Corinaldo

A perfectly preserved medieval center of brick buildings and stately palaces makes Corinaldo a beautiful place. In fact, it may be the perfect small town. It was named "one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy" for good reason. The "new" section that welcomes you at the gate of the medieval center dates to 1490! Inside the walls, the street circles upward, with shops, palazzi, cafes and shops along the way. Towers, battlements and a walkway in, on, and through the ancient walls add intrigue, while flower boxes, children's play and old folks exchanging gossip lend life and color.

The castle is like something from a movie set, and the whole town oozes Old World charm. There are several nice churches, and an archeological site at the church of Madonna del Piano, on the plain below town. The Palazzo Comunale and the Teatro are a couple of examples of civic buildings while brick-built palazzi with pretty details also show that Corinaldo enjoyed a level of prosperity.

Corinaldo is the birthplace of St. Maria Goretti, a modern-era martyr who died in 1902 after her family moved to the Lazio region. There is a chapel dedicated to her and her birth home, where pilgrims come to remember the child saint.

Be sure to taste the area's delicious dishes and wine. This is Verdicchio country, a crisp fruity white wine produced only in central Le Marche.