Macerata is the provincial capital and is a large town in central Le Marche, with the mediaeval part located on a hill overlooking the rivers Chienti and Potenza. There is a larger modern area to Macerata on the lower plain and in total the town has a population of over 40,000 inhabitants.

The town has a thriving University which was founded in 1290 and it is now very popular with students from abroad as well as native Italians.

The town has many lovely mediaeval streets and there are also many beautiful Palazzi in the centro storico. Macerata has many museums and art galleries and the famous Madonna and Child by Carlo Crivelli are on display in the Palazzo Ricci. The large and imposing Cathedral in the centro storico dates from the 1100s.

In each July and August the world famous Macerata Opera festival is held in the 3,500 to 4,500 seat Sferisterio arena. The large arena was erected in the 1820s by the architect Ireneo Aleandri and the orchestra pit is so wide that musicians at each end cannot hear one another.

It is a truly wonderful experience to hear Opera in the warm night air in the summer in the arena with candles flickering in the darkness.