The Piceno

The Piceno, where “Villa Contessina” is located and from which it draws lymph and inspirations, fascinates more than a century, tourists from all over the world, some of whom are already lucky enough to discover the treasures that hide in their hills.

Waiting to guide you during your stay from us, we begin today with a virtual journey, making you to discover the locations of: Cupra Marittima, Massignano and Montefiore dell’Aso.

Cupra Marittima is the northern most resort of the Palm-lined Riviera(Riviera delle Palme), and we meet it after Grottammare on the coast. Called by ancient “Marano”, according to the legend has its name to the “Dea Cupra” (Goddess Cupra), a deity adored the romans.

Mariano survives today in the toponymy of the medieval engraved, which is the high and ancient part of the country.

Not to miss a visit to the “malacolic museum”, located on the Adriatic state and born  in 1977 by a collection of Cossignani brothers: according to the some scholars, it’s the largest collection of shells in the world.

Enthusiasts will spend hours in the immense “archaeological park” (parco archeologico), an area of 32 hectares where you can see the traces of the urban district of ancient Rome, and which includes the Villa with Ninfeo, a IV century structure with a thermal building and with imperial mosaicism.

Massignano, small common at 250 meters above sea level, it’s jut 5 km from Cupra Marittima. A charming medieval houses is the old town with two doors opening into the central square, dominated by the civic tower and the municipal building.

Is calling “U paese de li cuccià” for the historic local tradition of sounding ceramic and smoking. Its main attraction is the “museum of pipes and whistles” shich collects the works of potters and folks craft.

Continuing inward, we meet Montefiore dell’Aso, village situated on the hill that divides the valleys of the river Aso and of Menocchia. Montefiore it’s the homeland of “Adolfo De Carolis”, illustrious engraver and painter who collaborated with Gabriele D’Annunzio e Giovanni Pascoli.

To see: De Carolis Museum, and San Francesco museal pole, in particular the Crivelli room, where you can see the triptych of Montefiore, composed of remaining panels painted by the same painter Crivelli. Also worthy of note is the “centre of documentary work” by Gianfrancesco Basili, who instead hosts scene of Italian author’s films, such as “the little masters” of Lucchetti, “nirvana” of Salvadores, “ the room of his son and palombella” of Nanni Moretti.

For today we have full of history, beauty and art, is now to rest a while and return to “Villa Contessina” to enjoy the deserved and relaxation.

See you !