Offida Village
Offida, an ancient village enclosed by the walls of the 15th century castle, is included among the most beautiful villages in Italy. Located on a rocky outcrop between the Tesino and Tronto valleys, it is known for its laboratory and the patient art of delicate bobbin lace, an ancient tradition, to which a museum is dedicated. The vast panoramic square at the entrance of the ancient nucleus houses the remains of the fifteenth-century fortress, which houses the monument to the lace makers. The manufacture of bobbin lace is still widespread: it is not uncommon, walking in the historic center, to see in the twilight of the atria of the housing, women intent on working with small wooden spools. The bobbin lace museum (located in a special route for the blind) is located within the 19th century De Castellotti - Palazzo Pagnanelli which, since 1998, has also hosted the archaeological museum "G. Allevi", popular traditions and the municipal art gallery and thus organized a true cultural center. The heart of the village is Piazza del Popolo, with an unusual triangular shape, dominated by buildings that differ in style and material. On the main side there is the Town Hall, with an elegant loggia of thirteen travertine columns and a XV century portico, formed by brick columns with travertine capitals, the portico of the town hall leads to the splendid Teatro del Serpente Aureo, built in the XIX century, full of stuccos and gilded carvings. della Collegiata also overlooks the same square, which has a composite style facade and the Church of Addolorata, where the coffin of the Dead Christ is kept. The church of S. Agostino, with its neighboring chapel of the Eucharistic miracle, is far away. The most important religious building is located on the edge of the city, on a cliff with steep walls: it is the Church of Santa Maria della Rocca, an imposing Romanesque-Gothic terracotta architecture, installed in 1330 on a pre-existing Lombard church; inside you can admire the splendid frescoes of the Master of Offida of the fourteenth century. The former monastery of San Francesco, in the historic center of Offida, houses the regional wine shop that offers a complete overview of the wine production of the Piceno and Marche regions.
| To be seen | Where to eat | Annual Events |
|---|---|---|
| Serpente Aureo Theater | Tavern Ophis | Historical Carnival |
| Church of S. Maria della Rocca | Tavern Cantina Offida | Chichiripieno Festival |
| Museum of Popular Traditions | Farmhouse Rosa dei Venti | Marche Jazz & Wine Festival |
| Church of S.Agostino | Restaurant La Fonte | Mangialonga picena |
