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

From  Largo Speranza, we go in a south easterly direction. Crossing Viale G. Leopardi, to the right, between the rows of trees that line the Belvedere of the Piceno, we leave behind us the “Porta di Monte Antico” (Ancient Mount City Gate), one of the main towers of the city walls of Ripatransone, which rise among century-old pine trees of extraordinary beauty.
At the height of the “Croce” (Cross) lies a small pine forest that overlooks the road which surrounds Ripatransone, and to the left we enter the  Viale dei Cappuccini. Partiamo da Largo Speranza e prendiamo per sud est: attraversando viale G. Leopardi, sulla destra, tra i filari di alberi che costeggiano il Belvedere del Piceno, ci lasciamo alle spalle la “Porta di Monte Antico”, uno dei torrioni principali delle mura di cinta ripane che si erge fra pini centenari, di straordinaria bellezza.
All’altezza della “Croce”, una piccola pineta che si affaccia sulla circonvallazione ripana, imbocchiamo, a sinistra, il viale dei Cappuccini.

Below the road, to the left, we find the so called “Selva dei Frati” (Woods of the Monks), once entirely fenced off because boars wandered onto the road.  Today it is used as an adventure park for both children and adults. Through a new network of paths that lead to the fascinating courtyard of the  Teatro delle Fonti (Theater of Fountains), one can admire the various species of fauna and vegetation present in this area.
At the end of the street, near the civic Cemetery, is the Church of Santa Croce (Sacred Cross), reconstructed in the year 1800 upon the ruins of an edifice dating back to the sixteenth century and enriched with works of art dating up to the past century. Continuing along the narrow street that borders the cemetery, we reach the small industrial area, where furniture factories and sawmills are located. 
At the intersection, going right, we head down the hill, admiring the charming scenery, which opens  before us: a vast view of the countryside of the Ripatransone region, delimited by the colors of the Adriatic sea. The road becomes ever more  steep: we continue for about one kilometer, until we reach “La Fontursia”, entirely immersed in the greenery of the vineyards that becomes an explosion of warm colors during the fall. The quaint valley, which takes its name from an ancient Roman  fountain, is ideal for organic cultivation. The farm “La Fontursia” distinguishes itself by its production of apples, extra virgin olive oil, and wines such as those of the “Crivellino” line: the Offida Pecorino Doc, the Rosso Piceno Doc, and the Offida Passerina Vin Santo.
Beyond the farm, the road becomes more difficult, yet it offers extraordinary glimpses of landscape over the hilltop villages  of the Piceno region, overlooking the Adriatic sea. To visit them, we want to take leisurely walks. Returning onto the Cuprense road, and proceeding towards Grottammare, we reach the locality of Petrella, where a small ancient frescoed church stands.  One of these frescos can now be admired in the municipal Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery).
Unfortunately, in the past year, the thriving vegetation along this road was seriously damaged by fires of suspicious origin.

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

Add your comment