I have visited Ascoli Piceno twice.  The first time was on the road trip with Liane after we left the school in Castelraimondo.

Ascoli Piceno is a town and a commune in Le Marche region of Italy.

The town lies at the confluence of the Tronto River and the small river Castellano and is surrounded on three sides by mountains. Two natural parks border the town, one on the northwestern flank Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini and the other on the southern  Parco Nazionale dei Monti della Laga.

We stopped for coffee in Piazza del Popolo (“Square of the People”) . Piazza del Popolo is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Italy. It is a pleasure to sit in one of the many cafes around the square and people watch.

The central historical part of the city is built in marble called travertine,  a grey-hued stone extracted from the surrounding mountains.

Ascoli has good rail connections to the Adriatic coast and the city of San Benedetto del Tronto, by highway to Porto d’Ascoli and by the Italian National Road 4 Salaria  to Rome.

Everything inside the fortified town can be reached on foot.  There is a tourist office on the ground floor of the Palazzo dei capitani in the Piazza del Popolo where they will explain to you where to walk to and what to see.

One year later, while staying  in the house in Pievebovigliana, our friends Malcolm and Maureen took us to Caldorola, Sarnano, Amondola and then Ascoli Piceno. We arrived in time for an hour or so of exploring and then lunch at the Café Vittoria where I enjoyed the most superb salmon pasta.

Then for some more exploring till early evening before driving back to Sarnano.

Ascoli Piceno is a small town, well worth seeing as it is lovely! We had a great time here,  we enjoyed the magic of the place and the architecture is amazing.  There are many chic restaurants and cafes.