Jesi

Jesi is a treasure trove of history, art, and culture, amid the hills halfway between the mountains and the Ancona coastline. The city has ancient origins dating back to a Roman colony in 247 BC. It is the birthplace of Frederick II of Swabia (1194), the humanist Angelo Colocci (1474) and the composer Giovanni Pergolesi (1710). In 1969, UNESCO defined it as a model city because it has preserved centuries of highly appealing architectural, artistic and cultural heritage.

The old town is enclosed within a solid perimeter wall that is among the best preserved in the entire region. It stretches for 1.5 km and encircles an architectural complex that harmoniously incorporates buildings from different historical periods. The entire old town is a showcase of churches, palazzos and piazzas, alleys and stone-paved streets. Strolling through its narrow streets is like travelling back in time...

Over the centuries, Jesi has offered hospitality to important figures who have left their mark in terms of cultural heritage, such as the Sienese architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini and the Venetian Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto.

Rete Museale Urbana MJ (Musei Jesi) is a network of museums, theatres and historic palazzos that bear witness to Jesi’s cultural heritage through a series of visits and itineraries. You can discover the city’s many treasures, including works by Lorenzo Lotto and the glorious Galleria degli Stucchi in the Civic Museums at Palazzo Pianetti. Other sites in the network include: Museo Federico II located in the very square where the Emperor of Swabia was born; the magnificent 19th-century apartments of the marquises of the House of Colocci; the Fondi Antichi rooms of Palazzo della Signoria; the Pergolesi and Spontini Rooms at the Teatro Pergolesi; the Printing Museum; the Exhibition Rooms in Palazzo Bisaccioni; the Diocesan Museum.

Jesi’s rich historic and cultural heritage, and excellent food and wine tradition make the city a multidimensional destination with something to offer every visitor.