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Offida, kingdom of the production
of the esteemed Rosso Piceno Superiore wine,
boasts to be one of the most interesting and
best conserved archeological sites of the
Piceno zone. Some of the alcheological finds
date from 1000 B.C. that makes one think the
town could have had a  prehistoric
origin. The name Offida could have been derived
from Ophis, snake or from Oppidum, fortified
site of the Roman age or from the Etruscan
Ophyte.
The birth of the actual centre dates back
to the foundation of the castle of the Longabardi
between VI to the IX century. Today Offida
occupies a very important place in the Piceno
areadue to its artistic patronage, commerce
and overall its agricultural productivity.
Of the handmade activities the most highlighted
is that of the 'Merletto a Tombolo'.
At the entrance of the town there is a big
tower ( della Rocca 1487-1494) built by the
Pope inInnocenzo VIII. All the fortifiction
walls are intact. The first monument we see
is the Civil Hospital of Pietro Maggi (1796)
which has a neoclassic face. Close to the
Rocca there is the monument to Merlettaie
and the Caduti (1923)
 Walking
along Corso Serpente Aureo we arrive to Piazzo
del Popolo whee we can admire the Town hall
(1200). From there we can gain access to the
theatre "Serpente Aureo" designed
by Pietro Maggi in 1823.
In the same square there is the Collegiata
Nuova built in trarocco and neoclassic style.
Passing Via Roma, we can find the Palazzo
Castellotti that hosts the archeaological
museum "G. Allevi", the communal
Pinacoteca and the museum of the tradition.
 The
church of S. Maria della Rocca is probably
the most important moument of the town. Situated
on the crown of a land cliff. The building
is of Roman style using lateritious bricks
and travertino rocks. In the cript, underneath
the church, you can see the al fresco paintings
which remain intact.
One of the most popular festivals is the
Carnevale of Offida.
Useful numbers: (pref.
0736)
Municipio:
889381 - fax 889648
Pro Loco:
880526
Museo di Offida:
888609 fax 888158
Carabinieri:
880804
Guardia Medica:
118
Farmacia Colonnella:
889488
Farmacia Marinelli:
889330
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