"Offida belongs to the province of Ascoli Piceno and is 25 kilometers far from Ascoli Piceno, that is the Chief Town of the homonymous province. Offida has a population of 5.327 inhabitants and a surface of 49,2 square kilometers thus showing a population density of 108,27 inhabitants per square kilometer. It rises 292 metres above the sea level. Located on a spur on the left side of the low Tronto valley, Offida is both important for its remarkable artistic and monumental heritage, and for trade and industrial activities connected to agricultural production. Craftwork includes the pillow lace and Offida is the capital of this so-called minor art. Wine, cereals and vegetables are produced here. There are shoe, leather and food industries as well as the traditional manufacturing of tombolo laces. There are some remains of the medieval walls with towers and bastions; the Romanesque-gothic church of Santa Maria della Rocca (XIV century), with three polygonal shapes apses and a muraled crypt; the Palace of the Council (XIII XV centuries), with a prehistoric museum and a small picture gallery; the collegiate church of the Assunta (Crivellesca schools paints painting; the church of Sant'Agostino (XIV century) which was enlarged in the XVII century (carved wooden chorus of Alessio Donati) and some other old buildings and cloisters. Offida has pre-historic origins, and it was also dominated by Romans (the name seemingly stems from the Etruscan word Ophyte).Offida is also rich in monuments bearing witness to its ancient past. The beautiful town of Offida is located about half an hour from the beach, from the center of Ascoli Piceno and from the ski resort and is about an hour away from the airports of Pescara and Ancona-Falconara." - SC4202551