Ostra is a town and comune

Comune

In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...

in the Marche

Marche

The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...

, central Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, near the modern Ostra Vetere

Ostra Vetere

Ostra Vetere is a town and comune in the region of Marche, Italy, near the modern Ostra, south-east of Senigallia.The original name of the town was Montenovo. In 1882 the name was changed in Ostra Vetere, after the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Ostra, located near the modern town along the...

, south-east of Senigallia

Senigallia

Senigallia is a comune and port town on Italy's Adriatic coast, 25 km by rail north of Ancona, in the Marche region, province of Ancona....

.

The original name of the town was Montalboddo. In 1881 the name was changed to Ostra, like the ancient Roman city

Ancient Ostra

Ancient Ostra was an ancient Roman city situated between the modern town of Ostra and Ostra Vetere in the region Marche, Italy.It was inhabited from the 3rd century BC until the 6th century AD.-History:...

 located near the modern town of Ostra.

Geography

Ostra lies on a hill over the Misa river valley, in typical Italian country landscape. It is the most important town in the hinterland of Senigallia

Senigallia

Senigallia is a comune and port town on Italy's Adriatic coast, 25 km by rail north of Ancona, in the Marche region, province of Ancona....

, only 14 km from the Adriatic coast. Close by is the city of Jesi

Jesi

thumb|250px|Teatro Pergolesi.Iesi is a town and comune of the province of Ancona in the Marche, Italy.It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriatic Sea.-History:Iesi was one of the last towns of the Umbri...

 (18 km), while Ancona

Ancona

Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....

, the capital of the region Marche

Marche

The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...

, is 40 km away.

The nearest railway station is that of Senigallia, while the Raffaello Sanzio Airport (Ancona-Falconara) is 30 km away.

Piazza dei Martiri

At the heart of the town is Piazza dei Martiri (Martyrs' square) the most important square in the town. Here you can find the 16th century City Tower (33 meters high), rebuilt in the 20th century after being bombed in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the Municipal Building with its arches and its marble staircase and the St. Francis' Church, built in the 13th century.

Defensive wall

Built in the late Middle Ages

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

 the wall surrounding the town is perfectly preserved for a total length of 1,200 meters. It still has nine great towers and two main entrances.

Madonna della Rosa Sanctuary

Located a few hundreds metres out of town, this Sanctuary devoted to Holy Mary

Mary (mother of Jesus)

Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...

 is one of the most important in Italy, visited every year by many pilgrims coming both from Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 and Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. It has been built in 1754 after Holy Mary appeared to a young girl and fosters a miraculous image of the Virgin

Mary (mother of Jesus)

Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...

.

Twin towns

Markt Schwaben

Markt Schwaben

Markt Schwaben is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It lies roughly 23 km east of Munich on the northern edge of the Upper Bavarian district of Ebersberg...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...