What to see in Fabriano: discover the historic town of paper in Marche

Before visiting Fabriano and discovering the things to see in the town of paper, of course we must first get there. It is located in the hinterland of Marche (psst, take a look here!), in the province of Ancona, in the heart of the country and not far from the regional border with Umbria. In this area, Fabriano stands out for its unique landscape in full harmony with the surrounding nature, where the work of human and its architecture fits in with the beauty of the green spaces of the area, rich in parks and nature reserves, such as those of the Mounts San Vicino, Canfaito and Cucco, Gola della Rossa and Bosco di Frassasi (find out more here).

Let's find out how to get to Fabriano. First, starting from Ancona: you can reach the town of paper comfortably by train traveling on both regional and intercity trains (in particular towards Rome). Alternatively, if you prefer to travel by car you need to reach Falconara Marittima on SS16 and then continue inland on SS76 up to your destination; the same route is also valid starting from other cities, such as Pescara from the South or Pesaro and Rimini from the North: you will need to reach Ancona along SS16 and then continue as just described.

Instead, starting from Perugia the car journey involves reaching the Umbria’s airport entitled to S. Francis of Assisi to the West of the city, then driving on SS318 and SS76 crossing the regional border up to your destination; you can travel by train too, but less comfortably, traveling on regional trains first to Foligno and then to Fabriano.

Here we are finally in Fabriano, the splendid town of paper in the heart of Marche region. Let's not waste time and let's go straight to find out the things to see in this fantastic gem!

Where should we start from if not the heart of the historic centre of Fabriano? We are in Piazza del Comune, or Platea Magna, an enchanting place that gives visitors the vivid sensation of traveling back in time to a remote era, between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In fact, it is exactly in the perimeter of this unusual triangular-shaped square that the political and administrative history of the village has been written for centuries, as evidenced by the wonderful architecture that characterizes the uniqueness of this place which today are important tourist attractions.

One of the symbols of Piazza del Comune and Fabriano is the Sturinalto, a stupendous stone and bronze fountain dating back to 1285 which occupies the center of the square; commissioned by the town’s council to represent the prestige of the village, this work is certainly inspired by the Fontana Maggiore of Perugia, built a few years earlier. But the true icon of the town is Palazzo del Podestà, located on the Northernmost side of the square and inaugurated in 1255: one of the most fascinating examples of Gothic architecture that has always been the seat of power in the town of paper.

And here we are, in the place where the most authentic story of Fabriano is told: we finally came to the Paper and Watermark Museum. It is a fantastic gallery, organized in a suggestive setting inside a former convent, where the history, tradition, culture and resourcefulness of a city rediscover everyday their origins in the art of handmade paper processing.

Inside the museum it is possible to visit truly characteristic environments which faithfully reproduce the ancient laboratories for the production of handmade paper, admiring the manufacturing process, the machinery, the tools and also a collection of watermarks produced in Fabriano, a city which thanks to its production had received the title of Unesco Creative City in 2013. The museum also has an internal bookshop, where visitors (thousands every year) can purchase products made by master paper makers.

Any more things to see in the town of paper? We return to the heart of the historic center of Fabriano to visit the beautiful Cathedral of S. Venanzio, the main sacred place in the village. The building stands proudly on Piazza Giovanni Paolo II (in front of the Art Gallery), characterized by its reddish facade, like many other historic buildings here in Fabriano.

The first evidence of the existence of this church dates back to 1047, but its construction and consecration as we know it today dates back only to 1663. The dominant architectural style is in fact Baroque, typical of the 1600s, but there is no shortage of elements characteristic of other artistic styles such as Gothic, in particular the apse and some internal decorations.

The Cathedral preserves many works of sacred art, especially frescoes by the local artist Allegretto Nuzi who lived in the Middle Ages. The famous Marquis Onofrio del Grillo is also buried inside, a prominent historical figure from Fabriano.

Fabriano is a wonderful place waiting to be discovered. But even the most beautiful stories, unfortunately, come to an end. Our visit to the town of handmade paper and its surroundings is over, but...who said the journey ends here?

Le Marche still has much, much more to offer; and one of its most shining jewels is certainly Recanati, the birthplace of the legendary poet of the Infinito, Giacomo Leopardi. Do you want to enjoy the best visit of this beautiful town with us? Find out more by clicking the button below!

What could be better than concluding our travel itinerary by stopping in nearby Umbria, perhaps passing through Fabriano once again? In particular, the most beautiful stage that we can recommend is Assisi, an iconic location that has always been associated with the name of S. Francis.

The figure of the Saint played a very important role in the cultural evolution of this vast territory, so much that he is considered now as the national Patron Saint of the entire Peninsula; and it is absolutely no coincidence that in Assisi, as well as in Fabriano and in many, many other villages throughout Central Italy, Francis is a key figure and symbol of peace, brotherhood and dialogue between peoples, fundamental traits of his human mindset, even before than religious.

If you also want to visit and experience the places of S. Francis for a profound and immersive travel experience, take a look below!