sixty thousand pilgrims. Overnight, participants are led through the hills along a road traditionally held to be a Marian path. A rood donated by Pope John Paul II, who chaired at the Mass in 1993, heads the procession. The night march is diligently guided and accompanied by recitations of the Rosary, songs, testimonies, meditations on the Word of God and the teachings of the Pope. Cuisine Macerata has a good array of restaurants, trattorias and pizzerias. Local specialities include vincisgrassi alla maceratese, a regional version of lasagna that differs from the usual in that the ragù contains a mix of pork, beef and lamb. People Matteo Ricci, Jesuit and the first European to enter the Forbidden City in the Chinese capital, was born in Macerata in 1552. Antonio Nebbia, cook, author of the recipe book Il cuoco maceratese in 1779. Basilio Basili, opera singer and composter was born in Macerata in 1804. Enrico Accorretti (1888-1978), admiral during World War II Giuseppe Tucci (1894–1984), scholar of oriental cultures, was born in Macerata. Ivo Pannaggi, Futurist painter and Bauhaus architect, was born and died in Macerata (1901–81). A high school in town was dedicated in his name. Dante Ferretti, production designer, was born in Macerata. Pietro Paolo Floriani, architect and military engineer was born in Macerata. Camila Giorgi (born 1991), tennis player Twin towns - sister cities Macerata is twinned with: Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Germany, since 1963 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, since 1982 Floriana, Malta, since 2007 Kamëz, Albania, since 2010 Sources E.H. Ercoli. Sferisterio. Macerata, Associazione Arena Sferisterio, 2007 A. Adversi, D. Cecchi, L. Paci (a cura di). Storia di Macerata. Macerata, 1972 G. Capici (a cura di). Sphaeristerium. Roma, 1989 F. Torresi (a cura di). La città sul palcoscenico. Macerata, 1997 See also Macerata railway station S.S. Maceratese 1922 Volley Lube Diocese of Macerata Madonna di Macerata References External links Opera Festival Matteo Ricci Institute Macerata Musei The Matteo Ricci Macerata Project: An Illustrated Guidebook to Macerata Studenti Università Macerata – Macerata Students Network Cities and towns in the Marche Hilltowns in the Marche