If you're planning to discover The Marches, a holiday in Senigallia is a must on your tour. Its beautiful coastline, welcoming beach and clean sea are definitely worthy of mention; however, stopping there wouldn't do justice to the city's no less picturesque attractions, like the city's splendid squares, monuments, museums, warm hospitality and excellent local cuisine. Holiday packages to Senigallia are always available, so you can easily visit this beautiful city, nicknamed the "velvet beach".
From the beach, there are numerous convenient access points to the city centre, which is dominated by the powerful Roveresca Fortress. This perfectly preserved structure was built according to Baccio Pontelli's design and is a classic example of Renaissance military architecture, with a square floor plan and towers at the four corners. The remnants of the pre-existing Roman fortification are visible inside and you can visit the underground rooms and the permanent exhibit dedicated to the historic city centres of The Marches. In front of the Fortress is the Piazza del Duca, where you can admire the Leoni Fountain, the Duke's Palace and the Palazzetto Baviera. Be sure to visit the Information Museum, a collection from recent institutions with numerous works of modern art, including graphic arts, engravings and works by local contemporary artists.
From Piazza del Duca, head to the nearby Piazza del Foro Annonario, an important neoclassical construction surrounded by porticoes with thirty Doric columns. Continuing along the left bank of the Misa River, you can admire the magnificent Portici Ercolani, built in the late 1700s with large blocks of white Istria stone to host the Fair. In the city centre, you can visit Piazza Roma, where you'll find the Town Hall, Palazzo Mastai, where Pio IX was born, the Pope during the Italian Risorgimento. The building houses a museum about the Pope, with heirlooms and antiques of noteworthy historic, artistic and religious value, as well as a Sacred Art gallery, including Federico Brocci's Madonna del Rosario.
Your holiday in Senigallia must include a visit to the seaside Rotonda. Symbolic of the city since its opening in 1933, the Rotonda is a lovely meeting point for elite tourists in summer and was restored to its original splendour in July 2006. Uniquely shell-shaped, it's a charming gathering place with an unrivalled theatrical quality.
Senigallia offers visitors a rich events calendar, including the European Music Festival, an annual international event occurring on the summer solstice involving important cities like Madrid, Istanbul, Brussels Budapest, Berlin, Barcelona and Paris. From the velvet beach to the local cuisine, Senigallia's attractions guarantee a unique experience.
