Discover Camerano

Camerano brings together underground history, cultural collections and trails through a cultivated hilly landscape. The Grotte di Camerano lie beneath the historic centre; above ground, routes lead through the surrounding area, and the Palazzo Comunale displays archaeological finds and historic accordions. This gives you the chance to discover different sides of the town during your trip.

The Grotte di Camerano and their history

The Grotte di Camerano form an underground city carved into sandstone. Their passages extend like a labyrinth beneath the historic centre. A reservation is required to visit, and visits take place exclusively as guided tours at set times. The tour lasts about 75 minutes and begins at the ticket office for the Grotte di Camerano, Piazza Roma 26. Check the practical details before your visit.

The historical interpretation of the caves is also uncertain: they are said to have been created or enlarged in the Middle Ages as a refuge from attacks by armies and armed bands. In July 1944, during the Second World War, they once again served as a shelter for the people of Camerano.

Trails and hilly landscape

The Percorso del Betelico is a 7.3-kilometre tourist trail with a stated duration of three hours. It runs through the San Germano district of Camerano, follows the Fosso del Betelico through cultivated land with hedgerows and centuries-old olive trees, and then returns to San Germano. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out.

The Anello della Gradina is a 5.4-kilometre tourist loop, also with a stated duration of three hours. Access is via the road to Camerano. Along the route are a landscaped viewpoint, the cone-shaped hill of La Gradina, the Fosso Tomba ditch, cultivated hills and Monte Zoia. Both trails are listed with the same duration, but the Betelico is 1.9 kilometres longer. This makes it easy to compare the route lengths and stated times directly.

Camerano’s landscape is shaped by gently rolling, cultivated hills: they slope down towards the Aspio River and rise towards Monte Conero. Both routes pass through this kind of hilly landscape, but each has a different character: along the Betelico, the fosso and old olive trees feature in the scenery; the Gradina route includes, among other things, a viewpoint, a ditch and Monte Zoia.

Collections, sacred history and art

The Civiche Raccolte Museali in the Palazzo Comunale comprise the Raccolta “Maratti”, an archaeological collection and a collection of historic accordions. Visits to the collections are by appointment. The archaeological collection includes finds from the municipality of Camerano, among them remains of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements, five cave tombs and more than a hundred Picenian tombs dating from the 11th to the 3rd century BC.

The accordion collection comprises fourteen instruments dating from 1850 to 1934. They were made by local manufacturers such as Scandalli, Soprani and SILA; the collection also includes materials documenting various stages of accordion production. Together with the archaeological finds, the collection showcases the range of holdings associated with Camerano—from traces of settlements to local instrument making.

According to tradition, Francis of Assisi founded the Chiesa San Francesco together with the adjoining monastery in 1215. Another connection with art is the Itinerario Marattiano, which opened on 25 May 2025 in Piazza Roma. The art trail was designed to show visitors some of the works of painter Carlo Maratti; the installations may change over time.

Rosso Conero and the festival

Wine is also part of Camerano’s local character. Rosso Conero is a full-bodied, structured wine made from Montepulciano grapes and is available for tasting at wineries throughout the Camerano area. If you would like to visit a particular winery, check its tasting options separately.

Every year during the first week of September, wine takes centre stage at the Festa del Rosso Conero. The festival features food stalls and market stands, street games and wine tastings late into the night. The specific event dates and programme vary from year to year.

Discover more destinations: Ostra, Trecastelli, Villaggio Taunus, Genga, Cerquete, Castelfidardo, Marzocca, Colleaprico.

Return to the main travel overview: Ancona.