ASCOLI PICENO  (30 Km. from San Benedetto del Tronto)

Ascoli Piceno is one of the most beautiful monumental cities in Italy and is just 30 Km. from San Benedetto del Tronto. The central historical part of the city is built in marble called "travertino", a grey-hued stone extracted from the surrounding mountains. Its central Renaissance square, called Piazza del Popolo ("Square of the People") is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. This square houses some of the most important city monuments such as Palazzo dei Capitani situated next to the famous Caffé Meletti, the church of San Francesco, the Loggia dei Mercanti and close by the theatre called Ventidio Basso.
Not far from here is Piazza Arringo one of the oldest squares in Ascoli where you can find the cathedral Sant'Emidio, the medieval Baptistery San Giovanni and Palazzo Arengo which houses the civic picture gallery. Not only does the city have piazzas but it has roads and narrow streets with medieval facades present in the historical town centre.
Ascoli has been nick-named the city with one hundred towers.
The main festivity is the celebration of Sant'Emidio, the protector of the city, held on the 5th August ending at midnight with a magnificent fire-work display. The historical parade called Quintana is held on the first Sunday in August with more than 1000 people dressed in Renaissance costume. The parade is followed by the Quintana tournament. Over the past few years a Quintana tournament by night has been organized, which is held on the second Saturday in July.