Civitanova Alta: Renaissance, Museums and Views

Civitanova Alta combines a distinctive city wall with art, churches, historic buildings and views across the Marche landscape. The historic urban fabric includes Renaissance defensive architecture, theatres, museums, sacred art and evidence of everyday life in earlier times.

City Walls, Gates and Historic Routes

On the southern side of the city wall stands Porta Zoppa, also known as Porta San Paolo. It is a notable example of Renaissance defensive architecture. A double flight of stairs and a barrel-vaulted gallery lead through Porta Zoppa towards Piazza della Libertà. Porta Marina, also known as Porta Sant’Angelo, is located on the eastern side of the city wall. The building was constructed in the mid-15th century at the behest of Francesco Sforza, using brick in the Ghibelline style; its features include a double pointed arch and a tower. Porta Marina offers views of the sea.

Theatre and Visual Arts

The Teatro Storico Annibal Caro has a horseshoe-shaped auditorium and was built between 1869 and 1872. After years of closure, it became available again in 1997 following restoration for dance, theatre, concert and cultural events. The Pinacoteca Civica “Marco Moretti” is located in the historic house of Annibal Caro’s family in Civitanova Alta and displays paintings, drawings and prints by significant 20th-century artists. It also includes numerous Italian prints associated with the Urbino school.

Churches from the Middle Ages to the Baroque and the Present Day

The first records of the church of the Spazio Multimediale San Francesco, formerly the Chiesa di San Francesco, date back to the 13th century. The restored former church building is now a cultural space within the museum network of the upper town of Civitanova Alta. The Ex Chiesa di Sant’Agostino has Romanesque-Gothic origins and an interior designed in the Rococo style, with stuccoes attributed to Agostino Varlè. It has been converted into an auditorium for cultural events, performances, exhibitions and performances.

The Chiesa di San Paolo has origins dating back to 1212. The present building was constructed between 1736 and 1753 and contains an 18th-century organ attributed to Antonio Callido. The interior of the Chiesa del Santissimo Sacramento is designed according to the principles of Marche Baroque. Six side chapels house paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The adjacent Antiquarium preserves sacred vestments, liturgical objects, paintings and religious artefacts from the 16th to the 19th century.

Graphic Art, Crafts and Everyday History

The MAGMA – Museo Archivio Grafica Manifesto was established from a donation of more than 20,000 posters, volumes and graphic artefacts. The specialist library contains around 3,000 volumes. Its programme includes exhibitions, meetings with international graphic designers, educational activities and guided tours. Via dei Sediari recalls the historic craft of chairmaking in Civitanova Alta and the women who hand-wove the seats of wooden chairs. The Archivio storico comunale preserves historically significant documents created or received by the municipal administration as part of its institutional activities.

Views and Notable Buildings

The Giardino della Pinacoteca Civica is a terrace of approximately 250 m² offering views of the Sibillini Mountains and the Marche landscape. The Torrione is a preserved example of military Renaissance architecture in Civitanova Alta and can be viewed up close while walking through the historic urban fabric. The Torre dell’Acquedotto was built in 1935 as a Neo-Renaissance-style structure with an octagonal ground plan and Ghibelline crenellations. The restored Lavatoio Comunale di Civitanova Alta preserves stone wash basins and a wooden roof. The Stazione del Tram dates from 1900 and is a Liberty-style building with polychrome ceramics.

More Destinations for Your Trip Planning

For further orientation, you can also view Santo Stefano, Contrada di Forano, Tolentino, Cessapalombo, Porto Potenza Picena, Macerata, Pioraco and Treia.

To the higher-level travel overview: Macerata.