8976 Villages of Le Marche

Always handy to share information so here's some information on Petritoli should anyone be exploring this area of South Le Marche.

PETRITOLI

Petritoli is a medieval village perched on a hilltop 358 metres above sea level in the Ascoli Piceno province of Le Marche in central Italy between the Adriatic Sea and the Appenine mountain chain.

The village, its 2 hamlets Moregnano and Valmir, and the surrounding countryside have a population of 2500. It is a largely self-sufficient village with a bank, post-office, grocery stores, mini-markets, butchers, bakers, fresh pasta shop, hardware store, electrical store, florists, gift-shops, hairdressers, beauticians, G.P's, library, school, newsagents, petrol station, 3 bars, 4 restaurants, pizza take-away, cottage hospital, museum, numerous artists and artisans, and a small but beautiful theatre.

The delightful historical centre of Petritoli is entered through a quite stunning gateway comprising of two round 15th century towers connected by a series of three 19th century neogothic arches. The village follows the typical pattern of this region with the main square, Piazza Rocca, at the top housing the 40 metre high clock tower (1831) and the oldest properties (the original monastic centre), and the rest of the yellow brick village winding down below against the rock face.

Teatro dell'Iride (1875)has recently been renovated and now holds regular concerts, plays and other performances. Of the numerous churches, the two most interesting are the 14th-15th century Chiesa di San Prospero and the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Martiri with its unusual 17th century frescoes set out in 15 octagonal scenes, and rare organ, work of the renowned Callido.

The countryside surrounding Petritoli is typical of central Italy. Rolling hills stretching for miles, fold into each other occasionally interupted by the pale yellow cliffs, finally to be framed by the blue of the sky or the Adriatic Sea to the east, and the dark forms of the Sibillini mountains, snow capped during the winter months, to the west. Distant hilltop villages and towns are highlighted by the sunshine and their yellow bricks, lit up, contrast sharply with the greens and browns of the countryside that falls below them.

Closer to Petritoli the lonely farmhouses, reached by a labyrinth of white lanes, sit amongst the stripes of the vinyards, the silver grey of the olive groves, the orchards with their white and pink blossoms; and, the fields of wheat and sunflowers ploughed brown in winter, turning green with the warmth of spring before finally becoming yellow in the heat of the summer sun. An ever changing landscape of incredible beauty.

There is a lively social calendar in Petritoli particularly during the summer months when the village's population seems to double with the influx of italians from the main cities in search of a better quality of lifestyle. The main festival in Petritoli is the Festa Della Cove, held the weekend of the second sunday of July. It is a truly magnificent record of the history and traditions of the village and a testimony to the hard work put in by the local residents. Food, wine, music, dancing, absolutely beautiful floats and lots and lots of smiling. Worth a visit! Alternatively you can come and watch the wooden wheeled go-carts hurtling through the streets at the Festa Della Madonna the first Sunday after Ferragosto.

John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of Petritoli celebrated on the 24th of June.

The village 16km away from the coast and the delightful seaside resort of Pedaso. It is 35 minutes away from the Sibillini mountains.

Both the main airports serving the region are within easy reach, Ancona airport an hour away and Pescara about 70 mins distant.

Market Days: 9th and 22nd of the month; 3rd Sunday of the month in Valmir.

Things to do:

Visit the local artists:

[url=http://www.giuseppebasili.it]www.giuseppebasili.it[/url]

[url=http://www.sharonkantor.it]SHARON KANTOR PITTRICE pittura floreale,dipinti floreali,arte figurativa,nature morte,visi di donna,paesaggi,figurative art, floreale painting, floreali paintings, died natures, aces of woman, landscapes[/url]
In Sharon's gallery you will also find a small but very interesting museum.

Franco Tizi: studio open every sunday morning in the piazza at the top of the village.

Visit the Printing museum: [url=http://www.anticastamperiafabiani.it]Antica Stamperia Fabiani[/url]
If you can speak a bit of italian you will enjoy the company of Giancarlo Fabiani and probably get a free coffee or something stronger!

Eat:
Ristorante Hotel Roma:
A great place to stop for lunch. Excellent priced food at bargain prices. Bread, a pasta dish, wine, water, fruit and coffee all for 6 euros.

Osteria de le Cornacchie:
A set menu of traditional local dishes. Broad beans to die for. This Osteria is famous in the area and extremely popular. You do not have to eat the tripe! Well worth a visit. Vegitarians should inform Sergio the owner beforehand. Advanced booking required.

Ristorante Re Squarchiò:
What can I say? Prepare yourself for a feast! The food just keeps arriving(again it is a set menu) so go carefully on the starters. This really is an excellent restaurant. Andrea speaks some English and makes the best italian baked beans I have tasted. Open at lunchtime. Advanced booking required and again let Andrea know beforehand if you are vegetarian. Go carefully on the vino cotto and mistrà!

