Cerreto D'esi: Castle, Culture and Trails

Cerreto D'esi combines a medieval town center with paths through the castle, cultural sites and a rural landscape in the hills. If you would like to combine history, walks, cycling stages and regional cuisine on your trip to Italy, you will find different points of interest here – from the historic town center situated high above the borgo to the vineyards of Località La Venza.

The castle as the historic center

Via Tribbio crosses Castello di Cerreto d'Esi. Its right-angled layout illustrates an urban plan with two main axes corresponding to the Roman decumanus and cardo. The medieval route leads through this area: the historic town center is situated high above the borgo and surrounded by high town walls. Its starting and end point is Piazza Caraffa.

Today's access to the castle also tells of its former fortifications. A path leads past the remains of an imposing medieval drawbridge, which probably spanned a moat running around the walls. From Piazza Caraffa and Via Belisario, you can reach the bridge remains via a wooden ramp that can only be used on foot.

Among the notable buildings is the medieval Porta Giustiniana from the 12th to 13th century, which bears a small clock tower at the top. The collegiate church of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as Santa Maria della Piazza, houses a wooden crucifix carved by Fra Paolo da Chioggia between 1527 and 1528. The church is one of the oldest and most important churches in Castello di Cerreto d'Esi.

For a deeper look at the local culture, the Antica Farmacia Giuli offers several different themes. The museum preserves artworks by various artists who were active between the 15th and 18th centuries, including Antonio di Agostino da Fabriano, Luca di Bartolomeo delle Fibbie and Ercole Ramazzani. In the castle on Piazza Marconi, the Antica Farmacia Giuli also preserves part of its valuable wooden furnishings, as well as several vessels that were used as pharmacy containers over time.

Hiking and cycling around Cerreto D'esi

On its sixth stage, the Cammino dei Cappuccini passes through the rural surroundings and along gravel roads to Cerreto D'esi. After 10 kilometers, the town is a stop along the way. Hikers can pause their tour in Cerreto D'esi and Albacina and visit both places. This makes it possible to combine the stage with a stay between rural routes and a medieval town center, without turning the two places into a single attraction.

There are also two specific connections for cyclists: the Cerreto D'esi cycling loop can be connected to the Ciclovia dell'Esino, while the cycling version of the Cammino dei Cappuccini includes a stage from Pascellupo to Cerreto D'esi.

Wine landscape and regional festivals

Località La Venza is a rural area in the hills of Cerreto D'esi. Vineyards and agricultural landscapes typical of the Verdicchio area characterize this part of the surroundings. At the same time, La Venza preserves the historical memory of an English Halifax aircraft that crashed there during the Second World War while taking part in missions to supply the partisans.

The Festa dell'Uva takes place every year around the third Sunday in September and lasts four days. Since 2023, it has included a barrel race on a route outside the walls of Castello di Cerreto d'Esi. During the festival, the cantine set up outside the castle along the walls offer typical dishes and products of the local cuisine, including penciarelle, Verdicchio and sweet ciambelline.

Another type of event is offered by the Belisario Festival, with free events, live music, street food, children's shows and comedy.

Other places in the same region

Loretello, San Biagio, Castelbellino, Trecastelli, Poggio San Marcello, Montecarotto, San Vittore and Campodiegoli

For the overview of the wider travel area: Ancona.