<strong>Super stone: </strong>Ascoli Piceno's Piazza del Popolo is entirely made from travertine.
Super stone: Ascoli Piceno's Piazza del Popolo is entirely made from travertine.
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<strong>Bright night:</strong> In the evenings, it shimmers like a mirage.
Bright night: In the evenings, it shimmers like a mirage.
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<strong>Stone walled: </strong>The city is surrounded by hills, some of which contain travertine.
Stone walled: The city is surrounded by hills, some of which contain travertine.
Anca Emanuela Teaca/Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>Ancient origins: </strong>The remains of the Roman theater, made of travertine.
Ancient origins: The remains of the Roman theater, made of travertine.
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<strong>Dolce vita:</strong> Life revolves around the fountain in Piazza Arringo.
Dolce vita: Life revolves around the fountain in Piazza Arringo.
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<strong>Water resistant: </strong>Ascoli's baptistery is one of Italy's finest Romanesque buildings.
Water resistant: Ascoli's baptistery is one of Italy's finest Romanesque buildings.
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<strong>Better with age: </strong>Travertine is soft when first cut, but hardens to a highly resistant stone.
Better with age: Travertine is soft when first cut, but hardens to a highly resistant stone.
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<strong>Step back in time: </strong>A Roman bridge is still one of the routes into Ascoli.
Step back in time: A Roman bridge is still one of the routes into Ascoli.
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<strong>Believe your eyes:</strong> Giuliano Giuliani's travertine sculptures appear to turn the stone paper-soft.
Believe your eyes: Giuliano Giuliani's travertine sculptures appear to turn the stone paper-soft.
Ignacio Coccia/Giuliano Giuliani
<strong>True religion: </strong>The 13th-century church of San Gregorio Magno is built from a Roman temple.
True religion: The 13th-century church of San Gregorio Magno is built from a Roman temple.
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<strong>Venetian Gothic: </strong>The town art gallery has works by Carlo Crivelli, who came from Venice to Ascoli.
Venetian Gothic: The town art gallery has works by Carlo Crivelli, who came from Venice to Ascoli.
Archivio Iconografico Comune di Ascoli Piceno
<strong>Mini Manhattan: </strong>Ascoli is known as the town of 100 towers.
Mini Manhattan: Ascoli is known as the town of 100 towers.
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<strong>Grand designs: </strong>The Pinacoteca (art gallery) is housed in the 13th-century comune, or local authority building.
Grand designs: The Pinacoteca (art gallery) is housed in the 13th-century comune, or local authority building.
Archivio Iconografico Comune di Ascoli Piceno
<strong>Nouveau riche: </strong>Everyone from Simone de Beauvoir to Ernest Hemingway has drunk at Caffe Meletti.
Nouveau riche: Everyone from Simone de Beauvoir to Ernest Hemingway has drunk at Caffe Meletti.
Francesco Russo/Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>Earthquake zone: </strong>Locals think the travertine is one of the reasons Ascoli was protected from the 2016 that destroyed nearby Amatrice (pictured)
Earthquake zone: Locals think the travertine is one of the reasons Ascoli was protected from the 2016 that destroyed nearby Amatrice (pictured)
Stefano Montesi/Corbis/Getty Images
<strong>On its own: </strong>Amatrice (pictured December 2020) has yet to be rebuilt.
On its own: Amatrice (pictured December 2020) has yet to be rebuilt.
Riccardo Fabi/NurPhoto/Shutterstock