Located at the foot of the Sibillini Mountains, the village of Sarnano is a large open-air museum that tells the evolution of the country from its foundation in 1265 until the eighteenth century, when the fourth and last circle of walls was built. Walking through the alleys and picturesque squares you can see the ancient access doors and you can see typical architectural structures of the Middle Ages such as bridge houses, cantilevered houses, the "gates of the dead" and a barbican still accessible.

All the streets converge towards the Piazza Alta where the Palazzo del Popolo and the Church of Santa Maria stand, with its striking carved stone portal. Further down there are the Church of San Francesco next to the former Franciscan convent, now Town Hall, the Library that preserves ancient illuminated codes, the Museums of Arms, Hammers and Avifauna and the Pinacoteca Civica that houses works by Vittore Crivelli, Simone De Magistris, Vincenzo Pagani, Pietro Alemanno, Niccolò di Liberatore known as L'Alunno, Girolamo di Giovanni and others.

All around the historic center rise the mountains of Castelmanardo, Valvasseto, Sassotetto, Pizzo Meta, while in the distance you can see the other peaks of the Sibillini: a panorama of green peaks, Rocky walls and ancient woods that evokes an atmosphere of deep spirituality and connection with nature.

Sarnano is the ideal place to practice outdoor sports in any season. In winter, the ski lifts of Sassotetto and Santa Maria Maddalena offer 11 km of ski slopes, a school camp with a hand wheel and treadmill, 4 ski lifts, two chairlifts and a snowpark. In autumn the deciduous woods around the village are transformed into evocative itineraries of foliage, in spring on the Piani di Ragnolo blooms the wonderful blooming of orchids, while summer is perfect for hiking and cycling. In the municipality, in fact, there are many itineraries that can be followed on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. Moreover, the conformation of the Sarnanese mountains is ideal to try adrenaline disciplines such as the Enduro Bike, to which three different routes have been dedicated. Sarnano is also one of the most renowned hang gliding and paragliding sites in Italy, thanks to particular favorable air currents almost all year round.

Among the most popular naturalistic destinations there are the top of Pizzo Meta with its view of the Adriatic Sea, the Grotta di Soffiano, a Franciscan hermitage founded in 1101 where the same Saint Francis, the Valley of the Three Saints, a suggestive path through woods, watercourses and rocky gorges, the Valle del Rio Terro with its picturesque hidden waterfall and the paths of the Franciscan Way of the Marca.

One of the most popular routes is that of the Via delle Cascate Perdute, opened in 2020: a walk of about 6 km starting from the historic center that touches three picturesque waterfalls a short distance from the village. In the summer of 2021, the hiking trail leading to the Acquasanta pools and the Pellegrino waterfall was added.

Sarnano has been known since the Thirties for its thermal baths where three types of water are conveyed from nearby springs: the mineral "San Giacomo", the bicarbonate-lime oligomineral "Three Saints" and the sulphurous mineral-sauce "Terro". Since 2017 the Terme di Sarnano, transferred to a new establishment, offer a complete wellness experience: SPA equipped with hydrolife with thermal water, Turkish bath, whirlpool and emotional showers and an outdoor pool with bicarbonate-lime water.

The gastronomic tradition of Sarnanese is linked to the customs of mountain people and peasant families: ciauscolo, coratella d'agnello, polentone and tagliatelle seasoned with mushrooms and truffles, or with wild boar sauce, hare or duck. Among the most famous typical products is the torrone tart, a true Sarnanese uniqueness, prepared with candied fruit and dried fruit mixed with other secret ingredients, handed down for generations.

During the year the village is the setting for many events in the historical, cultural, gastronomic and not only. Among the most significant are Castrum Sarnani, medieval festival, the Palio del Serafino, famous historical re-enactment, the Scarfiotti Trophy, uphill car race from Sarnano to Sassotetto, off-hand Festival, cultural festival dedicated to the province and, Recently, MArCHESTORIE, the regional festival that celebrates popular narratives related to the territory.