{"id":1046,"date":"2015-12-10T17:09:49","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T16:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1046"},"modified":"2016-01-21T10:49:07","modified_gmt":"2016-01-21T09:49:07","slug":"beautiful-village-italy-offida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost\/beautiful-village-italy-offida\/","title":{"rendered":"The most beautiful village in Italy: Offida"},"content":{"rendered":"

The route is dedicated to one of the most beautiful villages in Italy<\/strong> in the Piceno territory: Offida<\/em><\/p>\n

MEETING POINT: <\/em><\/strong>Lacemakers’ Square<\/em><\/p>\n

DURATION: <\/em><\/strong>3<\/em>\u00a0hours, half day \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

TRANSPORT:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>walking route<\/em><\/p>\n

Extra costs could be expected to enter into some sites<\/p>\n

NOTES: The route could be changed according yours demands<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Offida<\/strong> is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.<\/strong> It has one of the most interesting and untouched historical centers<\/strong> in the Piceno territory. Its name derives from an ancient divinity, Ophis<\/strong>; once Offida was an important spiritual center and still today in Offida important relics are conserved in many local churches..<\/em><\/p>\n

Of great interest is the fortress<\/strong>: it was built by Pope Innocenzo VIII<\/strong> and it was designed by the Florentine Baccio<\/strong> Pontelli<\/strong> during the XV century<\/strong>. Nearby you can find the Civil Hospital<\/strong> made by the architect Pietro Maggi<\/strong>; it presents a neoclassical facade. We are seeing the monument dedicated to the Lacemakers<\/strong> which shows the typical artisan activity<\/strong> in Offida: the lace pillow<\/strong>. Strolling along the streets of the village you can find shops<\/strong> and workshops<\/strong>\u00a0which show the objects realized by this ancient technique.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Merletto<\/a>

The lace pillow, Offida<\/p><\/div>\n

We are visiting the beautiful square<\/strong> with the Collegiate Church<\/strong> (XVIII century<\/strong>) dedicated to Madonna of Palio<\/strong> linked to a miracle, the town hall (XIII century<\/strong>), one of the most beautiful palaces in Marche Region and the Serpente Aureo Theater<\/strong> inaugurated in 1820.<\/strong> Of great interest is the Baroque Church of S. Agostino<\/strong> where the relics of the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano<\/strong> are coserved.<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Monumento<\/a>

The Lacemakers Monument, Offida<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The masterpiece of the medieval architecture is the beautiful church of S. Maria della Rocca<\/strong>, a Benedictine spiritual center. It is full of frescoes of the XV century<\/strong> realized by the Master from Offida<\/strong>. In the crypt of the church you can admire some frescoes and two chapels dedicated to S. Lucy<\/strong> and S. Katherine from Alessandria.<\/strong> In the superior church, with a unique nave, you can find traces of frescoes with the Stories of S. Benedict<\/strong> and curious inscriptions leaved by pilgrims. These inscriptions tell important historical events in Offida such as documents.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t