posizione ottima poichè si trova a 100 metri dal centro città... la reception inesistente, poteva sembrare l'ingresso di un qualsiasi palazzo antico. Purtroppo anche la camera ha deluso molto le nostre aspettative..mobili non antichi ma vecchi, muri vecchi ..."

Reviewed on 19 Jan 2024

Palazzo Guiderocchi
Palazzo dei Mercanti - Historical Residence
Palazzo dei Mercanti - Historical Residence
4 out of 5
Corso Trento e Trieste 35, Ascoli Piceno, AP
The price is RM830 per night from 24 Apr to 25 Apr
RM830
per night
24 Apr - 25 Apr
Stay at this 4-star spa country house in Ascoli Piceno. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and room service. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (148 reviews)
"Sara was amazing, so helpful and kind. She and the rest of the staff make this a fantastic place to stay in Ascoli Piceno."

Reviewed on 5 Aug 2023

Palazzo dei Mercanti - Historical Residence
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Smeraldo Suites & Spa
Smeraldo Suites & Spa
4 out of 5
Viale Rinascimento 141, San Benedetto del Tronto, AP
Stay at this 4-star beach residence in San Benedetto del Tronto. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Riviera delle Palme ...
9/10 Wonderful! (300 reviews)
Serenity at the beach spa
"Beautifully, stylish modern hotel in a beautiful Beach town. Services, breakfast were all most comforting. Hotel personnel are most gracious. My stay was in off season; the surroundings and accomodations were quiet. Excellent stay for rest and recuperation."

Reviewed on 1 Mar 2024

Smeraldo Suites & Spa
Di Sabatino Resort
Di Sabatino Resort
Corso Trento E Trieste 25, Ascoli Piceno, AP
Stay at this spa aparthotel in Ascoli Piceno. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and room service. Popular attractions Ventidio Basso Theater and Piazza del ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (47 reviews)
"great"

Reviewed on 16 Nov 2023

Di Sabatino Resort
Valentino Resort
Valentino Resort
4 out of 5
Via Dante Alighieri 99, Grottammare
Stay at this 4-star spa residence in Grottammare. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions San Benedetto del Tronto Port ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (19 reviews)
"Hotel, in ottima posizione, molto curato nel design e nell’ottimizzazione degli spazi , colazione di buon livello, personale professionale, unica pecca sauna e bagno turco a pagamento anche per gli ospiti"

Reviewed on 29 Oct 2023

Valentino Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Ascoli Piceno

5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
2
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4 - Good
0
" "4 - Good 0%
3 - Okay
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" "3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
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" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Sep 2019

Great place to visit if you have a sense of history and love of ancient architecture