Decumanus Maximus (Ascoli Piceno)

History of the Decumanus Maximus in Ascoli Piceno

The strategic role of Asculum depended on the Via Salaria, a key route between the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic. Excavations have made it possible to date the paving of large travertine blocks, and its continued use in the town's street layout, to between the 1st and 4th centuries AD.

Beneath the paved road lies an older one. It runs about two meters lower and is a simple cobbled surface, rich in historical information. In the Middle Ages the Roman road was buried: in the 14th century the convent of Sant'Onofrio was built, and its perimeter wall cuts across the by then buried road surface.

What to see along the Decumanus Maximus

Over time two stretches of paved road belonging to the Decumanus Maximus have come to light, and they can be seen in Corso Mazzini. Near Palazzo Parisani and Palazzo Gallo, excavations also revealed a Roman wall in opus quasi reticulatum, more than thirty meters long.

A new segment emerged in 2020 at the junction of Corso Mazzini and Corso Trento e Trieste. The paving was bordered by a sidewalk of beaten brick. The dig also uncovered a threshold, perhaps of a craftsman's workshop, and the ruts left by carts.

How to visit the Decumanus Maximus

The remains lie along a street in the historic center, so a visit is a walk through town. One possible route follows the Salaria from Porta Gemina, the Roman gate of Ascoli Piceno, toward the center, passing the Roman remains along the way. To find out which stretches are visible at a given time, it is best to ask in town beforehand.

Where the Decumanus Maximus is

The Decumanus Maximus coincides with Corso Mazzini, in the historic center of Ascoli Piceno. It ran from Porta Romana to the Ponte di Cecco bridge. In Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno it crossed the cardines (north-south streets) of Via del Trivio and Via D'Ancaria.

Near the Decumanus Maximus

On the line of the Salaria stands Porta Gemina, with two arches of travertine blocks from the Augustan age. Following the road toward the center, the remains of the Roman theater appear. In Piazza del Popolo, the archaeological area of the Palazzo dei Capitani opens onto the square. The remains of the Roman Amphitheater (Roman amphitheater), by contrast, are buried. The Roman bridge of Solestà can be visited inside. More sights in the city are listed on the page things to do in Ascoli Piceno.