The nearby Roman city of Ascoli Piceno boasts one of the finest Renaissance squares, Roman architecture galore and a wealth of Templar history. We love taking our painting groups to this amazing city for painting trips and sight-seeing. Throughout the year, it is home to a multitude of cultural highlights, from the annual medieval summer Palio the 'Quintana' held in July and August, the magical La Notte di San Lorenzo (the night of the shooting stars, celebrated in August), San Silvestre (New Year), the Carnevale in February, food festivals as well as the monthly Antique market filling the squares with antique traders coming from all around Italy, there is never a shortage of things to do and see.Although undoubtedly one of Italy's most beautiful cities, it is free of mass tourism and has retained it's authentic provincial Italian charm long lost in the tourist hot spots of it's larger cousins in Tuscany and Umbria. Here, the visitor can still explore in complete tranquillity.
