TO CLIMB THE TOWER OF THE SWABIAN CASTLE AND VISIT THE BENIAMINO GIGLI ARENA
The Swabian Castle is the symbol of the town, with its tower watching over the central square. Frederick II built the medieval castle to protect the inhabitants from the attacks of pirates and the Turks. On the first floor you can visit the Municipal Art Gallery where are displayed a number of works collected by Attilio Moroni, historic collector and local art lover. Climbing to the top of the castle tower you can admire the beauty of the sea and the rolling hills up to the Conero Mount. The courtyard behind the castle has become the Beniamino Gigli Arena, dedicated to the great tenor from Recanati, where many cultural events, mostly musical events, take place in summer.
A SEAFRONT PROMENADE AND SHOPPING ON CORSO MATTEOTTI
Porto Recanati has a fantastic waterfront car-free promenade, overlooked by the small typical colourful fishermen’ houses, that will remain imprinted in your memories thanks to the atmosphere and the aromas coming from the many small restaurants on summer evenings. Every Thursday there is a lively market and you will appreciate the goods for sale as well as the spontaneity of the locals. The road parallel to the sea is Corso Matteotti, the main downtown shopping, with its numerous shops always on-trend. It becomes the centre of the town’s nightlife in the summer evenings. Here you can find many places where to have a drink or taste a good ice cream with friends. We recommend you to visit also the “Borgo Marino” (Seaside Village), newly built in memory of the old colourful fishermen’ houses. Their bright and solar colours will remain imprinted in your heart for a long time. Already in spring, but especially in summer, Porto Recanati organizes several events: live concerts, village festivals, historical re-enactments, live performances and more. Here are some events not to be miss: the Pink Night, the fireworks on the sea on the 15th of August, the antique and handicraft market taking place every Sunday afternoon in July and August and the famous Palio of St. John (Palio di San Giovanni). It is a peculiar historical re-enactment linked to the maritime tradition, accompanied by parades of people in costume of the time. We are at the turn of 1900 and it is the end of a day of fishing. There are two “sciabbegotti”, a dialectical term indicating the fishermen who used the “sciabbega”, a word in local dialect indicating the boat they used to fish. The two sciabbegotti, after having selected the catch, put it into the “coffe” (wicker baskets) supported by sticks. The couple runs barefoot towards the market in order to get there first and sell the catch at a higher price. They take care not to lose valuable fish to sell in the street while running. The winner of the Palio is the couple that reach the market with more fish. Five-minute walk from the old town you can visit the Museum of the Sea, in the former Fish Market, that houses various finds related to the marine life of the fishing village.
TO ENJOY THE SPECTACLE OF FISHERMEN THROWING THE “SERRAGLIO” (A KIND OF FISHING NET)
The “serraglio” is a circular net launched by hand by the fishermen. At the mouth of river Potenza, where the currents are favourable for this type of fishing, you will find numerous fishermen who even today are constantly launching the net hoping to bring a good loot home. For all the sea lovers like us, it is nice to chat with local fishermen and discover the secrets of their culture. Another singular tradition is that of the baptisms of babies celebrated on the seashore during the Eucharistic celebration, on the 24th of June, the day when is celebrated St. John the Baptist, at 5 a.m.
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE “BARA DE NOTTE” (THE COFFIN AT NIGHT) ON GOOD FRIDAY
In the afternoon the celebration of Good Friday begins with “Tre Ore di Agonia” (Three Hours of Agony) at the end of which they free Christ from the cross and put him on the coffin set up in the previous four days. Then the procession starts, led by a large wooden cross with the instruments of Christ’s passion: the crown of thorns, the scourges, the sponge soaked in vinegar, the spear, dice and spikes. Twelve “sciabbegotti”, the same number as the apostles, carry the coffin and the faithful people follow the procession, singing and praying. A second cross is carried by three hooded and barefoot fishermen: the first one wears a white tunic, the other two wear black tunics and they represent Jesus and the two robbers. The procession ends with three statues, representing the Madonna, St. John and Mary Magdalene, carried by the fishermen’ children.
A VISIT TO THE CHURCH “LA BANDERUOLA” (VANE’S CHURCH)
We suggest you to visit the church “La Banderuola”. In the countryside, in locality Scossicci, there is this small rural church that according to tradition marks the place where in 1294 the Holy House of Nazareth stopped before moving to Loreto. The name Banderuola probably refers to the flag showing the way to the Holy House to sailors and fishermen from Porto Recanati.
TO TASTE THE DELICIOUS “BRODETTO DI PESCE” (FISH BROTH)
You will not leave Porto Recanati without tasting its main course, will you? The brodetto is a fish based soup that has an ancient and poor origin, in order to use all unsold fish. In the Marche region there are many versions of brodetto but the one of Porto Recanati is the oldest recipe without tomatoes and with the addition of wild saffron from Conero Mount. Every year in the first week of June, an important event called “Brodetto Week” takes place and offers you the chance to taste the fish soup at local restaurants at a special price.
A VISIT TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA OF THE ROMAN CITY OF POTENTIA AND TO THE ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA IN POTENZA
Travelling by car from Porto Recanati to Porto Potenza Picena, along the way on your right, in the locality S. Maria in Potenza, you can discover the remains of the ancient Roman city of Potentia, founded in 184 B.C. Here you can see the remains of a Domus enriched by frescos and decorated with a mosaic floor, of the arcades of the Forum with the tabernae and of a temple on high podium with many architectural works in terracotta. Just near the archaeological zone there is the Abbey of Santa Maria in Potenza, founded by the monks between 1160 and 1202. It was a hospital for the housing and the assistance of travellers and pilgrims.
