Offida is a quiet small town in the Le Marche region. It is steeped in history and has a stunning central square, old palaces and lovely streets, yet it is never crowded with tourists.
For more than five hundred years Offida has been famous for its delicate hand-made bobbin lace. The secrets of the craft have been passed from mothers to daughters and today the same simple tools are used as in the 15th century. There is a monument to local lace-makers and a lovely museum in Palazzo de Castellotti dedicated to the history of Offida lace. On warm summer days women sit in front of their homes creating intricate masterpieces. You can buy Offida lace in small shops in town or directly from a maker.
For a quick bite to eat try the local specialty “chichi ripieno” - focaccia stuffed with tuna, anchovies, capers and peppers. And don’t forget to sample their excellent sweet Vin Santo wine!
Here is a lovely video showing Offida lace-makers at work. I absolutely love the sound the wooden bobbins make!
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