A blend of art, culture, architecture, food and wine traditions and a thousand-year history in a truly unique Region.That is how Ascoli Piceno is described as it bids to become “Italian Capital of Culture 2024”

The bid is now official and the Municipality is going to do its best to achieve this ambitious goal.
“The City Council and I had already announced the project last year -says mayor Marco Fioravanti– and now Ascoli Piceno’s bid is official; a Technical Committee has already  been set up to draft the application. The Committee includes some of the most important representatives of the city’s cultural environment; their contribution to the project in terms of expertise will be remarkable. That’s a very important step for our city and we’re all proud of our work so far”.

The aim is to highlight Ascoli Piceno’s cultural significance and heritage and the Municipality has called on citizens, local associations, cultural cooperatives and institutional people to be united and work together to achieve this prestigious goal. Culture, but also courage: “The project is ambitious and the road is going to be winding -adds the mayor- but we’re brave enough to face it”.

In the City Council decision of 26th January 2021 and in the following ones are all the information regarding the composition of the Technical Committee in charge of drafting the project.

Here are the members of the Technical Committee:

Marco Fioravanti – Mayor of Ascoli Piceno;
Giorgia Latini – Regional Councillor, Department for Culture;
Donatella Ferretti – City Councillor, Department for Culture;
Vincenzo Pecoraro – Secretary General of the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno;
Loris Scognamiglio – Head of Division of Culture, Theatres and Museums, Municipality of Ascoli Piceno;
Romina Pica – Officer at Division of Culture, Theatres and Museums, Municipality of Ascoli Piceno;
Stefano Papetti – Professor of Museology and Restoration at University of Camerino – Director of Civic Museums;
Gianluca Gregori – Rector of Università Politecnica delle Marche;
Lucia Pietroni – Representative for UNICAM University;
Luciano Messi – President of Association “Teatri di Tradizione” – Director of Foundation “Rete lirica delle Marche”;
Carlo Bachetti Doria – Professor at Academy of Fine arts and Design – Poliarte;
S.E.R. Mons. Domenico Pompili – Bishop of Rieti e Apostolic Administrator of Ascoli Piceno;
Monia Vallesi – City Councillor, Department for Events;
Monica Acciarri – City Councillor, Department for Turism;
Angelo Davide Galeati – President of Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno Foundation.

Here are the names of the representatives of the Regional Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape:

Pierluigi Moriconi;
Miriam Pompei;
Paola Mazzieri;
Giorgio Bisirri – Expert in public funding policies and project management;
Massimo Arcangeli – Professor of Italian Linguistics;
Maurizio Di Stefano – President of ICOMOS Italia;
Daniela Tisi – Cultural Heritage Expert;
Luca Introini – Cultural Policies Expert.

Art and culture can really have a “flywheel”, propulsive effect on tourism. The challenge Ascoli Piceno is to face is exciting and demanding at the same time. This competition can finally take off after the problems and delays caused by the outbreak of the world pandemic last year. Despite the difficulties, the Municipality is sure this project is a critical piece to the city’s future cultural strategic plan and proves the ability of all the parties involved to build a successful cooperation.

The guidelines defining the main points of the preliminary project have been set. If the application is admitted to the final stage of the selection process, bidders will be asked to provide a detailed description of all the cultural initiatives and events to be organized and implemented.

Especially following the restoration works carried out on important places of historical and architectural interest, which could play a central role in making Ascoli Piceno a great Capital of Culture. Here are some of the most recently renovated attractions: Sala Cola dell’Amatrice, the Roman Theatre, Fortezza Pia, Piazza Ventidio Basso, the Museum of the Early Middle Ages, Forte Malatesta, Roman Bridge and Teatro Filarmonici.

Cultural identity, uniqueness and talent. Art and architectural heritage, traditions, history: the key elements that will contribute to Ascoli Piceno’s success to becoming a true cultural hub.

Ascoli Piceno, competing for the Italian Capital of Culture 2024, was featured on the popular tv column “Sì Viaggiare” of Tg2 Rai, the national broadcasting news service.

Another important showcase for our beautiful city.