Ascoli Piceno is a town in the Marche region, Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population, according to the 2001 census, is 50,135 inhabitants.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Main sights 3.1 Churches and convents 3.2 Other buildings 4 Economy 5 Culture & Sport 6 Fractions 7 Twin cities 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] Geography

The town lays at the confluence of Tronto River with Castellano Creek and is surrounded on three sides by mountains. Two natural parks are located on the north-western flank (Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini) and on the south (Parco Nazionale dei Monti della Laga). Ascoli is well connected by railway to the Adriatic coast and the city of San Benedetto del Tronto and by highway to Rome and Porto d'Ascoli.

[edit] History

Ascoli was founded by an Italic population (Sabini) several centuries before Rome on the important Via Salaria (Salaria Road) which connected Latium with the salt production area on the Adriatic coast. In 268 BC it became a civitas foederata, with nominal Independence from Rome. In 91 BC it revolted against Rome together with other cities in central Italy but in 89 BC was conquered and destroyed by Pompeius Strabo. It acquired anyway the Roman citizenship, following the developments and the eventual fall of the Roman Empire.

During the Middle Ages it was ravaged by the Ostrogoths and then by the Lombards of King Faroald (578). After nearly two centuries as part of the Lombar Duchy of Spoleto (593-789), Ascoli was ruled by the Franks through their vicars, but ultimately it was the Roman Catholic Church Bishops to gain influence and power inside the city.

In 1189 a free republican municipality was established but internal strifes led dramatically to the demise of civic values and freedom and to unfortunate ventures against neighbouring enemies. This uncertain situation opened the path to foreign dictatorships, like those of Galeotto Malatesta (14th century), initially called as condottiero in the war against Fermo, and Francesco Sforza.

The latter was ousted in 1482, but Ascoli was compelled to submti again to the Papal suzerainty. Ascoli followed then almost two centuries of cultural, economic stagnation, turning into a small agricultural centre until the Napoleonic wars. In 1860 it was annexed together with Marche and Umbria in the Kingdom of Italy. Image:Ascoli01.jpg Image:Ascoli02.jpg

[edit] Main sights

The central historical part of the city is built in marble called travertino, a grey hued stoned extracted from the surrounding mountains. Its central Renaissance square, Piazza del Popolo ("Square of the People") is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. According to the traditions, Ascoli Piceno was home to more than two hundred towers in the Middle Ages: today some fifty can still be seen.

Main sights include:

[edit] Churches and convents

• The Cathedral of Sant'Emidio
• The Gothic-style church of St. Francis (begun in 1258). The dome was completed in 1549. In the side portal is the monument to Pope Julius II, while the central portal is one of the most fine example of local travertine decoration. Annexed to the church is the 16th century Loggia dei Mercanti, in Bramantesque style.
• The Romanesque San Vittore (known from 996) with an essential façade and a low bell tower.
• St. Augustinus (14th century). Built with a single nave, was enlarged with two aisles in the late 15th century. The rectangular façade has a 1547 portal similar to that of St. Emidio. The convent houses the Towns Library, the Contemporary Art Gallery and an auditorium.
• The convent of San Domenico, now a school, has a Renaissance cloister with 17th century frescoes.
• St. Peter Martyr (13th century), with a 1523 side portal by Cola d'Amatrice. The interior contains the precious reliquiary of the Holy Thorn, a gift of Philip IV of France.
• San Tommaso (1069), housing numerous art works and built with parts from the neighbouring Roman amphitheater.
• The Franciscan convent, of which two noteworthy cloisters remain today. It was once a prestigious center of culture, whose students included Pope Sixtus V.

• The Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo ("Palace of the People's Captains"). Built in the 13th century connecting three pre-existing edifices, it was the seat of the podestà, the people's captains and, later, the Papal governors. In the 15th century the southern side was enlarged, and, in 1520, a Mannerist façade was added in the rear side. In 1535 it went under a general renovation, and in 1549 a new portal, with a monument of Pope Paul III, was added.

[edit] Other buildings

• Roman Bridge
• Lombard Palace and the Ercolani Tower (11th-12th centuries)
• Fortezza Pia, a fortress commanding the city rebuilt in 1560 by Pope Pius IV (whence the name).
• Malatesta Fortress, in a site probably occupied by Roman baths. It was rebuilt by Galeotto Malatesta, lord of Rimini, during the war against Fermo. The construction, used as a jail until 1978, was enlarged by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger in 1543.

In Castel Trosino, not far from the city, in 1893 a rare example of 6th century Lombard necropolis was found.

[edit] Economy

Recent industrialization brought to Ascoli several Italian and multinational companies (YKK, Manuli, Pfizer, Barilla) but the bulk of the economy is made up of small and medium sized enterprises and by those providing professional services to the area. Agriculture is still important (wheat, olives, fruits).

[edit] Culture & Sport

The main festivity is on the first Sunday in August. The historical parade with more than 900 people dressed in Renaissance costume is held in celebration of Saint Emidio, protector of the city. The parade is followed by a tournament, called Quintana, in which six knights, each one competing for one of the six neighborhoods in the city, ride the course one after the other trying to hit an effigy of an Arab warrior. Strength and ability are necessary for the knight to win the palio or the grand prize.

The town is also home to Ascoli Calcio, currently in the Serie A.

[edit] Fractions

Bivio Giustimana, Campolungo-villa sant'Antonio, Caprignano, Carpineto, Casa circondariale, Casalena, Casamurana, Case di Cioccio, Casette, Castel di Lama stazione, Castel Trosino, Cervara, Colle, Colle san Marco, Colloto, Colonna, Colonnata, Faiano, Funti, Giustimana, Il Palazzo, Lago, Lisciano, Lisciano di Colloto, Montadamo, Morignano, Mozzano, Oleificio Panichi, Palombare, Pedana, Piagge, Pianaccerro, Poggio di Bretta, Polesio, Ponte Pedana, Porchiano, Rosara, San Pietro, Santa Maria a Corte, Talvacchia, Taverna di mezzo, Trivigliano-villa Pagani, Tronzano, Valle Fiorana, Valle Senzana, Valli, Vena piccola, Venagrande, Villa S. Antonio.

[edit] Twin cities

• Image:Flag of France.svg - Massy, France, since 1997 by mayor Roberto Allevi for Ascoli Piceno and mayor Vincent Delahaye for Massy.
• Image:Flag of Germany.svg - Trier, Germany, since 1958 by mayor Serafino Orlini for Ascoli Piceno and mayor Heinrich Raskin for Trier

[edit] See also

• Asculum

[edit] External links

• Official comune site

bg:Асколи Пичено

ca:Ascoli Piceno de:Ascoli Piceno es:Ascoli Piceno eo:Ascoli Piceno fr:Ascoli Piceno gl:Ascoli Piceno id:Ascoli Piceno it:Ascoli Piceno nl:Ascoli Piceno (stad) ja:アスコリ・ピチェーノ nap:Ascoli Piceno no:Ascoli Piceno pl:Ascoli Piceno pt:Ascoli Piceno ro:Ascoli Piceno ru:Асколи-Пичено simple:Ascoli Piceno sv:Ascoli Piceno