Macerata

Macerata (Italian pronunciation:) is a city and comune in central Italy, the county seat of the province of Macerata in the Marche region. It has a population of about 41,564.

It is home to the University of Macerata (founded in 1290), making it one of Europe's oldest universities, specializing in humanities and social sciences, and located in a historic center with medieval walls.

One of the city's best-known landmarks is the Sferisterio, a large neoclassical open-air arena built in the 19th century, which later became a major venue for summer performances, including opera.