Photo by Peter Forster. Grottammare is a town in the province of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region. The inhabited center is located along the coast on the slopes of the nearby hills where we find the ancient medieval village , which is part of the most beautiful villages in Italy, and in order not to miss anything, its beach is classified with the Blue Flag . Grottammare has very ancient origins, even traces of a Picena necropolis have been found in its territory. Among its narrow streets you can pleasantly get lost, they are lined and characterized by structures that have undergone careful restoration and redevelopment.
Here ‘s what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening in Grottammare !
What to see in Grottammare
1 – Church of Santa Lucia
Photo by Ra Boe / Wikipedia. It was built at the behest of Pope Sixtus V, Felice Peretti, who was born on 13 December, the day in which Saint Lucia is celebrated. It is located right next to his birthplace and the Orange Theater. The church has an imposing architectural structure , with its facade characterizing the foreshortening of the old embanked . His style can be defined sober and essential, inspired by the principles of Tridentine architecture. Above the portal it is possible to see the papal coat of arms of Sixtus V, that is the rampant lion that holds a pear branch, surmounted by the papal symbols of the decussate keys and the tiara.
- How to get there: on foot from Piazza Peretti in 2 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: Sunday and public holidays 8: 30-12: 00 on the occasion of masses
- Ticket cost: free
2 – Church of San Giovanni Battista
Entering the narrow streets of the village you come across this church, which houses the Sistine Museum with the objects left in inheritance by the Pontiff in his country of origin. One of these is the chalice for liturgical celebrations, it is the most important work and is kept in a reliquary located at the end of the nave. On the work you can read “F. FELIX PERETTVS DE MAEP.S.AGAT.”, From which we understand that it is an object dating back to the years in which the prelate held the episcopal office in Sant’Agata dei Goti.
- How to get there: it is located in Piazza Peretti – Get directions
- Hours: 9.30pm-11.30pm in the summer
- Ticket cost: free
3 – Teatro dell’Arancio
Photo by Peter Forster. This theater dates back to the eighteenth century, and exactly in a niche of the facade it is possible to see a statue of Pope Sixtus V made in 1794 by a Swiss sculptor, below the statue you can read “SISTO V POM CIVI MUNIFCENTISSIMO”, an inscription that underlines the link between the pope and his native land. The theater owes its name to the luxuriant plant that was located in the center of the square in front, Piazza Peretti, guarded by a representative of the municipality chosen every year among the families of the town, who received as compensation the exemption from the municipal tax on domestic fires. From this area of ​​Grottammare it is possible to admire the breathtaking view of the sea .
- How to get there: it is located in Piazza Peretti – Get directions
- Hours: the theater is accessible only for shows
4 – Boy with seagulls
This bronze exhibition marks the beginning of the Fazziniano itinerary, which leads to the acquaintance of the sculptor Pericle Fazzini, born on 4 May 1913 in Grottammare, through various stages. The “Boy with the Seagulls” is found along the cycle-pedestrian path that connects Cupra Marittima to Grottammare. But what strikes most of all of this exact point is the panorama that can be admired, especially during the sunset and really suggestive .
- How to get there: from Piazza Peretti and reachable on foot in about 20 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
5 – The Metamorphosis
This is another exhibition of the itinerary to discover Fazzini, the sculpture is located in the centerand is dedicated to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It was personally commissioned by her wife who, passionate about art and books, was a pupil and great admirer of the famous sculptor to whom I commissioned in 1964 the project of a sculpture that celebrated the figure of her husband murdered the year before her. The first lady visited the studio in person on February 2, 1966. Unfortunately, the work was never completed and Fazzini decided to donate it to the city of Grottammare, which since 1984 has hosted it in the center of the square dedicated to him. In this bronze block, now recently restored, it is possible to see the profile of the American president standing in front of the sculpture facing Corso Mazzini.
- How to get there: on foot from Piazza Peretti in 10 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
6 – Church of Sant’Agostino
The church is located on the steep road that leads from the marina to the ancient village. The structure of the church dates back to the sixteenth century and preserves the fresco of the Madonna della Misericordia by the painter Vincenzo Pagani. It also has a severed bell tower which, according to local tradition, was reduced in this way because the Augustinian monk Martin Luther was hosted in the convent attached to the church during his journey to Rome, before the great schism.
- How to get there: on foot from Piazza Peretti in 5 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: on holidays 8: 30-10: 30 and on weekdays 18: 00-20: 00 on the occasion of masses
- Ticket cost: free
7 – Via Cristoforo Colombo
Photo by Luigi936. It is the waterfront. For lovers of the Liberty style , it is the ideal place to admire the buildings built between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Today the avenue is characterized by a porphyry and Carrara marble flooring, the floor designs resume the decorative tradition of the 1920s and a series of palm trees make the avenue cool and shady during the hot summers, think that the palms were imported from the Canaries in the early decades of the twentieth century. The typical villas that deserve a stop are the Matricardi-Cola , dating back to 1913, and the Kursaal , famous for being one of the most prestigious nightclubs on the entire Adriatic coast, todayit houses the Museum of Comic Illustration .
But remember that Grottammare is recognized with the Blue Flag and therefore how can you not linger on the beautiful beach, full of establishments and restaurants overlooking the sea .
- How to get there: on foot from Piazza Peretti in 20 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: free
8 – Parish of St. Pius V
The parish is located in the center, here the Hungarian composer, pianist and organist Franz Liszt went to mass and played the Callido organ astounding all present, staying in Grottammare in the distant 1868. The typology of the facade and inspired by Roman churches , especially those of Jacopo Barozzi, while the square in front is adorned with a fountain built by the architect Murri in 1875 and a bronze statue of Pope Sixtus V by the sculptor Aldo Sergiacomi.
