
The moderate charm of an ancient roman outpost, the color of medieval stones, the prettiness of a picturesque town in the Appennino, can be perfectly summarized in Pioraco. Pioraco is situated at 441 meters above the sea level, has territorial extension of 19,480 square kilometers, the current population is of 1326 inhabitants and has just one community, Seppio, that is 3 kilometers far from the town. The Pioraco origins date back to prehistory. Several findings, today hosted in archeological museums of Perugia and Ancona, testify primordial human settlements in caverns and up to the mountains. Afterwards it became an ancient “stazio romana” called Prolaqueum, situated on Camellaria path, ramification of the ancient Via Flaminia along the path Nucera – Dubios – Prolaqueum – Settempedana ( Antonio Pio’s itinerary). During the Middle Age Pioraco was a fortress with a tower, characterized by very ancient workshop that were used to paper making; it was also a fortified defense of Camerino Dukedom during the Varanos Lordship. Today is an essentially industrial center, always linked to the paper production.
The visit
From the car park near the public gardens you can go to the San Francesco church and the Franciscan convent (today seat of communal departments) with the cloister. From here or walking through a rocky path or crossing the old town streets you can reach the “Li Vurgacci” nature trail, moreover walking along the town streets it is possible to reach the ancient wash house on the Scarsito river.
Again from the car park it is possible to reach the sport facilities area that also has a playground and going to Fiuminata direction you reach the pedestrian/bicycle path which, flanking the Potenza river lead to “Madonna di Costa Eletta”.
At the Town Hall you can visit the museum of Paper and Watermark and the so called “gualchiera prolaquense” (a water mill), where you can participate to a demonstration of who they produce paper by hand. At the museum situated in Via Antonino Pio there is also the museum of fossils and mushrooms.
Do not miss
“Li Vurgacci” nature trail.
Info
Pro Loco Pioraco
+39 366 5871866
Largo Leopardi