Carassai in the Piceno Area of Le Marche
The unmissable 19 Reasons to Visit Carassai in every season
Carassai is a small Le Marche village that can offer a great tourist experience, unique in all the Piceno area.
The village, with its 1,138 inhabitants (ISTAT 2011), is spread over three hills between the valleys of the river Aso and creek Menocchia, at 365 m of altitude above sea level.
1. Tourism
Carassai invites tourists and the vacationer to the pleasure of the “dolce far niente”(sweet doing nothing), to the enjoyment of the expanding time, to the intriguing awesomeness of the ancient time and to the ever-changing spectacle that nature offers us. To rediscover the fullness of small gestures, and the flavors of the cuisine than once. Carassai is a fifteen minute drive from the sandy and golden beaches of the Adriatic, (Riviera delle Palme, San Benedetto Del Tronto, Grottammare), and 20 minutes from the Sibillini National Park. In less than an hour are the beautiful historic towns of Ascoli Piceno, Fermo and Offida and the Sibillini National Park.
2. The Military Walkways
The military walkways , built between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, represent the most evocative place of Carassai, they are essentially an underground passage for the troops that took its present form when, in the ‘500, was authorized by the authorities of Fermo to build houses against the city walls. These walkways probably extended along the entire perimeter of the New Castle of Carassai, the citadel is called “Castello Vecchio”, Old Castle” and from the numerous defensive towers, you can still admire, were giving the access to the summit of the crenellated walls.
3. The Old Castle
The Old Castle is the oldest part of Carassai that over time has gone to be the citadel of the New Castle. With a circular plan, this group of houses with walls preserves a unique atmosphere and a perfect setting for holiday tourist stay. Here no cars and the few inhabitants do not find it difficult, in the summer season, to put out the tables for lunch or dinner. The cobbled narrow alleys create many passages in the shade on hot summer days and the thick medieval walls give the rooms a natural protection from the heat.
4. The “Porta (door) da Bore”
The ancient northern gate of the Old Castle, the most beautiful and evocative. You can see the medieval structures and is one of the most photographed places in the little town in the province of Ascoli Piceno.
5. The Church of San Lorenzo Martire
Built in 1424, it is located within the Old Castle and represents with its tower bell, the most famous landmark of the village. Inside we could find in the past an early work by Vincenzo Pagani from Monterubbiano (1490–1568) Enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints Lorenzo and Luca, framed against the backdrop of the hills of the Aso Valley and a painting by the art school of Pomarancio, 17th century, exhibited now in the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria del Buon Gesù.
6. The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria del Buon Gesù
A three-nave church, which in its present form dates back to 1788. The Church was built in the fifteenth century through the influence of the preaching of St. James of the Marches but was very small. The church is in Renaissance and Baroque style. Inside there is a painting of the crucifixion by Andrea Boscoli (1601) an important florentine painter. There are frescoes on the vaults of the same author and Riccardo Ripanelli; a wooden sculpture of Abruzzese School depicting the Virgin and Child (sec. XV);
a valuable wooden Cantoria with a pipe organ and Chorus in walnut; the baptismal font in wood, semi-hexagonal, with carvings of G. Morelli from Montegiorgio and the gilding of Contadini from Macerata (century. XIX).
7. Public Washtubs
The Public Washtubs are an attraction of the village with great emotional hold on the population, especially the elderly. Made in the early twentieth century with lead decorations, the washtubs are travertine basins where once the women of the village went to wash the clothes and the linen. A type of washing very respectful of the environment as it was made with homemade soap. Women, as some remember, were dressed in black with multilayered skirts, they used to rub the linen vigorously, singing or gossiping. Today the Public Washtubs have been restored.
8. The portal of the palace of Boffo da Massa
According to popular tradition, this is the home of Boffo da Massa, Lord of Carassai between 1382 and 1387. Boffo was a notorious Lord of Fermo, who lived in the fourteenth century. He is remembered as a bold and daring character, often portrayed as arrogant and not prone to the ideals of chivalry. He had nevertheless fame brave man and he certainly was highly regarded by his contemporaries.
9. Oratory of Santa Monica
It is a small church dated 1699, found in Piazza Matteotti, in late Baroque style. Recently renovated, it has become a small treasure trove of interesting art treasures, paintings and painted wooden boards still awaiting attribution. The church shows at the top of its facade a curious David Star, a six-pointed star probable evidence of a Jewish presence in the village that has in “via Garibaldi” the possible location of his district or ghetto.
In 1547 the Apostolic Chamber granted Bonifacio son of maestro Salomone and Angelo da Pianella, their families and associates, a tolerance to open a loan bank in Carassai, which was extended in 1551 for the sole Bonifacio.
Bibliografia: Simonsohn, S., The Apostolic See and the Jews, 8 voll., Toronto 1988–1991.
10. Fonte di Camporo
The Fonte of Camporo or Campone, with the small church of the “Madonnetta”, are perhaps the last vestiges of the ancient destroyed Camporo castle, a settlement that existed in 1063, destroyed during the sieges that took place in 1325 and in 1363. It is a public fountain located in the countryside once used to bring water at home.