Ristorante Pizzeria Obelix:
Haven't been!! It has recently changed hands, but reports have been excellent by locals and expats. Open Lunchtime.

Theatre:
The local comune (or tourist information office during the summer months) will hold leaflets detailing forthcoming performances.

Festivals:
As with all local villages there seem to be endless festas. Most are religion based and seem to involve nothing but a procession, sometimes with the local band, sometimes not. More often than not, Mary mother of Jesus puts in an appearance. During July and August there is a whole range of festivals and a brochure is provided setting these out beforehand. Last year we had the Miss Gran Prix festival. Well at least it wasn't the Miss Wet T-Shirt competition (I believe that was in San Benedetto).
The two main festivals have already been described above. They really are good!
[url=http://www.southernlemarche.com]LE MARCHE[/url]

Category

Do & See

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3][U]Castignano[/U][/SIZE][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]This delightful hill top village rests 473 metres above sea level at the front of Mount Ascensione, 24 km from the main provincial town Ascoli and the popular seaside resort of San Benedetto.[/SIZE][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]Set in the heart of the DOC vineyards of Rosso Piceno Superiore, visitors will not be disappointed with the quality of the wine found at the Cantine di Castignano. This is in fact my favourite Cantina and I am a rather too frequent visitor (well, you go and they offer you free wine to taste!!). The growing importance of locally produced wine is helping to ensure that the countryside retains its characteristic features and protecting the important farming community. Try the local Pecorino white wine![/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]The views from the village stretch across the rolling hills, east to the clear blue of the Adriatic Sea, and south and west to the Appenine Mountain chain of Ascoli Piceno and Abruzzo. The immediate countryside around the village is quite dramatic: bold hills, cut away by the erosion of the water abundant in this area and the phenomenon of the geological Calanchi, a special feature of this area, locally cultivated aniseed, the extract of which gives the local spirit Mistra its distinctive flavour and horse chestnuts- roasted on open fires in many of the village squares during the autumn and washed down with Vino Cotto- another local phenomenon. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]As with all the medieval hilltop villages of this province, Castignano has a wealth of spectacular buildings and artistic and cultural delights. The gothic church of Saint Marina is particularly noticeable with its cotto cornicing- note the T symbol (symbol of the powerful military order of the temple) of the templars. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]The church of St. Egido, with its neo-classic style, preserves some valuable works of art including the Madonna Del Rosario (late 16th/early 17th century), and an oil painting by Simone De Magistris- famous Le Marche artist. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]Castignano’s most important festival is the festa of the Templars. It is a three or four day spectacular (around the 16th, 17th and 18th of August), not to be missed. It’s not only an historic rievocazione, but a complete medieval festa with a different theme each year. I loved it – but you really need to learn Italian first especially as you have to pay to enter! There are several paid performers putting on high quality acts, mostly comical and surprisingly funny. Make sure that you visit the monks near the top of the village to claim your free food and beer.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]Castignano is one of the area's larger villages and there is always something happening here. The people are particularly friendly (or at least they are after I've been for a wine tasting). At nearby Capradosso there are two excellent restaurants, one the Madonnina, and the other I don't know (it doesn't even look like a restaurant!), but the food is great.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000][SIZE=3]p.s. I went to the Cantina on tuesday and Giampiero opened 3 bottles of wine for me to taste. Funny, as I have already tasted them all, several times. I must be a good customer!!!!!!!!!!!!![/SIZE][/COLOR]
[url=http://www.southernlemarche.com]LE MARCHE[/url]

[B]Cossignano[/B]

Cossignano is a delightful medieval village perched on a hilltop 400 metres above sea level in the Ascoli Piceno province of Le Marche between the famous towns of Offida and Ripatransone (both historically important in terms of the cultural and artistic development of Ascoli Piceno). Cossignano is just 15 km from the elegant seaside resort of Grottamare.

Cossignano with a population of just over 1000 inhabitants is situated in the heart of the D.O.C wine and Extra Virgin Olive Oil producing countryside. From every vantage poit in the village one can admire the hillsides covered with Vineyards, olive groves, woodland and yellow fields of wheat and sunflowers – a perfect tapestry.

In the distance the blue of the Adriatic sea and the dark forms of the Sibillini mountains and the Gran Sasso of Abruzzo perfectly frame this tamed countyside and the towns and villages that crown the summits of the hills. At night the flickering yellow lights of the villages offer quite a different sight to admire whilst enjoying a glass of the local wine.

Like every hilltop village in this area, Cossignano has its own specific histore giving rise to specific architectural features, customs and traditions. Of significant importance is its strategic position that led to it being an object of contest between Ascoli and Fermo.

