Why Piceno

Naturally Attractive

The Piceno, a territory rich in history and tradition, lies in the southern part of the Marche between the Sibiline Mountanins and the Adriatic Sea. This was once the land of the ancient Piceni people, their name derived from the Latin picentes meaning woodpecker, the bird so dear to this ancient culture which flourisched between the IX and III centuries B.C. and which is today the symbol of the Marche Region.
Landscapes change in the blink of an eye in these parts: just inland from the beaches are the rolling hill, and beyond these, the mountains. The Piceno's varied scenery is its strength, every vista closely linked to art, tradition, and fine local foods and wines. Piceno Congress is promoting the territory as the ideal spot for conventions and congresses that offer lasting value.

Behind the scenes

The Piceno proposes quality solutions for the world of conventions and congresses, solutions that complement an already ample range of choice for tourism. An ideally suitable destination for congresses, the area is stable, organized, and safe and is also well–connected to the rest of the world. These are countless opportunities to organize events to meet the special needs of medical or scentific congresses, corporate conventions new product launches, road shows, conferences, meetings, symposiums, and workshops. Piceno Congress intends to slow the many operators how this area meets the highest standards for any meeting venue, to place all necessary services at the operators' disposal and to offer, in addition, interesting opportunities for leisure time activities of the participants and their companions.

For every event there's a season 365 days a year

In all seasons, the Ascoli Piceno province, with its unique terrain and mild climate, welcomes the visitor with unusual opportunities for stimulating tours and side trips that offer intriguing insights. Work programs combine beautifully with leisure and the free time to get to know the Piceno 365 days a year: there’s no room for monotony. The nearby sea and the renowned beaches of the Riviera delle Palme, the small towns perched like jewels among the hills, and the historic cities of art like Ascoli Piceno combine with the fascination of the Sibilline and Laga mountains, Apennine chains that belong to the National Parks of the same names (the Sibilline Park and Gran Sasso–Laga National Park). It’s a perfect synthesis of the environment–structures and landscapes that ideally combine work and leisure year-round.

Presenting the event

Piceno Congress offers the right mix of meeting venues and logistics for organizations that settle for nothing less than the highest standards of quality and professionalism. With many venues to choose from, there are locations suitable for groups from 50 to 300 people–affording every participant a chance to shine. Our goal is to present diversified choices for an event: exceptional scripts to create the perfect ’screenplay’ while leaving organizers free to pursue the love of beauty in its every expression. The Piceno region offers first–rate capabilities for each phase of preparing and mounting a convention program: great halls that are architectural treasures; enchanting and historic provincial theaters; palaces and auditoriums... and state-of-the-art equipment in modern settings, too.

Expression of a territory

The Piceno lends itself to singular interpretations because the territory, thanks to its excellent qualities, boasts a high artistic and cultural profile rich in natural landscapes, tradition, artisanship and manufacturing and many, many special foods and wines. Piceno Congress makes it possible to stage an event with distinct acts and scenes, all connected yet different. This is the true value of the Piceno, whose curtains open onto many stages for its visitors, inviting them to fully enjoy its artistic and architectural riches. The city of Ascoli Piceno itself today bears witness to its important status as far back as Roman times: the Solestà bridge, the Porta Gemina, and the architecture that graces the palaces, churches and towers the latter the city&rsquou;s defining characteristic along with its rue (the ancient word for streets) and its Travertine marble, much used in construction during the Renaissance. Piazza Arringo, the most ancient of the city’s squares, is a treasure trove of magnificent ancient buildings: the Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo Vescovile, the Duomo which boasts a renowned work by Carlo Crivelli – and the Baptistry, a beautifully preserved example of Romanesque architecture. Among the extraordinary works of art on exhibit at the city museum, the Pinacoteca, are paintings by Cola dell’Amatrice and Pietro Alemanno. Just steps away is the city’s ’living room’, the astonishingly beautiful Piazza del Popolo, with its Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo, an impressive 16th century palace, and the nearby historic and cosy Caffè Meletti. On the way to the shore is the Rocca di Acquaviva, offering a stunning view of Ripatransone, the town that boasts the ’narrowest street in Italy’, only 43 cm. wide, and the town of Offida, known since the XVth century for its handmade lace. This ancient hamlet, dating back to prehistoric times, is also home to S.Maria della Rocca, an imposing Gothic-Romanesque church rebuilt in 1330. The towns of Grottammare and San Benedetto del Tronto are perfect examples of the elegant architecture of the renowned Riviera delle Palme, which takes its name from the gorgeous exotic vegetation here: more than 7,000 palm trees of over 20 types, mixed with oleander a botanical treat found nowhere else in Europe. And speaking of oddities, there’s the must see Palazzina Azzurra in San Benedetto, built in 1935 as a meeting place for journalists, writers, artists, film personalities, and singers and song writers. Ever since ancient times, the Piceno has also been the place to sample new foods and delightful wines. Olives marinated in scrumptious extra–virgin olive oil are fried to make a very special Ascoli delicacy; grapes of the region produce extraordinary wines like Rosso Piceno and Falerio dei Colli Ascolani; anise seed goes into the famous Meletti Anisette. Then there are our tasty fruits and chestnuts. And priceless black truffles from Roccafluvione. And of course porcini mushrooms. Add to this lengthy list the homemade cheeses and dairy products of the area, not to mention the seafood delicacies that go into the most classic and authentic seafood dish of the region, the brodetto (the boulliabesse of the region) The many unique and amazing qualities of the Piceno are also there to be discovered in the natural environment, thanks to the many walking, hiking, and bicycle tours available here. Well–designed routes show the way to haunting mountain landscapes from summits like the Vettore, the highest in the Region, with its so–called Devil’s Peak. And Pilate’s Lake and Mount Sibilline are both rich in myth and legend. Nature in all its fascination and mystery provides the ideal marriage of work and leisure.

Getting here

BY AIR
Raffaello Sanzio Airport, Falconara Marittima – Ancona 90 km north of Ascoli Piceno D’Abruzzo International Airport, Pescara 90 km south of Ascoli Piceno
BY CAR
A14 Bologna – Taranto Exits: Grottammare, San Benedetto del Tronto