Fabriano between paper and nature

Upon arrival in Fabriano, you’ll take a guided tour of the medieval historic center, starting with the Cathedral (rebuilt in 1617 and dedicated to St. Venantius). The tour continues with the Church of San Filippo, the Loggiato di San Francesco, and the Oratory of Charity, which preserves frescoes by Filippo Bellini depicting the seven works of mercy. You’ll also visit the Crypt of San Romualdo, the Church of S. Onofrio or Holy Stairs, the Teatro Gentile, the main fountain known as “Sturinalto,” and the Palazzo del Podestà, the oldest Gothic civil building in the Marche region.
Afterward, you’ll visit the truly special and unusual Museum of Crafts on Bicycles. This museum is an exhibition of vintage bicycles used for various trades and commercial activities.
At the end of the day, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll depart for an excursion to discover the fascinating history of paper.
We’ll follow a path along the right bank of the Giano River, tracing what was once an ancient Roman route that connected Umbria with the modern-day Marche region and the port of Ancona. This route was also frequented in the Middle Ages and served as the main thoroughfare out of the city until the early 1400s.
As we walk along the waterway, we will encounter the very sites where paper production began in Fabriano in the 13th century, with at least 20 mills. The trail connects the remains of these ancient 13th and 14th-century paper mills with 18th-century workshops and current production sites. The excursion will then continue to Cancelli di Fabriano, where, just a few kilometers away, the sources of the Giano River are located. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Museum of Paper and Watermark, where you can learn about all the stages of handmade paper production. Afterward, you will have some free time. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for the small village of Cacciano. With a population of about 90 people, it is perched at 528 meters above sea level, poised between the Marche and Umbria regions.
You’ll find yourself in an open-air art gallery! The paintings on the facades of the village’s houses, which are updated every year, all follow a single theme: country life, its inhabitants busy with their typical tasks, and the beautiful nature and wildlife of the area. One of the most beautiful and photographed works is surely that of Ms. Italia, a longtime resident. The 7-meter-high mural, titled “La Vergara” and created by Federico Zenobi, depicts a woman tending to her flowers.
After the visit, you will be transferred to a restaurant for lunch. End of services.