Municipality in the province of Macerata, located about ten kilometers from the coast, the original settlement was located on a ridge which overlooks a wide and green valley, while the newer areas developed along the slope following the profile of the hill in an irregular way. It has always been linked to its most famous citizen, the lyric poet par excellence of Italian literature, Giacomo Leopardi. Loved and hated, known also as the "wild birth place", every corner inevitably brings to mind the poignant verses of the poet, who drew inspiration from these fascinating angles.
The town was named for the first time in a document of the XII century and was founded after the political unification of some castles located between the rivers Musone and Potenza, at short distance one from each other. After a period of Lombard domain, the town submitted the rule of the Papal State. In the early years of the XV century, it became a major economic and trading center and opened commercial relations not only with the Italian cities, but also with foreign ones, favored by the presence of a large port and its own currency. During the XVI century, Recanati submitted a period of decline caused primarily by a strengthening of trade of Ancona, changing its economical vocation from one based on trade to a predominantly agricultural one.

Attractions:
- the Cathedral, built in the late XIV century on the remains of an existing building, features a façade that incorporates also the adjacent XVI century Episcopate. It consists of three naves;
- the Church of San Vito, whose construction began in the XI century and was later enlarged. It features a brick façade designed by Vanvitelli and inside preserves valuable paintings;
- the XV century Church of Sant 'Anna, which was rebuilt in the XVIII century, it houses a miniature replica of the House of Loreto;
- the Church of San Domenico of Roman origins, was restored in the XV century and features a marble portal of the XV century and a fresco by the artist Lotto;
- the XIII century Church of San Francesco, which was renovated several times over the centuries. It preserves two artworks by Palma il Giovane;
- the Church of St. Augustine, built in the late XIII century and features a XV century portal attributed to Giuliano da Majano;
- the Church of St. Filippo with a façade and interiors of the XVIII century in Baroque style;
- the XIV century Diocesan Museum in the Episcopate, which preserves inside XV-XVII century paintings, including a Holy Family attributed to Mantegna, a Saint Lucia of Guercino and an altarpiece of the second half of the XV century by Urbani;
- the Hill of Infinity, one of the trails that the poet Leopardi loved to follow, which is dominated by the XV century Monastery of St. Stephen;
- the Ghibelline Tower is all that remains of the first Town Hall dating from the XII century. The walls with two turrets were built later, in the early XV century by the Sforza;
- the XV century Palazzo degli Studi, designed by Giuliano da Majano;
- the Civic Museum divided into sections, including an important art gallery;
- Palazzo Roberti with its Baroque façade and a grand staircase;
- the XII century Tower del Borgo;
- the XII century Villa Colloredo;
- the XVIII century Palazzo Leopardi (home of the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi) .