Matelica in a nutshell
Matelica lies in the Marche region of central Italy, in the province of Macerata, in the upper Esino valley. It has about 9,000 residents. The center is Piazza Enrico Mattei, and the Palazzo del Governo, the Torre Civica, Palazzo Ottoni, the loggia and the fountain are grouped around it. The river is the Esino, and the people are called matelicesi.
This guide covers the old town, the Museo Piersanti, Verdicchio di Matelica and its wineries, Monte San Vicino, the Frasassi Caves and nearby towns such as Esanatoglia, San Severino Marche and Camerino. The caves are in Genga, in the province of Ancona, not in the municipality of Matelica. The site is independent: it is not run by the municipality, the region, a wine consortium, a museum, a winery or a tour company. Prices are in euros (2026 rates), and they change.
Getting there: Matelica station is on the Civitanova Marche-Macerata-Fabriano line. By car, leave the A14 at Ancona Nord and take the SS 76. The nearest airport is Ancona. Details are on the getting there page.
Our picks: tours around Matelica
A wine tasting in Matelica, the Frasassi Caves and a private day trip to the caves and Jesi.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private day trip to the Frasassi Caves and Jesi
A local guide, transfer from and back to Ancona or Jesi, a stop at the Valadier Temple and a guided walk through Jesi. The cave ticket (about €20, paid on site), food and drinks are extra.
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Verdicchio di Matelica tasting with a cellar visit
A guided cellar visit and a tasting of three wines with grissini or taralli. Further glasses beyond the tasting are not included.
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Frasassi Caves guided tour with entry ticket
A guide, parking, entry to the main halls and the shuttle from the car park to the cave entrance. The Valadier Temple (Madonna di Frasassi sanctuary) is not included.
Check availability →Tours and day trips in the Marche
Wine tastings, the Frasassi Caves and days out in the hill towns, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the list of things to do, then pick the pages you need.
Things to do in Matelica
Ten stops: the square, the theater, the cathedral, the museum and places outside the center.
Tours around Matelica
Caves, cellars, park walks and day trips to the hill towns, with hours and prices.
Verdicchio di Matelica
DOC and DOCG, the growing area and how to plan a winery visit.
Museo Piersanti
Reopened after the earthquake: free entry and hours to confirm.
The Frasassi Caves
2026 tickets, hours by season and how to get there from Matelica.
Monte San Vicino
The summit trail, the rules in the reserve and Lake Castreccioni.
Towns near Matelica
Esanatoglia, San Severino Marche, Camerino, Fabriano and Valdicastro.
Getting there
Train, car, Ancona airport and parking near the center.
Weather and best time
Which data exist and how to read the regional climate.
Where to stay
A hotel in the center, a country house with a winery and a farm stay at the foot of the mountain.
What to know before you go
Where older guides are out of date.
The Museo Piersanti has reopened
After the earthquake restoration, the museum was inaugurated again on 21 December 2025. According to the municipality, entry is free. The hours differ: the municipality lists Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the museum 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Confirm the hours before you go.
Museo Piersanti →Some buildings are still closed
After the 2016 earthquakes, the Museo Civico Archeologico in Palazzo Finaguerra is listed as unusable, with no reopening date. The same goes for the Palazzo comunale and the church of San Francesco. Do not take interior access for granted.
Things to do →Camerino is a building site
The reconstruction of the old town is under way. In the latest update of October 2026, the cathedral and the Palazzo Ducale are still listed as construction sites. Visit Camerino with realistic expectations.
Nearby towns →The name of the wine
The name in use is still Verdicchio di Matelica, with a DOC since 1967 and a DOCG Riserva since 2010. A procedure to rename it Matelica is under way.
Verdicchio →Frasassi is in Genga
The caves are in the province of Ancona. The ticket office and the parking lot are at San Vittore delle Chiuse, and a free shuttle takes you to the entrance. Allow about 20 minutes by car from Matelica.
Frasassi Caves →How many days you need
Three possible paces, all with Matelica as a base.
One day
Spend the morning in the center: the square, the fountain, Palazzo Ottoni and, on an opening day, the Museo Piersanti. The theater and the Roman baths can be visited free of charge on request at the tourist office. In the afternoon, a Verdicchio tasting, booked with the winery.
Two days
On the second day, go to the Frasassi Caves. The tourist route takes about 75 minutes, and the temperature stays around 14 °C all year, so bring a jacket even in summer. You can add Fabriano and its paper museum.
Three days
Give the third day to Monte San Vicino or Esanatoglia. The summit trail starts at the Prati di San Vicino and takes about 45 minutes uphill. Check the trail conditions before you set out.
Monte San Vicino →Matelica: frequently asked questions
Where is Matelica?
In the Marche region, in the province of Macerata, inland along the Esino river. It is not on the coast. The Frasassi Caves are about 20 km away, in Genga, in the province of Ancona. See the getting there page for the rest.
Can I get there without a car?
Partly. Matelica station is on the Civitanova Marche-Macerata-Fabriano line. From Ancona airport, the Castelferretti-Falconara Aeroporto station is about a 3-minute walk from the terminal, and you change at Fabriano for Matelica. There is no direct connection from the airport. Check the current timetable before you go.
How much does a visit to Matelica cost?
The center is walkable and free. Entry to the Museo Piersanti is free according to the municipality, and a visit to the theater and the Roman baths is free on request. The Frasassi Caves cost €20 per person (2026 price), with reduced prices for young people and over-65s. The paper museum in Fabriano costs €12 for adults.
Do I need to book?
For winery visits and tastings, yes: contact the winery, usually by phone. For the Frasassi Caves there is no general online booking requirement, and you can also buy a ticket at the ticket office.
When is the best time to visit?
It depends on what you want to do. The caves have hours that change by season and some closing days in December and January. For the trails on Monte San Vicino, pick dry days. The weather page explains the data that exist.
Is this the official website of Matelica?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the municipality, the region, the wine consortia, museums, wineries, accommodation providers or tour companies.