Villages on the sea

The route is dedicated to the two medieval villages along the Adriatic coast: Grottammare and Cupra Marittima

MEETING POINT: S. Pio Square

DURATION: 6 hours, full day 

TRANSPORT: walking route, bus or car for long travelling

Extra costs could be expected to enter into some sites

NOTES: The route could be changed according yours demands. 

 

The route starts in S. Pio V Square; it was built by Pope Pio IX into an urbanistic extension plane. We are visiting the Church of S. Pio V: on the principal portal some important events of the story of Grottammare are represented. Still today a particular event is remembered in a local celebration.. in the church a precious organ is conserved. It was played by an important musician: Grottammare was an important holiday destination, frequented by important personalities.

We are visiting the ancient medieval part of Grottammare, “the old village”; along the street you can see Laureati House and Azzolino House frequented by the King Vittorio Emanuele II and the Queen Cristina of Sweden: in the gardens of these houses you can admire orange trees, the symbol of Grottammare

We are visiting the Church of S. Agostino with a clipped belfry. In this church you can admire a beautiful way of the cross realized by one of the most important contemporary artists in Grottammare. Strolling along the village you can see a beautiful sea view with numerous houses in Liberty style; these houses were built by the middle class who spent her holidays in Grottammare at the beginning of the XX century. Peretti Square is dedicated to the most important person in Grottammare, Felice Peretti, Pope Sisto V; we are seeing the fortified tower of the XVI century and the Church of S. Lucy: Pope Sisto V ordered the construction of this church

Strolling along suggest and narrow medieval streets we are visiting the highest point of the village where the traces of the ancient medieval castle are conserved; the castle was built during the XI century and it is located in a park which is considered among the natural beauties of Grottammare. This park is a protected zone for the quality of its animal and arboreal species. This place is considered a literary park and important poets, such as D’Annunzio and Grazia Deledda, found the inspiration of their poems here

 

Another suggestive village is Cupra Marittima; its name derives from the divinity Cupra. The route starts in the State Street 16 where you can find an Archeological Park with Roman finds such as the ninfeo in a villa, thermal baths and the staircase of the temple dedicated to Venere. Not far from here we can find the traces of the most ancient church in Cupra Marittima dedicated to its patron Saint S. Basso.

In the medieval centre of Cupra Marittima we are visiting the Archeological Museum: here you can see the traces of the human presence in Cupra from the prehistory to the Roman period. Typical finds are the Piceni bronze rings. We are seeing the beautiful Church of S. Mary in Castello, Sforza Palace and the Church of Annunziata with a beautiful stable nativity scene of Spanish art. We are visiting the beautiful medieval village of Marano, the ancient name of Cupra Marittima: here we can see Villa Grisostomi and the Castle of S. Andrea, the trace of the ancient medieval village in the XII century: today performances and concerts hold here in Summer.

From the superior gateway you can descend to Collegiata of S. Basso; in this church a masterpiece of the early Reaissance is conserved: the polyptych of Vittore Crivelli, brother of Carlo Crivelli. The church is decorated by important frescoes realized by Pauri, disciple of the most important artist during the XX century: Adolfo De Carolis. He realized some illustrations for Pascoli and D’Annunzio‘s books. Of great interest is Freedom Square with the Town Hall and its beautiful tower.