General
Marche is a region of central Italy, marvelous as unusual for their diversity of landscape and territory: harmonious and sinuous forms, cliffs and caves that alternate with unforgettable beaches, hills that recall history, tradition, art and mountains equipped with plants for ski lovers.
The territory is mainly hilly and mountainous, embracing the Adriatic side of the Umbria-Marche Apennines with its low and sandy beaches. Renowned the long stretch of fine and golden sand, washed by crystal clear water, which is located in Senigallia, with its seafront alive and mundane during all hours of the day.
Gabicce mare, Pesaro, Fano, Civitanova Marche and San Benedetto del Tronto are no less an ideal destination for those who want to relax and find refreshment among the many bathing establishments, while for those who love extreme nature, the Riviera Conerooffre evocative scenery and still wild flaps, sometimes reachable only by sea or between paths cut into the green of the Mediterranean.
The Marche is a unique region especially as regards nature. The region is home to numerous national and regional parks and WWF oases to be discovered; the parks of the Sibillini and Monti della Laga mountains offer a unique spectacle for trekking enthusiasts. You can not miss the Frasassi Caves, a destination for visits from all over Europe and great speleological interest for the karstic phenomenon that originated beautiful caves, some of which have been inhabited since prehistoric times.
Stretches of orchards and vineyards on the hills of the Picentine and the Esino Valley surround farmhouses with ancient warmth where it is possible to rediscover the simple taste of genuine things. Stately homes or old half-drilged farm houses tell the life of the past, and welcome travelers and tourists in search of authentic emotions.
The provinces are: Ancona (capital), Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Pesaro and Urbino
What see
The region recalls its great past in the cities of art, among the squares that look like living rooms, in the medieval villages where time seems to stand still, between the streets and among the palaces.
Ascoli Piceno is one of the monumental cities of Italy with its medieval historic center and Piazza del Popolo, adorned by a loggia with arches and a crenellated tower in the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo. In the city you can visit some artisan workshops, an expression of creativity and skill of Ascoli, such as that of violin makers. On the first Sunday of August, the streets of the city frame the historic "Quintana" where skilled knights compete against the Saracino joust.
Ancient port junction, known as the "gateway to the East", Ancona, preserves valuable monuments and a welcoming beach. The Cathedral of San Ciriaco stands on the site of an ancient Greek acropolis and is considered one of the most interesting medieval churches in the Marche region.
The historic center of Urbino with the Palazzo Ducale is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and represents an interesting architectural and artistic example of the Italian Renaissance.
A visit also deserves Gradara with its fortress, a magnificent example of medieval military architecture and place, according to tradition, where Paolo and Francesca kissed, as narrated by Dante in the fifth canto of the Inferno.
For religious tourism, the Mariano di Loreto sanctuary is an important stage as it is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world.
For lovers of classical music, in Pesaro two weeks in August full immersion in the notes of the Pesaro Gioacchino Rossini; the Rossini Opera Festival has become an impossible event for the melomaniacs of the whole world in the evocative setting of the city that offers not only cultural attractions.
For the sweet tooth, nothing better than going to Fano during the Carnival period. Of ancient origin, the Fano carnival has at least 3 original elements: the launch, from allegorical wagons, of sweets on the crowd, the characteristic "vulon" caricature mask of the most prominent characters of the city and the Arabica music, musical band whose instruments they are tin cans, coffeepots, pitchers.
What to do
The sea and the mountains in this region are an ideal combination for those who love to explore and immerse themselves in the clear waters of the surrounding sea and in the vegetation of its parks.
It is precisely these latter that occupy a good percentage of the area considered as a protected area.
Italy in green
Le Marche, with the National Park of the Sibillini Mountains and the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Park, offer highly suggestive settings with remarkable flora and fauna. Free birdwatching with sightings of golden eagle, peregrine falcon, eagle owl and for trekking enthusiasts, long walks through the woods and forests but also horse riding, canoeing and mountain biking.
Just the bicycle offers the possibility of pleasant routes to discover natural, historical and artistic beauties and typical food and wine specialties of the region.
For lovers of alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing, the mountains of the Apennines offer more than nine ski resorts, snow parks and cross-country ski trails of varying length and difficulty; the Ussita Ice Palace, on the other hand, reserves a pleasant experience for those who skate on ice.
You can not miss a trip to the Conero, the beautiful promontory protected by the homonymous Regional Park, which extends south of the capital. Il Conero, with Portonovo, Sirolo, Numana is the coast of the Ancona area. Its high and indented coast and the splendid sea make it one of the most fascinating holiday resorts on the Italian coast. The backdrop, of rare beauty, rich in animal and plant species, is a destination for scuba diving of rare charm.
Also in Ancona the first days of May, the city is celebrating for the San Ciriaco Fair, the patron saint. For four days the city is happily invaded by hundreds of stalls, artisans market, market exhibitions, even with the typical flavors, street artists and the impromptu painting "en plein air".
For music lovers, AnconaJazz, brings international stars to the city and is the main Marche exhibition dedicated to jazz.
What to taste
We are not talking about a single cuisine but a union of flavors and tastes of the whole territory with its specific characteristics. The typical roughness of the hinterland can be savored in meat dishes with pork in pork, marinated lamb; dishes based on truffles, such as those of Acqualagna and Sant'Agata Feltria and based on mushrooms; in the first courses, tagliatelle, strozzapreti and the traditional "vincisgrassi", the forefather of all the baked lasagna of the peninsula.
The fresh and sweet taste of the sea can be perceived in fish dishes; Undisputed master of the coastal table is the "brodetto" that contains more than 14 fish specialties enriched, in Pesaro and Ancona, from tomatoes and, in the Ascoli, from saffron. The dish symbol of the city of Ascoli is the mixed fried all'ascolana: stuffed olives, cream, zucchini, artichokes and lamb chops while among the desserts we find the ciambellotto with aniseed mushrooms, the cicerchiata, the fried and stuffed ravioli chestnuts, cream and ricotta.
Worthy of note are the Pecorino di Talamello wrapped in walnut leaves and aged in tufa caves, hams, lonzini, coppa di testa.
All accompanied by Piceno wines: white Falerio dei Colli Ascolani, Rosso Piceno and Rosso Piceno Superiore and to finish the cooked wine, preserved in cask, with the Mediterranean suggestion to the anisetta and the mistrà.
