Recanati, Leopardi's village

The poet Giacomo Leopardi was born in Recanati on 29 June 1798 and will spend almost half of his short life in the walls of his family's building, of Leopardi Counts, the 'paternal hostel'.

More than 200 years after the birth of the poet, Recanati has learned to love and celebrate it. The poet himself, in his compositions was able to describe a sweet and melancholy portrait of the city, and today, the students, walking the streets of the city center, can hear Leopardi’s lyrics.

The most mentioned places are those around the family building, and among these the most important is the ‘Colle dell’ Infinito’, named in this way from the poem composed in 1819, the most famous lyric of the poet, of which the bicentennial occurs this year.

‘The tower of Passero Solitario’ is located in the cloister of Sant'Agostino, more towards the heart of the country, the square, and to this place is linked another of the cornerstones of Leopardi's poetry, 'Il Passero Solitario' poem, in 59 verses, that conteins a harsh reflection about the loneliness.

The space that Leopardi described more often ,what he could see from the window of his library, in front of which he used to study, is the the square of the ‘Sabato del Villaggio’ .

In 2014 Elio Germano brings to the screen the story of the poet, a Mario Martone film 'Il Giovane Favoloso', where it possible to enjoy, in addition to the beauty of Leopardi’s poetry, also the charm of Recanati.

Wherever you go in the city you can see signs of the continuous memory of the poet : in the municipal library, at the entrance of the ‘Liceo Classico’ high school with some wonderful frames of the film, on the streets, during the Christmas time, with fairy lights that contein verses of the ‘Infinito’ poem. Several cultural events celebrate Leopardi, as poet, such as meetings with authors, exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts, that animate the city both in winter and summer.

After a careful reconstruction, that made it a more refined and fascinating face, Recanati is preparing to welcome the celebrations for the bicentenary of the ‘L’Infinito’ poem. The original copy is already on display at the Civic Museum of Villa Colloredo Mels.

Our fellow citizen Giacomo Leopardi has taught so much to the Recanati people , who have made the quiet village of 20000 inhabitants a cultural and artistic pole, a destination for intellectuals and artists, who have helped the city's rebirth, today the most alive and prosperous ever.

The best way to experience the city is to live there and the Engel & Voelkers agency of Civitanova Marche offers beautiful solutions both in the city center with historic buildings, and with farmhouses in the green Marche countryside.

Paola Donati