Arcevia is located on a hill with the charming name of Monte Cischiano, an extension of the lowlands of the pre-Apennine chain on the Umbria-Marche Region slopes. Its 13th/16th century town walls that still retain a number of towers and four gates are formidable but easily accessible at places.
The most interesting buildings of the old town are: the baroque collegiate church of St. Medardo, which contains masterpieces by Luca Signorelli, works by Della Robbia, Gian Battista Salvi and Claudio Ridolfi; the Misa theatre, an architectural gem built between 1840 and 1845 inside the Palazzo dei Priori and the Church of St. Agatha; the Cultural Centre of San Francesco, housed within the former Franciscanconvent where the Renaissance cloister and the magnificent church are located. The State Archaeological Museum of Arcevia has an important collection of archaeological finds from the area surrounding Arcevia. There are splendid funerary remains in the Gallic necropolis of Montefortino (4th / 3rd century BC).
Corso Mazzini is the street onto which the main buildings face: Palazzo Mannelli Pianetti, the former church of San Giovanni Battista, the Palazzo dei Priori with the Misa Theatre, a neoclassical jewel.
The San Francesco Convent Complex houses a lively cultural centre comprising the State Archaeological Museum, which collects significant archaeological documentation of the Arcevian territory, and the permanent exhibition of the works of three great 20th-century artists who had Arcevia as their lowest common denominator: Quirino Ruggeri, Edgardo Mannucci and Bruno d’Arcevia. The Gallic grave goods from the Gallic necropolis of Montefortino (4th century B.C. – 3rd century B.C.) are splendid.
The Baroque collegiate church of San Medardo, attested since 1208, contains true masterpieces of art: two extraordinary works by the great Renaissance artist Luca Signorelli, a monumental altar frontal in glazed terracotta by Giovanni della Robbia, a leading exponent of the famous Florentine workshop, and canvases by Ercole Ramazzani, Claudio Ridolfi and Simone Cantarini.
Not to be missed is the Leopardi Garden, one of the most parks in the Region.
There are numerous cultural events that take place in the historic center and in the various castles, the main ones being Arcevia Jazz in the months of July and August and Arcevia International Art Festival from August to September.
Arcevia preserves the largest number of Della Robbia works in the Marche. There are three locations on the itinerary: in the historic center the church of S.Maria del Soccorso, which houses a glazed altar depicting the Annunciation, the work of Mattia Della Robbia, and the Collegiate Church of San Medardo, where the majestic altar with the Virgin of Miracles and the two painted statues of Santa Caterina and Maddalena by Giovanni Della Robbia and other masterpieces including the Frontal, the Crucifix by Mattia Della Robbia.
The third stop on the itinerary is the church of S. Lorenzo, in the castle of Avacelli, where you can admire a Crucifix and a spectacular painted terracotta altar, the work of a Marche workshop influenced by the Della Robbia family.
The nine castles of Arcevia (Avacelli, Castiglioni, Caudino, Loretello, Montale, Nidastore, Palazzo, Piticchio and San Pietro) are among the main attractions: these are walled towns based on a fourteenth fifteenth century plan, which have preserved their typical features right up to the present day.
In the Piticchio castle it is possible to visit Museogiocando, a splendid museum dedicated to model making and vintage toys.
Around 5000 vintage toys that you have probably seen in your parents’ and grandparents’ homes: model trains and miniature railways, model cars, dolls, toy soldiers.
The first industrial toys and the toys of the economic boom years.
Of note are seven large model railways from various periods in perfect working order, on one of which authentic trains from the 1930s run.
