Emanuela Toccaceli English teacher
ASCOLI IN A BOARD GAME - since 2018
GEOGRAPHY
ITALY - MARCHE question/answer cards
1.What is Italy?
Italy is a peninsula.
2.How many regions are there in Italy?
There are 20 regions
3.Which are the seas around Italy?
The seas around Italy are the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the East and the Ionian Sea to the South
4. Which are its borders?
Italy borders with France on the west, with Switzerland and Austria on the north and with Slovenia on the East
5.What is the most famous chain of mountains in Italy?
The Appenninnes is the most famous chain of mountains.
6.Which are the main rivers?
The main rivers are the Po, the Ticino and the Adda.
7.What is Mont Blanc?
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and it is in Western Europe.
8.Which important volcanoes are there in Italy?
The most important volcanoes are Vesuvius and Etna.
9.What is the climate like? The climate is continental in the North and in the highest regions, Mediterranean on the coast and subtropical in Sicily.
10.Which is the currency?
The currency is the Euro.
11.Which are the biggest lakes?
The biggest lakes are Lake Garda in the North East and Lake Maggiore in the North West
12.Which are the main islands?
The main islands are Sicily and Sardinia.
13. Which is the capital city?
The capital city is Rome.
14. Which other important big cities do you know?
Other important big cities are: Torino (Turin), Milano (Milan), Napoli(Naples), Firenze (Florence) and Venezia (Venice)
15.What is the Italian flag like?
The Italian flag is called “tricolore” and it is green , white and red.
16. Which region do you live in?
I live in the Marche region which is in the centre of Italy on the Adriatic coast.
17.How many provinces does the region Marche include?
It includes 5 provinces.
18 Which are the provinces?
The provinces are Macerata, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Ancona and Pesaro Urbino.
19 Which is the capital of the Marche region?
Ancona is the capital of the Marche region.
20What is Ancona famous for?
It is famous for the beaches of the Conero Riviera and because of its airport, Falconara. It is a city famous for its port from where a lot of travellers leave each year and go above all to Greece, Albania and Croatia.
MARCHE REGION
(FILL IN THE BLANKS ACTIVITY)
Marche - indicates - border - today - divided - traditions - flag
The name of the region _________derives from the German name MARK and ________ a set of border territories. The Marche marked the ________ between the northern Duchies and southern Italy. Later it was given to the papal state preserving this name. Still today the region seems to be ________ into two, both for dialects and for __________. The flag was decided in 1995.
Ascoli Piceno
What is Ascoli famous for?
It is the city of 100 towers. It is famous for its beautiful square (piazza del Popolo) for its stone: the travertine, for the Quintana, a historical performance, for its fried stuffed olives (olive all'ascolana), for Ascoli soccer team
Is Ascoli a safe or a dangerous city?
Ascoli is a safe and quiet city.
Is there a cathedral? There is the Cathedral of Saint Emidio
Who is saint Emidio?
Saint Emidio is the patron Saint, the protector of the city and of earthquakes.
When is Saint Emidio celebrated?
He is celebrated on 5th August with pyrotechnic shows and a bingo in Piazza Arringo.
Which are the most famous squares in Ascoli?
Piazza Arringo, Piazza Roma and Piazza del Popolo are the most famous squares in Ascoli.
What is there in piazza Arringo?
In piazza Arringo there is: the Dome, the Battistero and the town hall (palazzo dell’Arengo) In the past public assemblies were held in this square.
Why is Piazza del popolo so famous?
Piazza del Popolo is the most well known square, the jewel and pride of the city. It is rectangular in form and paved in travertine. It is known as the sitting room of Italy.
What is there in Piazza del popolo?
In piazza del popolo there is Palazzo dei Capitani and the Church of Saint Francesco. There is the Cafe Meletti
Which Roman monuments are there in Ascoli? There are Roman monuments such as the ruins of the theatre and of Augustus’ bridge and there is also the Salaria Way which crosses the Apenninnes and connects Ascoli to Rome.
Is there a theatre? There is the Ventidio Basso theatre
What is the Quintana? The famous Quintana is an extraordinary historical performance, which takes place in July and in August. People wear costumes of the time and parade in the main streets and in the narrow alleys till when they arrive at Campo Squarcia where the jousting tournament takes place and where the winning knight of the Giostra will be acclaimed. There are 6 knights as 6 are the sestieri. Sestieri is for the 6 parts in which the city is divided into.
Is there a stadium in Ascoli? The stadium of Cino and Lillo del Duca is very famous, it is the pride of the city. Everyone is a football fan of Ascoli Calcio, an Italian football club, founded in 1898 which is the fourth oldest club in Italy. People go to the stadium whenever there is a match
Which is the main speciality in Ascoli? The main speciality is “olive all’ascolana” that is fried stuffed olives
What can you do in Ascoli? I can go to the city centre with my friends..........
What about Carnival?(adapted from the internet)
The Carnival of Ascoli is rich in tradition. It is an event which can find you protagonist and spectator at the same time. It is a colourful open-air stage, set in an ideal position under the scenic lights of the central Piazza del Popolo, known as “the living room of Italy” . You can dress up and perform, using the language of jokes.
One of the winning formulas of this Carnival is the town competition for masked groups. First established in 1958, it accepts candidates divided into categories based on a number, selected on the evening of Shrove Tuesday by a jury that awards prizes for the most original idea, the best costumes and the most entertaining theme. The prize-giving is a ceremony in Ascoli.
There are also the so-called macchiette, individual masks who are self-organised with their own costumes and perform, often speaking the local dialect. They portray typical characters of the Ascoli festival, or they improvise, mocking well-known public figures: a sort of radio-carnival which spreads the stories of the city and unrepeatable secrets.
The celebrations officially begin on Fat Thursday, with the handing over of the keys by the mayor to the king of Carnival.
Then, on Thursday, Sunday and Shrove Tuesday evenings, Piazza del Popolo, decorated for the occasion with huge fin de siècle chandeliers, becomes a big ballroom, prepared to welcome dancing. Colourful illuminations are set up all over the old town, where there are many places hosting masked parties and themed balls.
At Carnival you can try the famous local specialities, you can eat very good sweets like frappe, ravioli (a special pasta filled with chestnuts, ricotta cheese or cream) and castagnole all fried sweets. Those who love savory dishes can choose “ravioli di gallina incaciati” which are made with hen meat, pecorino and parmesan cheese. People have fun with friends, mask and throw confetti everywhere these amazing days.
