Comune di Ascoli Piceno
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Marche
Province	Ascoli Piceno (AP)
Mayor	Piero Celani
Elevation	154 m
Area	160 km²
Population
- Total	50,135
- Density	313/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	42°51′N 13°35′E
Gentilic	Ascolani
Dialing code	0736
Postal code	63100
Frazioni	see list
Patron	Sant'Emidio
- Day	August 5
Website: www.comune.ascoli-piceno.it

Ascoli Piceno is a town in the Marche region, Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population, according to the 2001 census, is 50,135 inhabitants. Image File history File links Ascoli_Piceno-Stemma. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... The Regions of Italy were granted a degree of regional autonomy in the 1948 constitution, which states that the constitutions role is: to recognize, protect and promote local autonomy, to ensure that services at the State level are as decentralized as possible, and to adapt the principles and laws... This article is about the Italian region. ... In Italy, the province (in Italian: provincia) is an administrative division of an intermediate level, between municipality (comune) and region (Regione). ... Ascoli Piceno (It. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Central European Time (CET) is one of the names of the time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Central European Time West Africa Time British Summer Time* Irish Summer Time* Western European Summer Time* Category: ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Here are a list of area codes in Italy. ... A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other subdivisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere. ... Ascoli Piceno is a town in the Marche region, Italy, capital of the province of the same name. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... This article is about the Italian region. ...

Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli.

Image File history File linksMetadata Ascoli_Piceno. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ascoli_Piceno. ...

Geography

The town lays at the confluence of Tronto River with Castellano Creek and is surrounded on three sides by mountains. Two natural parks are located on the north-western flank (Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini) and on the south (Parco Nazionale dei Monti della Laga). Ascoli is well connected by railway to the Adriatic coast and the city of San Benedetto del Tronto and by highway to Rome and Porto d'Ascoli. The Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea separating the Apennine peninsula (Italy) from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges. ... San Benedetto del Tronto is a city in Marche, Italy, in the province of Ascoli Piceno. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1,500 km²  (580 sq mi...

History

Ascoli was founded by an Italic population (Sabini) several centuries before Rome on the important Via Salaria (Salaria Road) which connected Latium with the salt production area on the Adriatic coast. In 268 BC it became a civitas foederata, with nominal Independence from Rome. In 91 BC it revolted against Rome together with other cities in central Italy but in 89 BC was conquered and destroyed by Pompeius Strabo. It acquired anyway the Roman citizenship, following the developments and the eventual fall of the Roman Empire. Sabine (in Latin and in Italian, Sabina) is a sub-region of Latium, Italy, on the North-East of Rome toward Rieti. ... Via Salaria, an ancient Roman road in Italy, which eventually ran from Rome (from Porta Salaria of the Aurelian Walls) to Castrum Truentinum (Porto dAscoli) on the Adriatic coast, a distance of 242 km, via Reate (Rieti) and Asculum (Ascoli Piceno). ... Latium (Lazio in Italian) is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Marche, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea. ... Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo (died 87 BC), whose cognomen means Squinty, is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo to distinguish him from Strabo the geographer. ... The Roman Empire is the name given to both the imperial domain developed by the city-state of Rome and also the corresponding phase of that civilization, characterized by an autocratic form of government. ...

During the Middle Ages it was ravaged by the Ostrogoths and then by the Lombards of King Faroald (578). After nearly two centuries as part of the Lombar Duchy of Spoleto (593-789), Ascoli was ruled by the Franks through their vicars, but ultimately it was the Roman Catholic Church Bishops to gain influence and power inside the city. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... This article deals with the continental Ostrogoths. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... Faroald I (also spelled Faruald) (died 591 or 592) was the first duke of Spoleto from about 570. ... Events Tiberius II Constantine succeeds Justin II as Byzantine Emperor Births Deaths July 30 - Jacob Baradaeus, bishop of Edessa October 5 - Justin II, Roman emperor Northern Zhou Wu Di, Chinese ruler John Malalas, Byzantine chronicler Categories: 578 ... The independent Duchy of Spoleto was a Lombard territory founded about 570 in southern Italy by the Lombard dux Faroald. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins and sees itself as the same Church founded by Jesus and maintained through Apostolic Succession from the Twelve Apostles. ... Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is commonly known, is a private school situated in the leafy suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa, at the foot of Table Mountain. ...

In 1189 a free republican municipality was established but internal strifes led dramatically to the demise of civic values and freedom and to unfortunate ventures against neighbouring enemies. This uncertain situation opened the path to foreign dictatorships, like those of Galeotto Malatesta (14th century), initially called as condottiero in the war against Fermo, and Francesco Sforza. Events January 21 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade September 3- Richard I of England is crowned as king of England. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state or country that is led by people whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... Condottieri (singular condottiero) were mercenary leaders employed by Italian city-states from the late Middle Ages until the mid-sixteenth century. ... Fermo (ancient: Firmum Picenum) is a town and archiepiscopal see of the Marche, Italy, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, on a hill with a fine view, 1046 ft. ... Portrait of Francesco Sforza, ca 1460, by Bonifazio Bembo: Sforza insisted on being shown in his worn dirty old campaigning hat. ...

