10 tips for fun rainy days in Senigallia

Roveresca Fortress (Rocca Roveresca) was an important military site in the past that today is a space dedicated to art exhibitions and cultural events. In the 16th century, artillery school lessons took place within its walls, while rooms were created as the residence for nobles in the safety of the large halls.

The building's appearance highlights the fortress's defensive purpose; it's a solid structure in a quadrilateral shape, reinforced at every angle by imposing towers and surrounded by a huge moat. It seems impregnable, yet Cesare Borgia managed to conquer it during a historic battle. It is possible to visit the inside as well as the cellars where the dungeons were located.

The Diocesan Art Gallery (Pinacoteca Diocesana) is housed in the sophisticated rooms of the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop's Palace) house. The paintings comprise sacred art from the 16th to 19th centuries, with a particular focus on masters from the Marche and Romagna regions. The tour includes a visit to the rooms that were once the residence of the Bishops of Senigallia.

The walls are covered in elegant decorations, and the rooms house furnishings, sacred objects, vestments and silverware. The exhibition space is on the top floor of the palace, accessed via an imposing staircase. Entry is free, as are the guided tours. It's an unmissable opportunity!

La Fenice Archeological Neighborhood (Neighborhood Archeologica La Fenice) lets you see the remains of ancient streets from Roman times that were once lined with homes and taverns. These streets ran through the original settlement called 'Sena'.

The finds were discovered in the late 1980s during construction of the new La Fenice Theater and have stirred great archeological interest thanks to the optimal conservation status of the paving of both the public spaces and the buildings. During your visit, you can also see what was unearthed during the excavations displayed in illuminated cases around the excavation area.

The Pius IX Museum features clothing, vestments, artworks and sacred and everyday objects that belonged to the pope. Having spent over 31 years holding the papal office, Pius IX boasts one of the longest tenures in the history of the Catholic Church. The future pope was born in Senigallia in the late 18th century into the Mastai Ferretti family, who had settled in the city during the Renaissance.

The museum tour includes the various rooms of the residence, including the Salone di Rappresentanza (Ceremonial Hall) adorned with paintings, and an elegant space where official ceremonies took place and important figures were received. There's also a private chapel and a room with a collection of relics.

Exhibitions at the Rotonda a Mare feature an art gallery where the beauty of the artworks is amplified by the windows that allow the brightness of the Adriatic to flood in. The rotunda stands on a pier in Senigallia that dates back to the 1930s. It's a very evocative spot, especially when the lights go on in the evening, and has become a symbol of the city.

Originally constructed for hydrotherapy and recreational purposes, the rotunda has always been a point of reference for nights spent socializing on the seafront. After a period of decline in the 1980s and '90s, the rotunda has returned to its former splendor.

The Church and Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie is an inland monastery built for a community of Franciscan friars that's ideal for art lovers. You'll immediately see that the buildings reflect the simplicity and chasteness of the order's rules. Inside, behind the altar, is Perugino's painting 'Madonna con Santi' ('The Virgin and Saints'), dating back to the 15th century.

The evocative atmosphere and profound silence that fills the cloisters and nave are perfect for spiritual meditation. If you'd like to extend your visit to delve deeper into the rural life of centuries past, you can visit the Museo della Mezzadria (Sharecropping Museum), located in one wing of the convent.

The Church of the Cross (Chiesa della Croce) is an amazing example of magnificent baroque-style adornments in the city centre. It's a small building with simple Renaissance forms on the outside, while inside it hides stuccowork and gold beneath an incredible coffered ceiling.

Your jaw will drop as you take in the play between light and shadow, the glittering of the bronze friezes and the bright colors of the decorations. The 6 side altars are embellished with important paintings, while above the main altar hangs a 17th-century altarpiece by Federico Barocci depicting the entombment of Christ.

The Frasassi Caves (Grotte di Frasassi) are a fairy-tale place about 1 hour by automobile from Senigallia. It's a subterranean world made up of underground galleries, stalagmites and stalactites carved by water erosion over millions of years, creating small clefts and huge spaces such as the one known as 'Abisso Ancona'.

The tour takes visitors to the most evocative places, such as the Lago Cristallizzato (Crystallised Lake), Cascata del Niagara (Niagara Falls) and the Castello della Fatina (Fairy Castle). Like adventures? You can participate in speleological visits along unlit paths outside the walkways. You don't need any specific training or prior experience, but you do need to be in good physical shape.

Mondavio Fortress (Rocca di Mondavio) was never involved in any battles or subject to any attacks, which is why it remains intact to this day. Located around 18 miles from Senigallia, it was built to be an impregnable stronghold. The irregular shapes of the keep may seem strange, but they had a very specific purpose: They reinforced the walls to better resist artillery fire, and ensured that every inch could be kept under surveillance.

In the moat, you can get up-close with reproductions of impressive war machines, while original weapons and armor are displayed inside the fortress. One tip: Go up to the bastions to take in the stunning view of the hills of the Marche region.

MUSINF, the Museum of Modern Art, Information and Photography, offers answers to questions about the relationship between words and images. How is the information we receive transmitted and received? What's the relationship between these processes and art?

The museum is in the center of Senigallia, inside an elegant building near the La Fenice theater. Besides the collection of photographs, there's also an interesting collection of mail art, i.e. graphic creations done on postcards, envelopes and tickets. The civic collection is named after the great photographer Mario Giacomelli.