Le Marche region has a slogan : 'All of Italy in one province', and many people are now realizing that Le Marche offers the visitor a flavour of all that Italy does best.. and more. Whilst relatively undiscovered, it has become surprisingly accessible since the advent of low cost flights.
Le Marche is a rich, rolling agricultural land that’s home pretty medieval villages, well-healed towns, dramatic mountain backdrops and sophisticated seaside resorts,. The region is famed for it’s wonderful foods and wines and produces much of Italy’s footwear and sophisticated designer clothing all of which are available at prices you can only dream about. The region produces 13 types of DOC wines, including 'verdicchio' and most cantinas are open to the public and are happy to provide you with well structured wines at a fraction of high street prices.
The region is split into 5 provinces and is bordered by the Apennini Mountains to the West, and the Sibillini Mountains, one of the highest sections of the Appenines, in the South West. They stretch 40km and contain 20 peaks in excess of 2000m. The whole area is a hiker's and cyclists paradise with many mountain paths, guided walks, and a stunning array of wildlife and wild flowers, that includes Golden Eagles, Falcons, Brown Bears, Wolves and Boar. The land rolls down from the West to the sandy adriatic coast with its sophisticated, shopping, ristoranti, gelaterie and nightlife.
You will find the Marchigiani, or people of Le Marche very friendly and relatively unaffected by 21st century life. They remain closely linked to the land and life here is centred on the family and self-sufficient communities of farmers and craftsmen, where the local market consumes most of the local produce
The wonderful medieval towns offer the visitor an amazing range of historic architecture, that ranges from Art Nouveau villas to characteristic stone cottages and Roman ruins, and are home to wonderful art, over 1000 working theatres, fantastic markets and year round festas where you can sing and dance, eat and drink great local fare, and enjoy the local crafts and customs.
Some of the highlights of the region include Ascoli Piceno, with its wonderful travertine Piazza, Urbino for it’s cathedral and Rennaisance art, Europes largest underground caves at Grotte di Frassasi, Macerata and it’s famous opera house the Sferisterio, Tolentino- site of the Napoleonic battle and home to Saint Nicholas, Loreto and the shrine built around Jesus’ mother Mary’s house (transported from Nazareth), The Sibillini National Park, The Conero National Park, Urbisaglia – with it’s Roman Ruins and Abbadia di Fiastra monastery, plus the many medieval towns especially the 16 with the orange riband award for tourism from the Italian touring club; Acquaviva Picena (AP), Corinaldo (AN), Genga (AN), Gradara (PU), Mercatello sul Metauro (PU), Mondavio (PU), Montecassiano (MC), Montelupone (MC), Monterubbiano (FM),. Ostra (AN),. Pievebovigliana (MC),. Ripatransone (AP),. S. Ginesio (MC),. S. Leo (PU),. Sarnano (MC), Urbisaglia (MC)