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

Just outside of Ripatransone we find the Hotel Romano, at the intersection of the Cuprense country road and the San Rustico road. Travelling along the latter road can often be disturbing because of its precipices, yet, it is due to the spectacular topography that the trip will be highly memorable. 
After a few hundred meters, the renowned Calanchi Marchigiani (Badlands of the Marche region) capture the visitor’s attention. The badlands are marked by  enormous ridges scarred by deep crevices caused by severe atmospheric conditions. Typical of hillside regions in  areas with violent and intense rainfall, these strange land formations profoundly characterize this territory.  Composed mostly of clay, and almost entirely devoid of vegetation, the badlands are the result of the double action of erosion and the movements of the earth’s crust.Appena fuori Ripatransone si trova l'Hotel Romano, al bivio tra la strada provinciale Cuprense e quella di San Rustico. Quest'ultima mette spesso soggezione per i suoi  dirupi, eppure proprio per questa sua particolarità rimane impressa negli occhi. Dopo poche centinaia di metri, infatti, si impongono all’attenzione dei visitatori i celebri calanchi marchigiani, enormi costoni segnati da profonde incanalature dovute ai forti eventi atmosferici. Tipici delle zone collinari, in luoghi con precipitazioni violente e intense, queste strane morfologie del terreno caratterizzano profondamente il territorio: formati prevalentemente d’argilla e privi quasi del tutto di vegetazione, i calanchi sono il risultato della doppia azione dell’acqua piovana e dei movimenti della crosta terrestre.

The San Rustico road leads onto the Valtesino country road. In the direction of  Grottammare, we come across one of the hamlets that is experiencing tremendous growth. Its green nurseries, which have distinguished this area for years, are increasingly asserting themselves as traditional businesses on an industrial scale, yet always with respect for the environment and their agricultural origins.
Following this long, straight road lined by cultivated fields and several houses, we reach the  Chiesa della Madonna di Fatima (Church of Our Lady of Fatima), the symbolic core of the area. Just three-hundred meters after the church, we turn right towards the Colle di Guardia (Guardia Hill): this is an excellent observation point for the entire surrounding landscape. Here we’ve come to Villa Belsito, a prestigious Country House, which is reached by driving up the hill for about 800 meters along a very curvy, narrow road. The farm next to the structure works its land according to the principles of organic agriculture, and produces fruit juices, jams, oil, and wine.
Continuing on the white road up to the summit of the Colle di Guardia, we can enjoy a panorama that reveals the vastness of the territory surrounding Ripatransone.   The town appears at the top of the opposite hill, towering above the territory.
From this elevated point, we can view  the  Rocca di Acquaviva Picena (Fortress of Acquaviva Picena) and the Vallata del Tronto (Tronto Valley), before rejoining  the Strada Provinciale del Rosso Piceno (Rosso Piceno country road) through the hamlet of San Savino.
Under the summit of the Colle di Guardia lies the small Damiani winery, characterized by its traditional production of crisp, new red and white wines from vineyards that overlook the Albula river, in the direction of San Benedetto del Tronto.

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