Treia

Treia is a hilltop town in the province of Macerata, in the Marche region, set between the Conero Riviera and the Sibillini Mountains. The original settlement is thought to have been founded by the Sabines in the 4th century BCE and became a Roman municipium after 49 BCE, with excavations in the Potenza Valley below the modern town uncovering a forum, baths, and temples, including sculptures and inscriptions dedicated to the Egyptian deities Isis and Serapis. Around AD 1000 the population resettled on the more defensible hill of Montecchio — the site of today's town, later renamed Treia — as the lowland site was abandoned during a period of barbarian incursions. The town's centerpiece, Piazza della Repubblica, has a curved neoclassical facade and a marble balustrade with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. Treia is best known for the Disfida del Bracciale, a summer festival combining historical reenactment with a traditional ball sport, tracing its roots to the Renaissance.

Treia has no train station of its own; the nearest is at Macerata, about 13 km away on the Civitanova Marche–Fabriano regional line. From Macerata, Contram operates bus service to Treia.

• Piazza della Repubblica — the town's main square, with a curved facade and marble balustrade offering views over the Marche countryside.

• Disfida del Bracciale — a summer festival blending historical reenactment with a traditional ball-and-bracelet sport, with roots in the Renaissance period.

Macerata, the provincial capital, is roughly 13 km away and serves as the regional transport hub for the area.