Are you in Macerata during the festival?
There is a city in the heart of the Marche region where hills shape the horizon and time seems to find its natural rhythm.
This is Macerata: intimate, luminous, suspended between the sea and the Apennines mountains, capable of combining history and everyday life with discreet elegance.
Strolling through its warm brick streets, you pass through centuries of art and architecture: from the traces of ancient Helvia Ricina to the Renaissance face of the city, to the noble palaces that tell of a living and layered cultural tradition.
The heart of the town is Piazza della Libertà, with the Lauro Rossi Theatre, the Civic Tower and the famous astronomical clock that has marked the life of the community for centuries. All around are porticoes, courtyards and views that invite you to slow down.
And then there is the Sferisterio: a neoclassical monument unique in the world that dominates the city from the heights of its white stones. In summer, it is transformed into an open-air theatre, where music and entertainment become a shared experience under the stars.
The historic buildings, museums and art collections preserve a heritage that continues to dialogue with the present. Macerata is not just a destination to visit.
It is a city to be explored on foot, savouring its flavours – from vincisgrassi to ciauscolo, accompanied by a glass of local wine – and discovering the gentle hills and villages that surround it.
Coming to the Macerata Opera Festival also means staying a few hours longer, letting yourself be surprised, experiencing the city before and after the show.
Because Macerata is not just the backdrop to the experience.
It is part of it.
The symbolic places of the city of Macerata
Civic Museums of Palazzo Buonaccorsi
Palazzo Buonaccorsi houses the Civic Museums, including the famous Carriage Museum.
On the main floor, the evocative Sala dell’Eneide (Hall of the Aeneid) features 18th-century frescoes inspired by Virgil’s poem.
The tour is completed by art collections that recount the cultural history of the area.
Sferisterio Arena
The Sferisterio is a unique 19th-century neoclassical arena, symbol of Macerata.
Originally built as a venue for the game of pallone col bracciale (ball game played with special bracelets), today it is an extraordinary open-air theatre.
Every summer it hosts the Macerata Opera Festival, transforming itself into a stage under the stars.
Civic Tower
The Civic Tower of Macerata dominates Piazza della Libertà with its historic astronomical clock.
It is known for its 18th-century mechanism and the automata that animate the hours.
It has observed the life of the city for centuries, through history, time and community.
Lauro Rossi Theatre
The Lauro Rossi Theatre is Macerata’s main historic theatre and the heart of the city’s cultural life.
Opened in the 19th century, it still retains the classic charm of its structure and interior decorations.
It hosts shows, concerts and festivals that enliven the cultural calendar throughout the year.
Mozzi Borgetti Library
The Mozzi-Borgetti Library is a historic place of culture in Macerata, founded in the 18th century.
It houses a rich heritage of manuscripts, prints and ancient volumes, which are invaluable for study and research.
A place for reading and meeting, it tells the intellectual history of the city and the surrounding area.
Palazzo Ricci - 20th-century Italian Art
Palazzo Ricci houses one of the most important collections of 20th-century Italian art.
Its rooms contain works by Morandi, Sironi, Carrà and other masters of the last century.
An essential journey to discover the modern and artistic soul of Macerata.
Discover Macerata with guided tours exploring art, history and unique views
Would you like to discover the surroundings of Macerata?
How to get to Macerata
FROM THE NORTH AND SOUTH: Take the A14 motorway, exit at Macerata/Civitanova Marche, then follow the signs for Macerata/Tolentino/Foligno, take the SS77 motorway and exit at the ‘Macerata Sud/Corridonia’ junction, then follow the signs for Macerata Centro.
FROM THE WEST: SS77 towards Tolentino-Civitanova Marche: exit at Macerata Ovest/Sforzacosta. Continue on the SP77/Via Nazionale – Strada Provinciale Della Val Di Chienti, following the signs for Macerata and then for Macerata Centro.
FROM THE NORTH AND SOUTH: Trenitalia to Ancona or Civitanova Marche, then change to Macerata;
FROM THE WEST: Trenitalia to Fabriano (AN), then change to Macerata.
Raffaello Sanzio International Airport in Falconara (AN). The airport is connected by a direct train service departing from Castelferretti Station and arriving at Ancona railway station, or by bus to Ancona station. From here, continue by bus (Contram), car or train as indicated above.
Getting around Macerata: taxis, private hire cars and urban transport
Where to park in Macerata?
To reach the Sferisterio, we recommend the Sferisterio car park, located a few minutes’ walk from the Arena.
The car park is open 24 hours a day and has covered and uncovered parking spaces, a lift connecting all floors to Corso Cairoli, the street that leads directly to the Sferisterio.
Parking is free from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning.
Whether you want to try something traditional or grab a quick bite to eat, find out where to eat in Macerata!
The information on this page is taken from Visit Macerata, the city’s official tourist portal: a valuable guide to discovering everything Macerata has to offer.
