Offida
It’s the turn of Offida, one of the most extraordinary countries in the Marche region. It owes its fame to the historic carnival celebrated here: the Bove Finto, a festival that involves all the townspeople, family wine cellars are opened, people run through the streets together with the Bull, and plenty of food and drink is served.
Offida and Carnival live by an inseparable and rare union, everything is about Carnival and … wine! The celebrated Rosso Piceno has found its native home in these exuberant lands.
But Offida, home of the Museum of Folk Traditions which is developed in 6 areas kitchen, agriculture, handicrafts, housing, spinning, weaving and the Bobbin Lace Museum, wonderful local tradition, it is much more (n.b. the project “The museum of all and for all” enabled the remaking of the braille cards related to the contents of some rooms; in addition, a guided tour service with LIS interpreter is being activated): our tour around the square and through the cobbled streets to the magnificent Santa Maria della Rocca will give you an unforgettable experience.
Castel Trosino
After a few sips of the best local wine, we will move inland until we reach near the Apennines and thus savor even a little of the mountain life of the Marche region. Castel Trosino is a tiny stone village that seems carved out of the rugged mountains. Lunch with traditional ascolana and montanara dishes.
Ascoli Piceno
Last stop on our itinerary, before we put in as much more as you’d like, is Ascoli Piceno, the city of travertine.
The famous Piazza del Popolo, one of Italy’s most beautiful living rooms, will bewitch you with its fine palaces and historic artdeco-style Meletti coffee shop.
But Ascoli is much more, everything will not only tell you about your roots, but also about a glorious past of contentions, wars, religions and nobility.
For a snack you absolutely must try a bag of Ascoli olives in Arringo Square, and for dinner don’t miss the chance to try all the traditional Ascoli dishes but especially the fried foods: artichokes, cream, lamb chops and zucchini.
Overnight stay at a resort in the historic center.
From the next day on, you can continue your trip to other parts of the region (or the Peninsula), depending on the level of satisfaction (but let’s also say wonder!) you’ve achieved so far with your visit to these corners in the South of the Marches.
The choice of things to do here in the area is very wide:
- indulge in hours of wild shopping among the various big-brand outlets in Sant’Elpidio a Mare and Casette d’Ete, and visit the quaint Footwear Museum;
- relax in the majestic squares, rearranging photos and family documents that are finally piecing together missing pieces and family tree, while enjoying rich dishes of handmade egg pasta, the region’s undisputed ingredient;
- stall on the beach until sunset, enjoying the best hour, as the locals say;
- or a beautiful high altitude hike, in the Sibillini Mountains National Park, accompanied by our GAE staff Environmental Hiking Guides;
- or even …stop and talk, categorically in dialect, with someone who is now in the second half of life and sits serenely outside the front door in some perched hamlet, discovering that he was most likely your grandfather’s (or great/tris) street playmate who emigrated overseas…Much more(ask and be inspired!).
The southern part of the Marches is a perfect mix of charm, glimpses and truly special atmospheres in every season of the year. But we are sure that although your ancestors started from this area, you will not want to miss exploring other hidden corners of the Region, perhaps less popular than bigger sisters like Tuscany or Lazio for example, but just as precious and spectacular, always to be proud of! (2nd place in the world ranking “Best in travel 2020” by Lonely Planet, the only Italian destination)