The latter was ousted in 1482, but Ascoli was compelled to submit again to the Papal suzerainty. Ascoli followed then almost two centuries of cultural, economic stagnation, turning into a small agricultural centre until the Napoleonic wars. In 1860 it was annexed together with Marche and Umbria in the Kingdom of Italy. Events Portuguese fortify Fort Elmina on the Gold Coast Tizoc rules the Aztecs Diogo Cão, a Portuguese navigator, becomes the first European to sail up the Congo. ... Map of the Papal States. ... This article is about the Italian region. ... Umbria is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany to the west, the Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. ...

Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo.

The church of St. Francis in Piazza del Popolo.

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 519 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ascoli Piceno ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 519 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ascoli Piceno ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 508 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ascoli Piceno ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 508 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ascoli Piceno ...

Main sights

The central historical part of the city is built in marble called travertino, a grey hued stoned extracted from the surrounding mountains. Its central Renaissance square, Piazza del Popolo ("Square of the People") is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. According to the traditions, Ascoli Piceno was home to more than two hundred towers in the Middle Ages: today some fifty can still be seen. Travertine A carving in travertine The rock travertine is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to or primary calcite; which is deposited from the water of mineral springs (especially hot springs) or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. ...

Main sights include:

Churches and convents

• The Cathedral of Sant'Emidio.
• The Gothic-style church of St. Francis (begun in 1258). The dome was completed in 1549. In the side portal is the monument to Pope Julius II, while the central portal is one of the most fine example of local travertine decoration. Annexed to the church is the 16th century Loggia dei Mercanti, in Bramantesque style.
• The Romanesque San Vittore (known from 996) with an essential façade and a low bell tower.
• St. Augustinus (14th century). Built with a single nave, was enlarged with two aisles in the late 15th century. The rectangular façade has a 1547 portal similar to that of St. Emidio. The convent houses the Towns Library, the Contemporary Art Gallery and an auditorium.
• The convent of San Domenico, now a school, has a Renaissance cloister with 17th century frescoes.
• St. Peter Martyr (13th century), with a 1523 side portal by Cola d'Amatrice. The interior contains the precious reliquiary of the Holy Thorn, a gift of Philip IV of France.
• San Tommaso (1069), housing numerous art works and built with parts from the neighbouring Roman amphitheater.
• The Franciscan convent, of which two noteworthy cloisters remain today. It was once a prestigious center of culture, whose students included Pope Sixtus V.

• The Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo ("Palace of the People's Captains"). Built in the 13th century connecting three pre-existing edifices, it was the seat of the podestà, the people's captains and, later, the Papal governors. In the 15th century the southern side was enlarged, and, in 1520, a Mannerist façade was added in the rear side. In 1535 it went under a general renovation, and in 1549 a new portal, with a monument of Pope Paul III, was added.

Julius II, born Giuliano della Rovere (December 5, 1443 – February 21, 1513), was Pope from 1503 to 1513. ... Donato Bramante Donato Bramante (1444 - March 11, 1514), Italian architect, who introduced the Early Renaissance style to Milan and the High Renaissance style to Rome, where his most famous design was St. ... Philip IV the Fair (French: Philippe IV le Bel) (1268 – November 29, 1314) was King of France from 1285 until his death. ... Sixtus V, né Felice Peretti (December 13, 1521 - August 27, 1590) was pope from 1585 to 1590. ... The Palace of the Podestà in Florence, known as the Palazzo Vecchio or the Palazzo della Signoria Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later middle ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state (like otherwise styled counterparts in other cities... Pope Paul III (February 29, 1468 – November 10, 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope from 1534 to 1549. ...

Other buildings

• Roman Bridge.
• Lombard Palace and the Ercolani Tower (11th-12th centuries).
• Fortezza Pia, a fortress commanding the city rebuilt in 1560 by Pope Pius IV (whence the name).
• Malatesta Fortress, in a site probably occupied by Roman baths. It was rebuilt by Galeotto Malatesta, lord of Rimini, during the war against Fermo. The construction, used as a jail until 1978, was enlarged by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger in 1543.

