Things to Do and See in Fermo

Fermo, the capital of the province of the same name, is an ancient Roman colony, home to numerous castles and important monuments worth visiting, starting with Piazza del Popolo, a stunning Renaissance setting that serves as the backdrop for one of the city’s most important events: the Cavalcata dell’Assunta, held every August 15—Italy’s oldest Palio, with its first edition dating back to 1182. The most prominent building in Piazza del Popolo is the Palazzo dei Priori, home to City Hall, the Civic Art Gallery, the Library, and the Sala del Mappamondo. Equally interesting is Piazzale del Girifalco, the city’s vantage point, where you can admire the silhouettes of the Sibillini Mountains and the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. Scattered throughout the rest of the province are archaeological remains from the Piceni and Romans, magnificent abbeys, isolated parish churches, medieval towers, and noble palaces; In Grottazzolina and Belmonte, the Piceni established a center for amber processing, leaving behind the splendid “Lord of the Horses” brooch. Roman ruins can be found at Fermo le Cisterne, Falerone, and Monte Rinaldo, where a Hellenistic temple is located. Along the coast, highlights include Porto Sant’Elpidio, the Art Nouveau promenade of Porto San Giorgio, the pebbly shores of Marina Palmense and Marina di Altidona, and the coves of Pedaso. Perched on the promontory is the village of Torre di Palme, originally a fortification and later an urban settlement clustered around churches and convents, offering an enchanting view of the sea.