Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno: Squares and Architecture
Piazza del Popolo
One of Italy’s most beautiful Renaissance squares, Piazza del Popolo is paved in travertine and framed by the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo (13th-century crenellated palace with a statue of Pope Paul III above the portal), the Loggia dei Mercanti (16th-century arcade), and the historic Caffe Meletti, an Art Nouveau cafe operating since 1907. Sit at Caffe Meletti’s outdoor tables and order an Anisetta Meletti (the local anise liqueur, 5 EUR) while watching the square come alive at aperitivo hour. The square hosts a morning market on weekdays. Free to visit, open 24 hours.Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo
The 13th-century palace anchoring Piazza del Popolo served as the seat of the city’s medieval government. The crenellated tower, travertine arches, and inner courtyard are worth a close look. The courtyard often hosts temporary art exhibitions (free). The palace interior is not regularly open to the public except during special events, but the facade and courtyard are accessible. Via del Trivio, 3. Free entry to courtyard.Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno: Churches and Religious Sites
Cattedrale di Sant’Emidio
Dedicated to the city’s patron saint, the cathedral combines Romanesque and Gothic styles with a Renaissance facade. Inside, the Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento contains a 15th-century silver altarpiece by Pietro Vannini. The crypt below holds the relics of Sant’Emidio in a Baroque chapel carved into the rock , this is the spiritual heart of the city. The crypt’s mosaic floor dates to the 5th century Roman basilica that stood on this spot. Piazza Arringo. Open daily 8am to 12pm and 4pm to 7pm. Free entry; crypt visits sometimes require a 1 to 2 EUR donation. See also our Ascoli Piceno weather by month guide.
Tempietto di Sant’Emidio alle Grotte
This small Baroque chapel sits atop a Roman grotto where, according to tradition, Sant’Emidio was martyred in AD 303. The tempietto (small temple) has an octagonal interior covered in frescoes and stucco work. Below, the Roman grotto contains early Christian carvings and a natural spring. The grotto is the most atmospheric part of the visit. Via delle Grotte. Open Saturday and Sunday 10am to 12pm and 4pm to 6pm, or by appointment. Free, donations welcome. See also our best time to visit Ascoli Piceno guide.
Chiostro Maggiore di San Francesco
The Gothic cloister attached to the Church of San Francesco is one of the city’s most photogenic spots. Built in the 14th century, the cloister has 44 travertine columns supporting pointed arches around a central garden. The adjacent church contains a 15th-century wooden crucifix and fresco fragments. The cloister often hosts evening concerts in summer. Via del Cassero. Free entry to cloister. Open daily 8am to 6pm. See also our Ascoli Piceno events and festivals guide.
Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno: Roman Ruins
Ponte Romano di Solestà
This Roman bridge over the Tronto River dates to the 1st century BC and is still used by pedestrians today. The single-arch span stretches 62m, built from travertine blocks without mortar. Walk across it at sunset when the golden stone glows against the river below. The bridge is in the Porta Solestà neighborhood, a 10-minute walk from Piazza del Popolo. Free, always open. See also our Ascoli Piceno neighborhoods guide.
Porta Gemina
A double-arched Roman gate from the 1st century BC, Porta Gemina marked the western entrance to the Roman city of Asculum. The twin travertine arches stand intact with their original stonework, and inscriptions on the gate record its restoration under Emperor Augustus. It sits at the edge of the centro storico near the remains of the Roman theatre. Via di Porta Gemina. Free, always visible from the street. See also our where to stay in Ascoli Piceno guide.
Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno: Museums and Culture
Forte Malatesta
Built in 1349 by the Malatesta family of Rimini, this fortress was later reinforced with circular bastions in the 16th century. Today it houses the Museo dell’Alto Medioevo (Early Medieval Museum) with artifacts from the Lombard period including jewelry, weapons, and stone carvings from tombs discovered in the surrounding region. The fortress walls offer views over the Castellano River. Via delle Terme, 6. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm. Entry 5 EUR (reduced 3 EUR). See also our Ascoli Piceno travel tips guide.
Pinacoteca Civica
The civic art gallery occupies the upper floor of the Palazzo Comunale on Piazza Arringo. The collection includes works by Carlo Crivelli (a 15th-century Venetian painter who worked extensively in the Marche), Titian (a small St. Francis), and local Baroque painter Cola dell’Amatrice. Crivelli’s polyptych of Sant’Emidio is the standout , a gilded, hyper-detailed altarpiece from 1473. Piazza Arringo, 7. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm (until 8pm in July and August). Entry 8 EUR (combined ticket with the Museo Archeologico).
Cartiera Papale
This former papal paper mill, operating from the 14th to 19th centuries, has been restored as a museum of papermaking. The site includes the original water wheel, pulp beaters, and drying rooms. It sits alongside the Castellano River, which powered the mill for 500 years. The museum explains Ascoli’s role in supplying paper to the Papal States. Via della Cartiera, 1. Open Saturday and Sunday 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm. Entry 4 EUR.
Things to Do in Ascoli Piceno: Food and Drink
Eat Olive All’Ascolana at Caffe Meletti
Olive all’ascolana are the city’s signature dish , large green olives stuffed with a mixture of minced beef, pork, and chicken, breaded and deep-fried. Caffe Meletti on Piazza del Popolo serves a reliable plate (8 EUR for 8 to 10 olives) alongside their house-made anise liqueur. For a more local experience, try Ristorante Vittoria (Via Bonaccorsi, 7) where the olives are made to a family recipe. Rosticceria Pizzeria da Angelo (Via Dino Angelini, 32) does takeaway olive all’ascolana for 1 EUR each , the local budget option.
Drink Anisetta Meletti
The anise-flavored liqueur produced by the Meletti family since 1870 is Ascoli’s drink. Order it neat as a digestif (3 to 4 EUR) or with a coffee bean floating in it (anice con la mosca, “anise with the fly”). The Meletti distillery shop inside Caffe Meletti sells bottles to take home starting at 15 EUR. The cafe’s Art Nouveau interior with marble tables and brass fixtures is worth a visit even if you skip the liqueur.
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