Esanatoglia and the nearby towns
By towns near Matelica we mean places worth a day trip, not only municipalities that share a border. The 2016 earthquake left marks in many places in the area, so it helps to know what can be visited and what cannot before you set out.
Esanatoglia is a walled town on the Esino river, with Corso Vittorio Emanuele as its main street. Look for the Pieve di Santa Anatolia and the historic gates. The Marche region warns that the old town, monuments and museums are only partly usable. Do not assume that churches and museums are open.
The towns compared
What to look for and what to check before you go.
| Place | Landmarks | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Esanatoglia | Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Pieve di Santa Anatolia, historic gates | Old town, monuments and museums only partly usable |
| San Severino Marche | Piazza del Popolo, town hall, Teatro Feronia | Tell the lower town from the upper town on Montenero |
| Camerino | Old town, Archbishop's Palace and Diocesan Museum | Rebuilding under way, cathedral and Ducal Palace still building sites |
| Fabriano | Museo della Carta e della Filigrana | Closed Monday, ticket €12 (2026) |
| Valdicastro | Abbey of San Salvatore, near Poggio San Romualdo | Interior reported closed for quake damage by a trail operator |
Our picks: Fabriano
A cooking class, a jewelry class and a paper workshop in Fabriano.
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.
Handmade paper workshop in Fabriano
A course with an expert in handmade paper. Materials and the paper you make are included.
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Pasta and tiramisu class at a local home near Fabriano
A class on two types of pasta and tiramisu, then you eat what you cooked, with an aperitivo, water, wine and coffee. The exact address is given after booking.
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Silver jewelry class with a goldsmith in Fabriano
A class with an experienced goldsmith. Food, drinks and transport are not included, and the piece you make costs extra, priced by weight.
Check availability →Day trips from Matelica: wine, caves and towns
Tastings, workshops in Fabriano and the Frasassi Caves with live prices and availability.
San Severino Marche
An elliptical square and a town on two levels.
The heart of San Severino Marche is Piazza del Popolo, elliptical in shape, with the town hall and the Teatro Feronia as landmarks. The rest of the town is easier to read if you tell two parts apart: the lower town around the square and the upper town on Montenero.
Stop on the square first, then go up to the upper town. For church and museum hours, ask on site before you climb.
Camerino and the rebuilding
A city under construction, with some buildings returned.
In Camerino the rebuilding of the old town after 2016 is still going on. A report of 25 October 2025 notes the return of the Archbishop's Palace with the Diocesan Museum, and also works in progress at the cathedral. A report of 16 October 2026 still lists the cathedral and the Ducal Palace as building sites. Do not expect a fully restored old town.
The Viale Emilio Betti parking garage was announced to reopen on 17 October 2026. Funding has been mentioned to renew the elevators toward Piazza Cavour, but do not count on a working connection. For fees and hours, read the signs on site.
Fabriano and the paper museum
The paper city, with a museum you should reserve.
The Museo della Carta e della Filigrana is at Largo Fratelli Spacca 2 in Fabriano. It demonstrates how handmade paper is produced. Do not confuse it with the paper museum in Amalfi, which has a similar name but is elsewhere.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Monday, on 1 January and at Christmas. In 2026 a full ticket is €12, under 18 €5, over 65 €10, and under 6 is free. The family ticket for two adults and one child under 18 is €24. With a Frasassi ticket you pay €10.
Places are limited. You can reserve a time slot for free and pay at the desk. The guided visit lasts about an hour and includes entry to the Pinacoteca Civica Bruno Molajoli. For a guide in a foreign language, phone ahead, as German depends on which staff are in.
Fabriano is also the station where you change trains for Matelica. For details see the getting there page.
How to get to Matelica →Valdicastro Abbey
Near Poggio San Romualdo, not in Matelica.
The Abbey of San Salvatore in Valdicastro stands near Poggio San Romualdo, in the municipality of Fabriano, in the province of Ancona. Its monastic foundation is linked to San Romualdo around the year 1000. Do not look for it in Matelica.
A trail operator describes it as closed because of quake damage. Tourist descriptions do not show that it can be visited today. Check interior hours, entry and any reopening in 2026 before you travel.
Towns near Matelica: frequently asked questions
Which towns are worth visiting near Matelica?
San Severino Marche, Esanatoglia, Camerino and Fabriano are covered on this page, plus Valdicastro Abbey near Poggio San Romualdo. They are very different, so check what can be visited at each one.
Can you visit Camerino after the earthquake?
The old town is neither fully closed nor fully restored. Some buildings have been returned, while the cathedral and the Ducal Palace are still building sites according to a report of 16 October 2026. Plan your visit with that in mind.
Is Esanatoglia fully open?
No. The Marche region warns that the old town, monuments and museums are only partly usable. Do not assume churches and museums are open.
How much is the paper museum in Fabriano?
In 2026 a full ticket is €12, under 18 €5, over 65 €10, and under 6 is free. The museum is closed on Monday. You can reserve a time for free and pay at the desk.
Can you visit Valdicastro Abbey?
A trail operator describes it as closed because of quake damage. Check its status before you travel.