The principal structure of the old defensive castle was created in the 14th century but the history of this village dates back much further. In 1924 a piceno necropolis was discovered revealing a collection of funeral artifacts (mainly bronze) testifying to its ancient past. Cossignano's most illustrious citizen was Lucio Afrani, Roman Consul in 60 B.C.

Cossignano has a beautiful main square housing a bar/restaurant, which has a delightful seating area underneath a portico with vaulted ceilings and colourful tiled floor. Also in the square you will find the clock tower and the Chiesa dell'Assunta housing two of Dante de Carolis's paintings: The Warrier St George on a white horse and the Assumption (and I think the Priest showed me a bit of The Cross). Actually I think he is the “retired” whose only role is to grab foreigners and show them his beloved Church. I am not entirely certain why he invited me to confession!

Wandering through the narrow streets you will come across another spectacular church: Chiesa dell'Annunziata where the Francescan monks took refuge in 1388 after the destruction of their convent during the war between Ascoli and Fermo. The church is currently being restored as a museum and houses some beautiful 14th/15th century frescoes.

Further Cossignano houses a small museum recording the farming civilisation and their traditions.

Cossignano really is one of Le Marche's most picturesque villages and its historical importance has ensured that villagers today retain a pride in their customs and traditions which they maintain through a series of festivals and sagras the most important of which are:

17th January: Festa di S. Antonio Abate
23rd April: Festival of the patron saint of the village St George – a 5 day event including local produce markets, firework displays, processions, food, wine and dancing.
9th August: Fried fish Sagra
15th August: Sausage Sagra

I really like Cossignano!!
[url=http://www.southernlemarche.com]LE MARCHE[/url]

[SIZE=5]ORTEZZANO[/SIZE]

Altitude 301m
Population 843

A beautiful historic centre looking south across the Val D'Aso with its wonderful spring orchard blossom. Archeological finds show a Roman presence (to be found in Contrada Cisterna, Prato and St Massimo. There are some stunning buildings in the village, notably the Gothic Porta Da Sole and its distinctive tower. The churches house the usual number of “not quite famous” paintings – impressive nontheless.

Ortezzano has a couple of bars and various shops.

However, what sets Ortezzano apart from other villages is its restaurants!!!!!! If you have young children don't take them to Mamma Rosa the first night or you might just find that they will not let you explore any of the other restaurants. Mamma Rosa is situated in the valley floor below the village and is a pizzeria, pasta and meat restaurant so typical of this area. During the summer you can eat outside in the garden where the chef cooks the meat on his BBQ in front of you. Good priced food and excellent service. Popular with the locals.

Also down on the valley floor is La Luna, a similar restaurant. This is also very popular but somehow I am always taken to Mamma Rosa. I think Petritoli goes to Mamma Rosa and Montalto goes to La Luna.

I Piceni – ah I Piceni – what a wonderful restaurant!!!! This is one of the most popular restaurants in the area. The chef worked for a number of years in America and has returned home to create a modern, upmarket version of traditional seasonal italian cooking. The food is excellent and please try the desserts!! They are soooooo nice (and don't be afraid to ask for the bread back so that you can mop up all the delicious sauces!). I am not sure how he gets the ingredients to work together but they always do. There is an excellent wine list. It is situated in the historic centre with an outside dining terrace during the summer. It even has rooms to let!

La Rosa Del Vento can also be found in the historic centre. I went there one evening (well I Piceni was closed). I did enjoy the meal but when the bill came I thought: it wasn't that good! It does however remain popular and I would return (if I Piceni was closed!).

Agriturismo Vecchio Gelso: this agriturismo has a lovely restaurant which is open both for lunch and dinner. The food is good and reasonably priced and the service is excellent. Food should always be served with a smile!!

Back down on the valley floor you will find Sgaly's wine cantina. The family that run this small but growing cantina are extremely passionate about their wines and are sure to offer you a taster or too. They form part of the Associazione Agritur Aso which was set up to promote tourism in the area as a means to protecting the local countryside from industrial growth.

Accommodation: there are a number of agriturismi see [url=http://www.southernlemarche.com]LE MARCHE[/url]

Great wine festival the 3rd sunday of September!!

[url=http://www.southernlemarche.com]LE MARCHE[/url]

Thanks Jo. I endorse your comments on I Piceni and now I'm going to try all the others!

The Hotel Roma has put it's prices up- shock, horror! The price for a primo & all the bits has gone up to the exorbitant price of €7!!!!!!However they do the best tagliatelle al ragu in this area (in my opinion) so I will just have to take the price increase on the chin

8976 Villages of Le Marche

Castignano Le Marche

Cossignano Le Marche

Ortezzano