Easter in Jesi Italy
April 5th 2026
Easter morning photo on the balcony overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
Easter in Italy! We had Easter dinner with Antonio’s family. It was a traditional Easter meal with many courses. We had the cheese bread that Antonio’s brother was making when we arrived . Fresh made ravioli with a sauce Antonio’s dad started the day we arrived as well. It was perfecto! Antonio’s dad did all the cooking and also made the traditional lamb. The food was soo good! We had brought a bottle of Banfi wine (from our winery tour in Tuscany) and some Old Pogue (from the states) as gifts to add to the dinner. Palo had provided us with some local wines as well to add to the dinner.
Table set for Easter Dinner at Monica and Palos house.
For dessert, Antonio’s brother, Stefano, brought pastiera neopolitan (Italian Easter Pie) made by his girlfriend’s mother who is from Naples. Pastiera Napoletana is a classic Italian Easter pie from Naples, made with a sweet shortcrust pastry filled with ricotta, cooked wheat, eggs, sugar, and flavored with orange blossom water for its distinctive springtime aroma. Palo had Sandy break open the traditional Chocolate Easter Egg to get the prose inside. Then we all ate the chocolate!
pastiera neopolitan (Italian Easter Pie) with fresh strawberries.
Needles to say, we were all in a food coma after dinner! It was great that his family shared their Easter traditions with us. I felt very fortunate. Palo had me try the Varnelli after dinner. This is an anise infused liquor that is traditionally added to espresso in hi home town. I liked it with the coffee, not sure I would like it straight up.
Stefano with the variety of beverages w had with Easter Dinner.
After dinner, Antonio’s took us into the old walled city part of his town. (Jesi). Antonio’s grew up in this town and knows every nook and cranny. He gave a fantastic tour. We parked outside the walled city wan walked in through one of the few entrances in. Most of the wall is still intact. He took us to the main piazza called Piazza della Repubblica. Here there is a large building called Teatro Giovanni Pergolesi, a Baroque composer bourn in Jesi. Antonio told us that the obelisk in the middle of the fountain was moved to another part of town and recently moved back to its original spot. He took us down side street where the wealth nobles of the town lived with their grand doors and arches. In the middle of the street was a small area marked as the highest point in Jesi. On one of the walls was a unique carving in the stone. Antonio said it was to mark the location of a brothel.
One of the side street was fenced off and Antonio took us past the fences to show us the old Roman Catacombs that he used to explore as a kid. Unfortunatley, they was gated and locked. We could not get in. Antonio was very disappointed. He must have had a heck of a childhood running around this town!
Further down the street was another piazza where the obelisk had been moved to, then returned to the first piazza. Here there was a church. Antonio noted that it was not centered on the piazza as they did not give the church much recognition in the day. He is so proud of his town! I am so proud of him!
Outside the Walled City of Jesi
Bastioni di San Francesco
Antonio found an Irish tavern for me to taste a Guinness to add to my Guinness Around the World Blog.
Our Daily Gelato!
After finishing our Guinness, Antonio took us to Piazza GB Pergolesi. Here we saw a monument to the composer Giovanni Pergolesi and the Church of San Nicolo on the other side of town.
While I missed being with my family and kids at home, this was a very special Easter for us.
