Borgo antico (Vecchio Incasato) di Grottammare

Grottammare's old town, known locally as the vecchio incasato, is a compact medieval settlement on the hill above the Adriatic resort.

Why it matters

The historic quarter preserves the defensive ridge settlement after modern growth shifted toward the coast. Its walls, churches, palaces and lanes connect medieval origins with the later civic identity of Grottammare, birthplace of Pope Sixtus V.

What to notice

Brick houses and narrow lanes define the old settlement, with churches and civic buildings interwoven among the remains of the medieval fortifications. The Rocca occupies the ridge, while the Church of Santa Lucia stands on the site associated with the birth of Felice Peretti, later Pope Sixtus V. The Teatro dell'Arancio, Palazzo Laureati and historic gates add further layers to the quarter's architecture.

Context and history

Archaeological finds indicate Picene settlement on the hill, while medieval records name the castle from the tenth and eleventh centuries. The town was contested by Fermo and Ascoli and was sacked by corsairs in 1525. The settlement was then enclosed by a circuit of walls and fortified gates, with a tower built near Porta Marina. From the late eighteenth century, development shifted toward the marina; the railway arrived in 1863. In 1860 Vittorio Emanuele II received the Neapolitan delegation at Palazzo Laureati.