The twice-weekly market of Jesi, heart of the Verdicchio wine country, selling food, local products and clothing in the historic town where Frederick II was born
The Mercato Settimanale di Jesi is the twice-weekly street market of Jesi, the historic walled town in the province of Ancona, set in the heart of the Castelli di Jesi country that gives the Marche's flagship Verdicchio wine its name. Held on Wednesdays and Saturdays on Piazza dei Partigiani and through the centre, it is a traditional Italian market serving local residents, with stalls selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheeses and cured meats, bread, fresh food, clothing, shoes and household goods, alongside the local produce of the surrounding hills. Jesi is famous as the birthplace of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1194 and for its intact Renaissance walls, and the market adds the everyday bustle of local life to a town of considerable history. Because it caters to Jesini doing their daily shopping, the produce is authentic and prices are honest, aimed at residents rather than inflated for visitors, making it a good place to find regional food and to taste the character of the Verdicchio country, with the wineries of the Castelli di Jesi a short distance away in the hills. Prices at food stalls are generally fixed, while non-food goods may allow a little negotiation; cash is the norm and the easiest way to pay, as many stallholders do not take cards. The atmosphere is brisk and local in the morning, and the historic centre, with its squares, theatre and the Pinacoteca holding works by the Jesi-born painter Lorenzo Lotto, rewards a wider visit. For travellers, the market offers a genuine slice of everyday Marche life in a town that combines great history with the region's most celebrated wine, an easy and authentic stop away from the coast.
Location
Highlights
- Twice-weekly market in the historic walled town of Jesi
- Produce, cheeses, cured meats and local food at honest prices
- Setting in the Verdicchio wine country of the Castelli di Jesi
- Birthplace of Frederick II with intact Renaissance walls
- Authentic, resident-focused atmosphere away from the coast
Tips for visiting
- Go on Wednesday or Saturday morning for the freshest produce and full stalls
- Bring cash, as many stallholders do not accept cards at this local market
- Combine a visit with the Castelli di Jesi wineries in the surrounding hills
- Explore Jesi's Renaissance walls and the Lorenzo Lotto works in the Pinacoteca
- Food prices are fixed, but there can be flexibility on non-food goods
When to visit
Wednesday and Saturday mornings are the time to visit, with the fullest stalls early on; the market does not run in the afternoons or on Sundays.
Accessibility
The market is held outdoors on the largely level central squares and streets, broadly accessible to wheelchair and pushchair users, though busy morning trade slows movement between stalls.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Jesi market held?
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, roughly 8AM to 1PM, on Piazza dei Partigiani and through the historic centre.
What is sold there?
Seasonal produce, cheeses and cured meats, bread, fresh food, clothing, shoes and household goods, plus local produce of the Verdicchio country.
Is it a tourist market?
No. It serves Jesi residents, so the produce is authentic and prices are aimed at daily shoppers rather than visitors.
Can it be combined with wine tasting?
Yes. Jesi sits in the Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio country, with wineries a short distance away in the surrounding hills.