In the hinterland of the Marche region, situated on a hill between the Potenza and Chienti rivers and 30 km from the Adriatic Sea, lies the new destination of our journey through AIA Italy: Macerata. This city offers us the opportunity to discover a place rich in history and culture, in the Region of Italy known for its many excellent crafts, particularly in the footwear sector.
History and tradition: a journey into Macerata’s past
Macerata is a municipality of 40,600 inhabitants and one of the main provinces of the Marche region. It has countless hamlets, including Villa Potenza, the most populous, and Piediripa, where the Macerata industrial zone is located. Macerata’s origin dates back to the Roman city Helvia Recina, founded on a pre-existing 3rd-century B.C. Italic city inhabited by the Piceni and colonized by the Romans. Today the remains of the Roman theater from the 2nd century AD are still present, bearing witness to the prosperity and prosperity of this city. The first certain record of Recina’s existence, however, dates back to the 1st century AD by Pliny The Elder. In the 5th or 6th century AD, invasions by the Goths forced the people of Recina to move to the hills. Thus was founded the medieval center of Macerata. The etymology of the name Macerata, on the other hand, is debated: it is believed that it may derive from the ancient city of Helvia Recina, while others argue that it derives from the Latin word “macera,” meaning the place where flax and hemp were macerated to make textile fiber. For several centuries the town was divided into two “hummocks”: one independent and the other under the control of the bishops of the city of Fermo, until August 29, 1138, when, in front of the parish church of San Giuliano the two hummocks were unified into a single municipality. The castle Castrum Maceratae gave its name to the new municipality, while the Podium Sancti Juliani recalls the religious tradition and its protector: St. Julian.
Attractions and places to visit in and around Macerata
Today Macerata retains remnants of its ancient origin, such as the remains of the Helvia Recina theater, but it is also rich in monuments and green areas. One of the best known monuments is the Sferisterio, a large open-air theater designed by architect Ireneo Aleandri and an example of neoclassical architecture. It was inaugurated in 1829 thanks to the funding of the Cento consorti (wealthy citizens) and was initially used as an arena for the game of palla col bracciale, very much in vogue in the mid-19th century and today has become a venue for events, concerts, and cultural and sporting events. Since 1967 it has also been used for opera performances and in particular, since 2006, it has hosted the “Sferisterio Opera Festival” every year. Another monument of great cultural interest is the Buonaccorsi Palace . Finished to be built in 1718 by architects Giovan Battista Contini (a pupil of Lorenzo Bernini) and Ludovico Gregorini, who added both the courtyard and the beautiful Italian garden. Palazzo Buonaccorsi now houses as many as three different museums and is a masterpiece rich in frescoes, depicting classical mythology, and travertine slabs, which adorn the most important and beautiful room, the Hall of the Aeneid. The city of Macerata, however, is also rich in other historic buildings, such as theAutopalazzo, an example of Art Nouveau architecture and now home to the offices of Confcommercio, and the Loggia dei Mercanti, a historic building that was created to house the municipal stadia for weighing grain and later became a place for displaying and trading goods. The city’s churches and cathedrals are also numerous, including the 1600s Cathedral of St. John, famous for its imposing dome and single-nave structure with six side chapels. Finally, about 20 km from the provincial capital is the town of Recanati, birthplace of the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi. Recanati is home to Casa Leopardi, where the poet was born and grew up, which has now become a museum that preserves some objects and the famous library and traces his life and history. Next to Leopardi’s palace, stands Mount Tabor, better known as “the Hill of Infinity,” which was the source of inspiration for the poet’s most famous poem, “The Infinite,” and also mentioned in the poem “To the Moon.”
What to eat in and around Macerata: from ciauscolo to vincisgrassi.
The typical cuisine of the Macerata area offers a variety of dishes that reflect the history and culture of the region. Among the typical foods, we cannot fail to mention the very famous “ciauscolo,” a spreadable salami made from pork and various spices, specific to the area of Macerata and the Sibillini Mountains. We continue with a first course, typical of this area, namely “vincisgrassi,” layered sheets of pasta stuffed with meat, chicken giblets, parmesan cheese, truffles and béchamel sauce. Another first course of the area, are gnocchi with duck, peculiar to the feast of Macerata’s patron saint, St. Julian, on August 31. Dulcis in fundo, “i sughitti,” typical sweets of the Carnival period made of flour, sugar, eggs and butter mixed together and then fried. Their name is given precisely by the crunchiness that comes with frying, which causes them to “crackle.” They are served with vin cotto, a wine that is cooked together with a quince to enhance their aroma. Typical wines of the area include Bianco dei Colli maceratesi and Verdicchio di Matelica, often used as an accompaniment to typical culinary products.
Macerata businesses: craftsmanship and industry toward the future with ultra-wideband
The Marche region, we have said, is famous for its tradition in handicrafts, particularly for its specialization in footwear The industrial area of Macerata, known as the Piediripa area, in fact sees a significant presence of other handicraft activities, such as those involved in carpet weaving, or ceramic work or even goldsmithing. Many of these businesses saw their origin in the middle of the last century, symbolizing an important link with the area. Among them, for example, is the Girotti company, owned by the Girotti brothers, founded in 1961 from an artisanal activity in the field of garden equipment. Today it continues has expanded its offerings to include swimming pools, accessories and porches and working for both individuals and other businesses. Another company that has become a landmark in the area is Ferramenta Marcolini, which has been in business since 1969 and also deals in building materials as well as hardware. Their store boasts an area of 2100 square meters to meet all customer needs. One of the longest-running companies in the AIA is definitely Sileoni ‘s, which, since 1959, has been dealing in home furnishings, pajamas, tablecloths, towels, sheets and comforters of all kinds.
The future of the industrial area: digitalization and competitiveness
Looking to the future, the Piediripa industrial area is poised to take a further step toward digitization thanks to the construction of a modern fiber optic infrastructure up to 10G with guaranteed transmission speed built by FibreConnect, in collaboration with ISP Partner TecnoGeneral. Ultra-wideband will foster the development of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0, making these industrial areas even more competitive and attractive to national and international investors. This is another step forward for our country’s economy and artisan excellence toward an increasingly connected and international future.