This is the valley that "embraces" Macerata. The river Musone is born in Gagliole and flows between Numana (flowing into the tributary Aspio) and Porto Recanati scoring for a long stretch the border of the province of South Ancona and historically that of the Republic of Ancona.
The Potenza washes Recanati and Montelupone while the Chienti meets, over to the historical centres of Camerino, Tolentino, Corridonia and Macerata, even Civitanova and Porto S. Elpidio here marking the border with the province of Fermo. Important is the tributary Fiastrone that forms Lake of Fiastra (well known to the ancient abbey) that with Lake Caccamo and Polverina, are the three principal lakes, electricity producers in the Marche.
On the way, relevant are castles of: Varano, Caldarola and Rancia, the last place saw the historic defeat on 2nd May, 1815 of Gioacchino Murat and his dream of Italic independence.