11. Antiquarium
This museum houses exhibits that were collected through the years, in the municipality. Gravestones and urns bear witness to an important Roman presence as the important noble family of the Gens Flavia. Data sheets in various languages and illustrations make this museum suitable for families of tourists of all nationalities.
12. The Medieval Castle of Rocca Montevarmine
Rocca Monte Varmine, a fully preserved castle as you’ve probably only seen on film sets! It is 4 km from Carassai and dates back to the fourteenth century, with the remains of the tenth century is equipped with strong walls and a tall tower with battlements Ghibellines, crenels and embrasures. Inside, the courtyard and the Church of San Pietro. The Castle was a large fortified farm, a castle guard, not a stately home. Rocca Monte Varmine is the only castle in the Piceno that preserves whole and therefore of particular historical interest. In the last century there was found the “Bombardella manesca” dated 1341: the first known type of hand gun.
13. Church of Sant’Angelo in Piano
The church has monastic origin and its construction can be dated around the year one thousand (957). Some documents, although more than two centuries late, show that close to that church there was a monastery. The first document that traces an outline of the church, dates back to 1574. It is a big and beautiful church with a crypt with an underground church.
14. The Public Gardens
The public Carassai gardens represent one of the most beautiful places that the small town in the province of Ascoli Piceno has to offer. An ideal place for families, and especially in the summer, offers a wonderful walk among ancient trees, fragrant shrubs, green and flowery fields with an enormous peace broken by the discreet splash of the public fountain where to admire Luisella a Crinaeae a type of Naiad nymph associated with fountains, beloved by the population.
15. The Rural Cemetery Rocca Montevarmine
Until now a forgotten place, is located near Rocca Montevarmine. This small cemetery is the burial ground of the last inhabitants of the area of Rocca Montevarmine.
16. Personalities of Carassai
Amazes how Carassai, while not being today among the most famous and populated town of Italy, boasts a large number of famous people. Among the best known of the past we must surely mention Cesare Macchiati (1597–1675) the Queen Christina of Sweden’s personal physician. Among the most recent figures include Monsignor Lavinio Virgili (1902–1976), musician and composer director of the Chapel of St. John the Musical Lateran, the Papal Basilica.
17. Food
The good and typical Le Marche cuisine of Carassai can be comfortably tasted at the 3 restaurants located in the immediate surroundings, all with many years of activity and loyal to the local culinary tradition:
• Ristorante Il Panorama 0734.930985
• Agriturismo Monticello
• Agriturismo La Cicala
Talking about sweets we must think about the known local artisans.
Famous is the ricotta cheesecake, the brutti e buoni, i funghetti di Offida, the castagnacci, the tarts, the cakes the famous exceptional maritozzi to enjoy with Nutella and fresh cream.
Here are the references:
Martinangeli e Concetti di Pignotti Franco & C. (0734 930015)
Pasticceria Porrà Zefferino (0734 930058)
Pasticceria Porra Bruno (0734 930915)
Il forno di Ada di Lanciotti (0734 930540)
The typical Carassanese production reach its peak with the Sausage Queen, the same that is the protagonist, in the second week of August, of the famous festival of grilled sausage, which is crowded by late 1972 by Italian and foreign tourists.
The Carassanese sausage is the daughter of a long tradition of processing of pork and is achieved by carefully selecting bacon, ham, shoulder, fillet, dosing salt and spices up to the cooking by the heat of the embers of aromatic woods.
To purchase this delicacy and other specialties:
Salumificio Federici
18. Wines
Carassai boasts a large planted area and several wine producers whose products are easily available in all the territory Restaurants. Worth mentioning are the productions of DOCG Offida Passerina, Offida Pecorino DOCG, IGT Marche Rosso, wines able to cross the borders of the peninsula to arrive in the faraway China. Among the wines you can not miss the opportunity to buy directly from the producer one of the 20 Tre Bicchieri 2017 Gambero Rosso of Le Marche. Selected wines prized and inserted inside the prestigious guide. We are talking about the Offida Rosso Vignagiulia 2013 Dianetti
- Le Canà
• Collevite
• Vinicola Carassanese
• Montevarmine
• Vini Polini
• Dianetti
19. Accommodation
- Agricamping Lavanda Blù
- Agriturismo Annarella
- Agriturismo La Cicala
- Agriturismo Monticello
- Agriturismo Ristorante Il Panorama 0734.930985
- Appartamenti Cantina Montevarmine
- Appartamenti Le Canà
- Appartamento La Torre di Kelly
- B&B Codirosso
- B&B Porrà Nadia
- Casa Dolce Miele
- Casa La Rosa e la Viola
- Casa MiYo
- Casa Rossa
- Casa Vacanze Zia Ivana
- Casa Vitale
- Dimora Storica Palazzo Polini Fioretti
- Villa Moltini
20. Events
Carassai hosts “Feste”, “Sagre” and Religious Celebrations from Spring to Christmas. During the summer Carassai compete with neighbouring villages in throwing the best party.
The Summer Carassai Events allow the visitor to sample local produce, food and wines:
• Fair of Sant’Angelo (May 6)
• St. Barnabas Day (June 11)
• Festival of the tagliatella con la papera (August)
• Festival of the Grilled Sausage (one week around August the 15th)
• Festa del Voto (last Sunday of August)
Originally published at www.ladolcevallata.com on November 29, 2016.