In Castel Trosino, not far from the city, in 1893 a rare example of 6th century Lombard necropolis was found. Pius IV, né Giovanni Angelo Medici (March 31, 1499 – December 9, 1565), pope from 1559 to 1565, was born of humble parentage in Milan, unrelated with the Medicis of Florence. ... Fermo (ancient: Firmum Picenum) is a town and archiepiscopal see of the Marche, Italy, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, on a hill with a fine view, 1046 ft. ... Antonio da Sangallo the Younger (or Antonio Cordiani) (April 12, 1484 - August 3, 1546) was a Florentine architect active during the Italian Renaissance. ... // Events February 21 - Battle of Wayna Daga - A combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeat the armies of Adal led by Ahmed Gragn. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... View of the Etruscan necropolis of Banditaccia, in Cerveteri, Italy. ...

Economy

Recent industrialization brought to Ascoli several Italian and multinational companies (YKK, Manuli, Pfizer, Barilla) but the bulk of the economy is made up of small and medium sized enterprises and by those providing professional services to the area. Agriculture is still important (wheat, olives, fruits). YKK logo with one of its divisions The YKK Group ) is a Japanese group of manufacturing companies. ... Pfizer, Incorporated (NYSE: PFE) (pronounced faɪzəɹ or faɪzə), is the worlds largest pharmaceutical company. ... Logo Barilla S.p. ...

Culture and sport

The main festivity is on the first Sunday in August. The historical parade with more than 900 people dressed in Renaissance costume is held in celebration of Saint Emidio, protector of the city. The parade is followed by a tournament, called Quintana, in which six knights, each one competing for one of the six neighborhoods in the city, ride the course one after the other trying to hit an effigy of an Arab warrior. Strength and ability are necessary for the knight to win the palio or the grand prize.

The town is also home to Ascoli Calcio, currently in the Serie A. Ascoli Calcio 1898 is an Italian football club based in Ascoli Piceno, Marche. ... Serie A is the top division of the Italian Football League, the highest football league in Italy. ...

Frazioni

Bivio Giustimana, Campolungo-villa sant'Antonio, Caprignano, Carpineto, Casa circondariale, Casalena, Casamurana, Case di Cioccio, Casette, Castel di Lama stazione, Castel Trosino, Cervara, Colle, Colle san Marco, Colloto, Colonna, Colonnata, Faiano, Funti, Giustimana, Il Palazzo, Lago, Lisciano, Lisciano di Colloto, Montadamo, Morignano, Mozzano, Oleificio Panichi, Palombare, Pedana, Piagge, Pianaccerro, Poggio di Bretta, Polesio, Ponte Pedana, Porchiano, Rosara, San Pietro, Santa Maria a Corte, Talvacchia, Taverna di mezzo, Trivigliano-villa Pagani, Tronzano, Valle Fiorana, Valle Senzana, Valli, Vena piccola, Venagrande, Villa S. Antonio. A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other subdivisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere. ...

Twin cities

• Massy, France, since 1997,by mayor Roberto Allevi for Ascoli Piceno and mayor Vincent Delahaye for Massy.
• Trier, Germany, since 1958,by mayor Serafino Orlini for Ascoli Piceno and mayor Heinrich Raskin for Trier

Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Massy is one of the larger towns in département 91 Essonne. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The city of Trier (Latin: Augusta Treverorum; French: ; Luxembourgish Tréier; Italian: ; Spanish: ) is situated on the western bank of the Moselle River in a valley between low vine-covered hills of ruddy sandstone. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Asculum

The Battle of Asculum took place in 279 BC between the Romans under the command of consul Publius Decius P.f. ...

External links

• Official comune site

Marche · Communes of the province of Ascoli Piceno

Acquasanta Terme | Acquaviva Picena | Altidona | Amandola | Appignano del Tronto | Arquata del Tronto | Ascoli Piceno | Belmonte Piceno | Campofilone | Carassai | Castel di Lama | Castignano | Castorano | Colli del Tronto | Comunanza | Cossignano | Cupra Marittima | Falerone | Fermo | Folignano | Force | Francavilla d'Ete | Grottammare | Grottazzolina | Lapedona | Magliano di Tenna | Maltignano | Massa Fermana | Massignano | Monsampietro Morico | Monsampolo del Tronto | Montalto delle Marche | Montappone | Montedinove | Monte Giberto | Monte Rinaldo | Monte San Pietrangeli | Monte Urano | Monte Vidon Combatte | Monte Vidon Corrado | Montefalcone Appennino | Montefiore dell'Aso | Montefortino | Montegallo | Montegiorgio | Montegranaro | Monteleone di Fermo | Montelparo | Montemonaco | Monteprandone | Monterubbiano | Montottone | Moresco | Offida | Ortezzano | Palmiano | Pedaso | Petritoli | Ponzano di Fermo | Porto San Giorgio | Porto Sant'Elpidio | Rapagnano | Ripatransone | Roccafluvione | Rotella | San Benedetto del Tronto | Sant'Elpidio a Mare | Santa Vittoria in Matenano | Servigliano | Smerillo | Spinetoli | Torre San Patrizio | Venarotta