The Piaggia, Corinaldo’s monumental staircase

One of the most famous staircases in the Marche region, the majestic Piaggia of Corinaldo is the cornerstone of the town’s layout, from which charming little alleys branch off. Flanked along its entire length by distinctive brick houses, climbing its steps immerses you in the medieval atmosphere of Corinaldo. The effort required to climb the 109 steps is rewarded by the small wonders that reveal themselves with every step.

As you continue, your gaze rises to the top of the staircase, where the imposing structure of the former Augustinian Convent stands out, right in the heart of Corinaldo’s historic centre. In ancient times, the “piagge” were the sloping streets and paths that connected the different levels on which the town was organised. In the early 15th century, where the staircase now stands, there was an uphill street paved with cobblestones—almost like a sloping square traversed by people and carts making their way up to the centre.

The Staircase and the Well create a unique urban space that, as you walk through it, brings together history, architecture, and traditions. As you walk up the Piaggia, you can almost hear the echoes of the sounds that marked daily life in a medieval village.

The Pozzo della Polenta (Polenta well)

The first well, located at the top of the Piaggia, was built by Antonello Accattabriga, the tyrant of Corinaldo, in the second half of the 15th century to supply water to nearby homes. When the staircase was renovated in the early 1900s, the well was filled in. In 1980, a new well was built at its current location to serve as the setting for the “Contesa del Pozzo della Polenta,” the oldest historical reenactment in the Province of Ancona, which takes place every year during the summer. The well is linked to one of the most bizarre and curious local tales: the story of the sack of flour that fell into the well.