An illustrious scholar, translator, poet and playwright, who was born in Civitanova Alta in 1507 and died in Rome in 1566. Caro studied in Civitanova with the teacher Rodolfo Iracinto. In 1525 he entered the service of the Florentine banker Luigi Gaddi; he later transferred to Rome, where he assumed the role of special secretary to the House of Farnese. This position, which he held all his life, allowed him to travel and meet the most prestigious and powerful courts, intellectuals and politicians of the Renaissance. In 1555 he obtained the title of Knight of the Order of Malta. Weary of court life, he withdrew in 1563 to the “Carovilla” in Frascati, dedicating himself entirely to intellectual pursuits and the Italian translation of Virgil’s Aeneid. He also wrote “Il Canzoniere”, the translation of Daphnis and Chloe and the comedy “Gli Straccioni”. To know the man and intellectual, however, the collection of letters written and received by him, which provide a historical, artistic and political mirror of the 16th century, are essential.

One of the most celebrated dancers and dance instructors of the 19th and early-20th century, he was born by chance in Rome in 1850 to a family of famous dancers from Civitanova; he died in 1928 on the stage of the Scala Theatre in Milan. He studied with the greatest master choreographers of his time. After having danced in leading roles all over Europe, he debuted in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1888, where he caused a sensation with his breathtaking spins and dizzying pirouettes. Between 1887 and 1902 he both danced with the Russian ballet company and taught at the Imperial School in St. Petersburg. He was instructor to Anna Pavlova, and published the Cecchetti method manual in 1922, which became fundamental for teaching classical dance. In 1925 he was invited by Arturo Toscanini to return to the Scala Theatre. It is interesting to note that in 1872, at 22 years of age, he participated with his father and his sister, Pia, at the inauguration of the “Annibal Caro” Theatre in Civitanova Alta. He always remained close to his family’s place of origin, returning to his house in Civitanova, particularly during the summer season.

He was born in 1884 to an aristocratic family in Civitanova, where he died in 1968. He devoted himself to managing his family’s huge farm estate. After his wedding to Countess Augusta Morrone Mozzi of Fermo, he had the splendid Art Nouveau-style Villa San Michele built in the grounds of Villa Conti, on a hill near Civitanova Alta. A passionate opera lover, in 1921 he financed the staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida at the Macerata Sferisterio, with a performance by the soprano Francisca Solari, who was to become his second wife. Pier Alberto Conti was first Mayor and then Governor of Civitanova from 1923 to 1938. As an administrator, he was loved by the citizens and implemented important public works for the upper town, including the Portocivitanova racetrack (now the sports stadium), the “Pincio” public gardens and the aqueduct, whose storage reservoir, shaped like a mediaeval tower, stands at the highest point of Civitanova Alta. After his death, Villa Conti and Villa San Michele were donated to the Salesians. Nowadays, private property.

He was born in 1916 in Civitanova Marche, where he died in 2004. He shared his love for art and engraving with his father, Aurelio, who was a printer and vernacular poet. After studying in the schools of the upper town, he obtained a scholarship to the “Scuola del Libro” in Urbino, from where he graduated in 1934. In 1936 he moved to Rome, where he worked as a press operator at the National Chalcography Institute and began to exhibit both engraved and painted works all over Italy. He frequented painters and men of culture in Rome, but never forgot his Civitanova and the landscapes of the Marches, which he finely and sensitively portrayed, both in watercolour and using ancient engraving techniques. He began teaching engraving at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples in 1956, remaining there until 1968, when he was appointed to the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, where he remained until 1980. In 1983 he was admitted to the Academia di San Luca and his name appears in the yearbook of the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon. In a 1954 review, the famous art critic Cesare Brandi described him as: “the most modest, distinguished and subtle engraver since Morandi”.

One of the most celebrated dancers and dance instructors of the 19th and early-20th century, he was born by chance in Rome in 1850 to a family of famous dancers from Civitanova; he died in 1928 on the stage of the Scala Theatre in Milan. He studied with the greatest master choreographers of his time. After having danced in leading roles all over Europe, he debuted in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1888, where he caused a sensation with his breathtaking spins and dizzying pirouettes. Between 1887 and 1902 he both danced with the Russian ballet company and taught at the Imperial School in St. Petersburg. He was instructor to Anna Pavlova, and published the Cecchetti method manual in 1922, which became fundamental for teaching classical dance. In 1925 he was invited by Arturo Toscanini to return to the Scala Theatre. It is interesting to note that in 1872, at 22 years of age, he participated with his father and his sister, Pia, at the inauguration of the “Annibal Caro” Theatre in Civitanova Alta. He always remained close to his family’s place of origin, returning to his house in Civitanova, particularly during the summer season.

Born in Civitanova Marche Alta in 1822, he was a famous composer and orchestral director. He pursued his musical inclinations from an early age, attending the “Gioacchino Rossini” Conservatory in Pesaro, where he received an organ and
Born in Civitanova Marche Alta in 1822, he was a famous composer and orchestral director. He pursued his musical inclinations from an early age, attending the “Gioacchino Rossini” Conservatory in Pesaro, where he received an organ and piano diploma. He was appointed to the position of director at the Ferrara Institute of Music, where he remained for 44 years and established the famous “Ferrara Quintette”. A composer of very important musical works and a brilliant concert performer, he was also interested in music theory and wrote several works on it.
He died in Bologna in 1962.

Born in Civitanova Marche in 1919, he died in his city in 2005. He made his debut as an opera singer in 1946; in the same year, Beniamino Gigli revealed his brilliant future to him in an audition. He then developed his talent at the Santa Cecilia National Academy in Rome and debuted at the Scala in 1949, beginning a 40-year career as a baritone and bass, and establishing himself as a distinguished performer of the repertoires of Mozart and Rossini. He appeared at the most prestigious theatres around the world, from the Scala in Milan to the New York Metropolitan, and sang with the leading opera performers of his time, becoming known for his extremely versatile voice and extraordinary stage presence, together with his great style and composure.