Travelcast Piceno - Audio & Video Guide per la Provincia di Ascoli Piceno

When the Teatro La Fenice, or Phoenix Theater, was built, it occupied the space in the Palazzo del Podestà of Amandola, which was originally the structure of Castel Leone. This history is not evident visible on the facade of the theater. However we can see one  of the more significant traces at the back of the building.

The tower we see today was built in the middle of the 14th century and has undergone restorations throughout its history. During the 18th century, the clock was installed here, after having previously been located on the tower of the church of San Francesco.
Piazza Umberto I, also known as Piazza Alta, or the High Square, continues its traditional function as a gathering space which begin in the Middle Ages. Here, one may find the public gardens that function as an extraordinary balcony with a view of the Sybilline mountain chain.
The closer peak on the right is that of Mount Amandola which is near the peak of Mount Priora.  In the deep and forested valley between these two mountains is the source of the stream called “Ambro” ,  a tributary of the river Tenna.  On the southern flank of Mount Priora, one can find the hermitage or “priory” of Saint Leonard from which the mountain probably takes its name. The hermitage belonged to the Order of Camaldolesi Brothers which was governed by a priory. The peak of Mount Priora takes the name of “Pizzo della Regina”( Queeen’s Peak). The hermitage of Saint Leonard is located above the “Gola dell’Infernaccio” (Infernaccio Gorge) which separates Mount Priora from mount Sybilla. The gorge is particularly interesting because it allows close observation of the geological strata that make up this mountain, helping visitors to read its history.
The peak of Mount Sybilla, when visible, is easily recognizable.  When weather conditions favor visibility, the mountain seems to have been crowned, almost rendering it noble. A little below the crown one can find the entrance to the grotto of the Sybil, about which much has been written by Italian, French and German writers and travelers, attracted by the myth of the prophetess. Today, the entrance to the grotto is obstructed by a landslide which resulted from a clumsy and  ill-considered attempt to conduct research.
The last mountain to the south is Mount Vettore, which at  2476 meters is the highest of the Sybilline mountains.  Immediately below its peak, there is a U-shaped valley which has been deeply carved by glacial movement. In the interior of this valley is the Lago di Pilato.   Shape like a pair of eyeglasses, this small lake is the only glacial lake in the entire Appennine range. This glacial lake has no tributaries and thus no streams of water entering into or exiting from it. The small shrimp-like creature “Chirocefalo del Marchesoni”, named after its discoverer, lives exclusively in the glacial waters, but its habitat is becoming endangered by climate change.
From the public gardens, it is possible to return to the lower part of Amandola through the cobbled lanes of this medieval town.

Users' Comments (0) Comment language: English (0), Italian (0)

Add your comment