A favourable climate

Territory

Territory

Ripatransone

Ripatransone is an Italian municipality consisting of 4.395 citizens, located in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marches region. The historical center is built upon an high hill (494 meters a.s.l.), only 12,5 km from the sea, and it’s one of the most ancient in the province. With a square surface of 74,16 km, its municipality territory it’s one of the most extended in the zone. City of art, it flaunts many museums and an economy based on tourism and agriculture, excelling in the production of oil and wine. For its vast panoramic view, it’s known as “Belvedere del Piceno”. After Ascoli Piceno, Ripatransone has the biggest historical center of the province, characterized by a monumental imprint that reflects its great past of great relevance. The town has a medieval base and preserves many remains of the ancient fortifications. The Vittorio Emanuele avenue crosses longitudinally the city for about a kilometer, flanked by imposing stately buildings of different times.

Ripatransone is located at the top of a ridge elevated between the parallel valleys of the river Tesino, south, and the torrent Menocchia, north. The western side is characterized by extremely steep slopes on three sides, while at east the slope lowers gently towards the coast.
The maximum altitude is reached at 508 meters on Colle San Nicolò. From a geological standpoint, the Ripani Hills are dated back to the Pliocene and are made of limestone, sand, clay and sandstone. Around the town are found significative heights, like the Castellano (432m) north and the Mount Attone (493m) south-east.

Down the town there is an extended system of artifical tunnels known as Grotte di Santità, dating back to prehistory and definitely closed in 1967. This intricate subterannean reticulate, that crosses the town by its width, it’s estimate to have an extension of almost 2.000m. Episodes of soil subsidence have occasionally brought back historical artifacts, like what happened in the night of the 10th August 1994 in Matteotti plaza, where remains of the church of San Biagio in Piazza emerged, having been demolished in 1660.

The surrounding territory is particularly fertile and suited to typical cultivations of the Mediterranean countryside, with a strong vocation to the production of oil and wine. Characteristic of the Ripano view, like many others Marches zones, are the gullies, deep furrows produced by the pluvial erosion, that gives the view a suggestive lunar look.

FAVOURABLE MICROCLIMATE

The Climate

The climate in Ripatransone is similar to the Mediterranean one of the Southern Marches coast, distant only 8,3km in a straight line, but it’s influenced by the altitude. Winters are colder, and even if the hill height reduces the frequency of snowing, these happen almost every year, even in an intense and prolonged way. Summers, instead, are generally cooler and windier, but maintaining very high temperatures.

specifics

Vineyards data

Zone

Contrada Piaggiole

Altitude

from 280 to 350 mt

Zone

Contrada Canali

Altitude

from 380 to 400 mt

Il Piceno

The Piceno territory is found in the Marche region, in the center-oriental zone of Italy, and it mainly includes the province of Ascoli Piceno, also extending to nearby areas. Is characterized by a big landscape variety, that goes from the Appennines to the hills and the coasts of the Adriatic Sea.

Geographical characteristics

  • Mountains: The western side is dominated by Monti Sibillini and Monti della Laga, with peaks that surpass 2000 meters, like the mountain Vettore.
  • Hills: The hillside is very extended and it’s characterized by soft slopes cultivated with vineyards, olive groves and wheat fields.
  • Adriatic Coast: The Picenian coast looks out the Adriatic Sea and includes seaside cities like San Benedetto del Tronto and Grottammare, well known for their sandy beaches and summer tourism.

Climate

The climate varies depending on the zone:

  • Montanous: Harsh and snowy winters, cool summers.
  • Hilly: Mild climate, with hot summers and mild winters.
  • Coastal: Mediterranean climate, with mild temperatures year-long and a strong influence from the sea.

History and Culture

The Piceno territory takes its name after the ancient Piceni people, that inhabited the region well before the roman conquest. Today the territory preserves a rich historical and artistical heritage, with medieval towns, castles, Romanic churches and archeological sites.

Economy and Typical Products

The economy is based of:

  • Agriculture: Wine production (like Rosso piceno), olive oil and cereals.
  • Tourism: Both seaside and cultural, thanks to the many historical towns.
  • Industry and handicraft: Sectors like footware, engineering and agri-food are very developed.

The Piceno is a land rich with history, traditions and natural wonders, ideal for someone who is searching a combination of sea, mountain and culture.

Monti Sibillini National Park

Municipalities of Arquata del Tronto, Montegallo and Montemonaco.

Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park

Municipalities of Acquasanta Terme and Arquata del Tronto.

Municipalities of the Province of Ascoli Piceno

Acquasanta Terme | Acquaviva Picena | Appignano del Tronto | Arquata del Tronto | Ascoli Piceno | Carassai | Castel di Lama | Castignano | Castorano | Colli del Tronto | Comunanza | Cossignano | Cupra Marittima | Folignano | Force | Grottammare | Maltignano | Massignano | Monsampolo del Tronto | Montalto delle Marche | Montappone | Monte San Pietrangeli | Montedinove | Montefiore dell’Aso | Montegallo | Montemonaco | Monteprandone | Offida | Palmiano | Ripatransone | Roccafluvione | Rotella | San Benedetto del Tronto | Spinetoli | Venarotta

Cities and places of interest

The province includes beautiful seaside cities like Cupra Marittima and San Benedetto del Tronto: this last one was also an important fishing port, a hinterland filled with hilltop towns, that bring back the times where here passed the frontier line between the lands of the Church and the Kingdom of Naples, and valuable monuments, like the Battistero and the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Ascoli Piceno and the Church of Sant’Agostino at Montalto delle Marche, both national monuments.

Natural Parks and protected areas

The Marche region

Marches is a region of Central Italy that looks out on the Adriatic Sea. It is characterized by a varied territory, including a coastal strip of land with sandy beaches, gentle hills and the Appennino Umbro-Marchigiano . Its capital is Ancona.

Marches flaunts a rich cultural and historical heritage, with cities of arts like Urbino (homeland of Raffaello), medieval towns and numerous historical theaters. The region is known for its food and wine tradition, with typical products like Pecorino, Acqualagna and Sibillini’s truffle and the olive all’Ascolana.

From an economic standpoint, Marches distinguish itself for its manufacturing sector (shoes and furniture), tourism and agriculture. On top of that hey offer suggestive natural landscapes, like Conero Mountain, Sibillini and the Frasassi Caves.