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macerata

The historic city center, stretched across a ridge and still almost completely surrounded by walls dating from the 15th century, still has a few precipitous narrow streets that are connected by steep steps. In addition, there are fine monuments within the old city walls such as the renaissance Merchants’ Arcade [Loggia dei Mercanti], the town hall [i palazzi del Comune], the Prefecture [la Prefettura], and the tall Main, or Clock, Tower [Torre Maggiore o dell’Orologio], that all arise from Liberty Plaza [la piazza della Libertà]. Also notable is the enormous neoclassical Sferisterio, built in the last century as an arena for the Italian ballgame pallone “al bracciale.” It holds up to 7,000 people and today is a well-known setting for the lyric opera season.