To get a sense of the beauty of the Marche countryside, take in the view from the belvedere of Acquaviva Picena. Let your eye wander down to the rippling hills that roll towards the sea and up to the majestic peaks of Gran Sasso and Maiella. Finally, as you head back into town, you will make out the silhouette of the 14th-century fortress.
The central Piazza San Nicolò is a good starting point to visit the town’s monuments. The square is home to the church of the same name, the 19th-century Casa Rossi Panelli and the Torre Civica. It is also the heart of the original town, which is spread out between two opposing hills. On the western hill stands the stout fortress, while the eastern hill is home to Terra Nova, the additional residence located outside the walls.
In the oldest part of town, the streets run almost parallel, linked by ramps of staircases such as that of the picturesque Vicolo del Trabucco which owes its name to the catapult-like war machines that used to be stored there (‘trabuco’ is Italian for ‘trebuchet’). Via Marziale is lined with terracotta brick buildings with string-courses, portal doorways and other decorations. The street terminates in Piazza del Forte at the gates to the fortress, set between a row of low houses that form a pleasing semi-circular frame around it.