- How to get there: on foot in 10 minutes from Piazza Peretti – Get directions
- Hours: 7 am-8pm
- Ticket cost: free
9 – Museum of Comic Illustration
The museum houses a permanent exhibition of comic-satirical drawings and comics with original works by some of the best known Italian cartoonists and illustrators. The building where the museum stands today was in the past a very famous disco, has about three hundred works and the “humor art” section is one of the most important and best known, and created with the collaboration and artistic direction of the television journalist Vincenzo Mollica. In it graphic illustrators such as Manara, Liberatore, Echaurren, Matticchio, Ro Mercenaro, Sergio Staino, Cicar were invited to present drawings dedicated to prestigious artists from the world of entertainment and culture. Over the years the review has been dedicated to Toto, Massimo Troisi, in 1997 to Roberto Benigni, while in 1999 the tribute was paid to the singer-songwriter Fabrizio De Andre.
- How to get there: on foot from Piazza Peretti in 15 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: Hours may vary from season to season each year
- Ticket cost: free
10 – Il Tarpato Museum
The museum is dedicated to the works of the naive painter Giacomo Pomili known as “Il Tarpato”. His creation represents the culmination of a complex and tiring recovery path of the old hiding place, the museum in fact completes the redevelopment and enhancement of the monumental complex of Piazza Peretti . After its abandonment it returned to its splendor, renewed through culture. Inside the museum you get to know Giacomo Pomili’s inspiration, through five thematic rooms dedicated to his debut works, painted legends, religious canvases, paintings dominated by female figures and the landscape.
- How to get there: in Piazza Peretti – Get directions
- Hours: Hours may vary from season to season each year
- Ticket cost: free
Grottammare itinerary in one day
Photo by Jacopo. Starting from the ancient village of the town, in the morning you can have breakfast at La Cave Fleurie and then stop in the two main churches of the Marche town, namely the Church of Sant’Agostino and the Church of Santa Lucia . The only thing to pay attention to are the hours, they are not always open, you can take the opportunity to visit them inside during masses. Another stop to do is the Il Tarpato museum , dedicated to the works of the painter Giacomo Pomili.
For lunch, stop at the Borgo Antico restaurant, and then go down to the city center, in particular in the square dedicated to Fazzini where you can see his work Di lui La Metamorphosis. A few steps away you can visit the parish of San Pio V and then continue towards the seafront, in Via Cristoforo Colombo with its free beach, and then dedicate a visit to the beautiful and renowned Museum of Comic Illustration .
For dinner we recommend the Ciaschi Restaurant, located on the seafront.
One day itinerary at a glance
- Breakfast at La Cave Fleurie
- Church of Sant’Agostino (8: 30-10: 30; weekdays 18: 00-20: 00 during mass, free)
- Church of Santa Lucia (8: 30-12: 00, free)
- Il Tarpato Museum (times vary according to season, free)
- Lunch at Borgo Antico restaurant
- The Metamorphosis
- Parish of San Pio V (7: 00-20: 00, free)
- Via Cristoforo Colombo promenade and beach (always accessible, free)
- Museum of Comic Illustration (opening times vary according to season, free of charge)
- Dinner at Ristorante Ciaschi
Where to eat in Grottammare
- Borgo Antico Restaurant : creative dishes served in a romantic room with a terrace overlooking the sea amidst candlelight and upholstered chairs. Average price per person: € 30.00 Address and contacts: Via Santa Lucia, 2 (Get directions) / tel: 0735 634357
- Ciaschi Restaurant : typical fish restaurant located on the seafront, offering always varied and different fish menus according to the seasons and the catch. Average price per person: € 35.00 Address and contacts: Via Cristoforo Colombo, 18 (Get directions) / tel: 0735 735570
- Osteria dell’Arancio : menu from the Marche region in a romantic place with tables and retro furnishings reminiscent of a food emporium. Average price per person: € 30.00 Address and contacts: Piazza Peretti, 1 (Get directions) / tel: 0735 632214
- Penthouse on the Sea : sushi and Mediterranean fish-based dishes in an elegant space with a terrace overlooking the sea. Average price per person: € 40.00 Address and contacts: Piazza Kursaal, 6 (Get directions) / tel: 0735 736394
What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and the best clubs
Grottammare is an important seaside resort in the Marche region , and in the past one of the most important discos on the Adriatic coast was located in this town. Today the nightlife is very quiet but at the same time manages to entertain and to spend beautiful evenings in company. After spending the day visiting the town, we recommend some pubs open late where you can sip excellent craft beer or good wine.
- Osterix Pub : modest but welcoming pub on the Grottammare seafront, offers excellent beers and also excellent sandwiches / Address: Corso Giuseppe Mazzini, 70 (Get directions)
- Pub Dilla : the ideal place for lovers of craft beers / Address: Via Giacomo Leopardi, 10 (Get directions)
- Bar Osteria Infinito : place to taste good wine, local food or an aperitif / Address: Piazza Dante Alighieri, 3 (Get directions)
Plan your stay in Grottammare: info and useful tips
- How to get there: reachable from Ascoli Piceno in about 30 minutes via the RA11 towards San Benedetto del Tronto – Ancona. Alternatively, the town has a train station located near the city center
- How to get around : you can move comfortably on foot inside the town, in the ancient village and in the marina
- Where to park : the most convenient parking lot is near the train station, in the lower part of the town and ideal for those who reach the town by this means to leave the car to avoid running into steep and narrow streets
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 30.00 per room – see the offers
- What to see in the surrounding area : Acquaviva Picena (10 km), Cupra Marittima (4 km), Ripatransone (12 km), San Benedetto del Tronto (2 km)
