3602 Ripatransone - Belvedere del Piceno

[LEFT]They say that Cingoli is the balcony of the Marche because of the views on offer. However, the hilltop town of Ripatransone (500m asl), which is approximately 10Km from Grottammare, offers the best views in my opinion and that is why it is called the Belvedere del Piceno. It was previously called the Baluardo del Piceno because it was so inaccessible.

Another strategically important town like the ones you see scattered around the Marche, Ripatransone (from Ripa Transonum) has quite a history. It has the distinction of being among the first towns in the province of Ascoli to free itself from papal influence without external help following the battle of Castelfidardo (where Vittorio Emanuele II vanquished the Pope’s legions) in 1860.

Ripa’s medieval aspect is still very much intact and there are traces of the Renaissance. It also has the narrowest street in all of Italy (43cm wide – I think it is in the Guinness book of records).

Apart from the bizarre Cavallo del Fuoco, which takes place the Sunday after Easter, other attractions include:

Il Torrione with the Porta di Monte Antico
I Calanchi
Museo della Civilta Contadina ed Artigiana
Museo Civico Archeologico
Teatro Mercatini
Festa del Vino
Concerti di Musica da Camera
Carnevale Ripano
House where Asciano Condivi artist and author (he wrote Vita di Michelangelo - the first biography) lived.

Best place to eat: Ristorante San Savino in Frazione di Ripatransone. Great for Olive Ascolane and meat dishes.[/LEFT]

Views of Ripa/Palazzo Massi/Centro storico/Ottava di Pasqua/Palazzo del Podesta

Category
Do & See

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 06:20

more scenes of Ripa...

Cathedral bell tower/Palazzo Comunale/Italy's narrowest street/Posta San Domenico/Views of Ascolano from Ripatransone

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 06:25

more pics...

Cathedral/street scenes

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 17:42

How wide is "Italy's narrowest street" in Ripatransone?

I enquire because in Citta della Pieve, Umbria, we have the appropriately named Via del Bacio, which is so narrow I have one or two stouter friends who make a detour........ :) , and this is often billed as the "narrowest street in Italy"!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 02:48

[quote=Relaxed]How wide is "Italy's narrowest street" in Ripatransone?

I enquire because in Citta della Pieve, Umbria, we have the appropriately named Via del Bacio, which is so narrow I have one or two stouter friends who make a detour........ :) , and this is often billed as the "narrowest street in Italy"!![/quote]

You must have missed it from the posting above...it does say 43cm.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 03:46

Does this street have a name? Via .....? I don't know why, but I am curious.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 04:03

I didn't see a name but it is between Via Tanursi and Via Fedeli. It is an alleyway that separates 2 medieval town houses.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 14:09

Great to see 'Our City' Ripatransone - in beautiful pictures.
There is also the Teatro della Fonti - Outside theatre with
Opera and Pop concerts in the summer months and a Saturday evening
market in July and August with local produce.
Also agree that Grottammare is the nicest part of the Riviera Delle Palme.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 18:58

Great pictures Charles. I'm not trying to be a smart culo but I believe that there is another claim to the narrowest street in Italy just across the border in Abruzzo. La Ruetta, in Civitella Del Tronto is apparently 40 cms wide. I'll bring a tape with me next time I go, just to check.

Biagio

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 03:05

[quote=Biagio]Great pictures Charles. I'm not trying to be a smart culo but I believe that there is another claim to the narrowest street in Italy just across the border in Abruzzo. La Ruetta, in Civitella Del Tronto is apparently 40 cms wide. I'll bring a tape with me next time I go, just to check.

Biagio[/quote]

Yes I've seen that claim. I've also noticed that some say it is 60cm wide. I've noticed too that Citta' della Pieve and Venice share this distinction.
Would be interesting to see which town really has the narrowest in all of Italy.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 05:39

Yes, that would be interesting to find out, but what would define it as a street?

If it's just a gap between two buildings, I'm sure there will be some that measure half a centimetre or less! You know how skinny some of these Italian builders can be; a bit like rats, they can slip through the smallest of gaps to escape when they need to! :D

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 06:33

The street in Città della Pieve which claims to be the narrowest in Italy is called Via Baciadonne !! Kiss the ladies street!!!!
Hey if it's nice and narrow, it could be good fun !!! x:D