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Ancona - Capital of the Le Marche region Ancona faces directly out to the sea. First founded by the Greeks the city is now home to the main ports of the Adriatic Sea. Ancona has a selection of churches and cathedrals, but a must-see is the Arch of Trajan, built by the Romans as a landmark for ships approaching the harbour. Considerable amounts of the province are part of the Conero Regional Park, which is home to sandy beaches, rolling hills and extensive ancient woodlands.
Ascoli Piceno - has one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy, with its marble stone, and beautiful architecture. Visit the Duomo and the Pinacoteca Civica to see some of Carlo Crivelli's finest works. Be sure to have coffee at Caffe Meletti in the piazza
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Beaches - Sandy beaches, pebbly beaches, palm trees and rocky cliffs... this stretch of the Adriatic has it all. Le Marche offers a continuous stretch of clean, unpolluted sea and was awarded Blue flags for quality. During July and August beaches are busy with organised sun-beds and bars.
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Caldarola - Castello Pallotta at Caldarola houses collections of weapons and carriages and the castle still has its original furniture, the summer residence of the Pallotta family t: 0733 905242
Castelluccio - Way up in the mountains, the highest settlement in the Apennine mountains, surrounded by the Piano Grande (the Great Plain), cultivated with lentils and other lavish colours of wild flowers mid June.
Conero or the Riviera of Conero - near Ancona, this is the only high ground where limestone cliffs form rocky coves with green pine forests above. Visit the picturesque town of Sirolo and look at the fabulous views of the sea and beach below you. www.parks.it/parco.conero
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Fano A popular seaside resort on the Adriatic coast in the north of Le Marche.
Fermo - Lovely main square, Thursday market, cathedral built on the summit with splendid views surrounded by gardens. Underground cisterns built by the Romans between 40 - 60 AD, museums and tourist information office.
Fiastra Abbey Nature Reserve - off the SS78 at Urbisaglia, Macerata, this nature reserve covers the territory around the Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria di Chiaravalle di Fiastra. The complex has vast farmland with the typical features of the Marche countryside and a woodland area of about 100 hectares, the only remnant of the ancient forests which used to cover most of the region's hills. Walking routes through the nature reserve, lawns to lie on, a shop and restaurant and also a tourist information office. See www.abbadiafiastra.net
Frasassi Caves - Italy's finest cave network, with dream underground landscapes and caverns, one the size of St. Pauls Cathedral dome. Fascinating and wondrous stalagmites and stalactites lit up for the guided tours. See www.frasassi.com
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Loreto A small medieval town and one of Italy's most important religious places being one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Europe, it is believed Loreto is the location of House of the Virgin Mary, this attracts over 4 million visitors per year. The Holy House is situated inside the Basilica della Santa Casa which is also home to fantastic works or art, mosaics and sculptures. The town is relatively quiet but offers a few restaurants and shops to enjoy.
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Macerata - Provincial capital, good shopping in the old town, the home of one of Italy's oldest universities, Macerata boasts an unusual open air theatre, the sferisterio, perfect for summer concerts and the opera festival (www.macerataopera.org). Still surrounded by 16th century walls it has Palazzos, museums and cafe's.
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Pergola - Home to the amazing gilded bronzes from Cartocento of Pergola. Life size, they are the only group dated from Roman times still in existence. Combine with a trip to the Frasassi caves. www.bronzidorati.com
Pesaro The traditional seaside resort situated on the Adriatic coast is the second largest town in the region. Pesaro is perfect for those who wish to combine a beach trip with some history and culture. There is so much to see from the Palazzo Ducale cathedral to the Musei Civici, where you can admire fine collections of ceramics.
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Recanati - Elegant piazza, home of Giacomo Leopardi, museums, cathedrale, views, and beautiful theatre/opera house
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San Ginesio - Spectacular views and one of the Italian Beautiful Villages association (www.borghitalia.it). On 15th August every year the Palio takes place, medieval costumes and a tournament on horseback. See www.sanginesio.it
Sarnano A lively little town at the base of the Sibillini mountains, be sure to walk up the cobbled streets to the top of the fortified medieval town, there is a museum on the way up. Thursday market. The natural beauty of the landscape which surrounds Sarnano makes it the perfect location for walking and cycling. The medieval centre of the town is well preserved with its central Piazza Alta and ancient winding streets. Horse riding at Le Querce Stables.
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Tolentino - Known for Saint Nicholas and the Basilica di San Nicola with its 14th century frescos. Piazza has an unusual 16th century clock tower. Tuesday market. Huge battle re-enactment in summer at the nearby Castle 'Tolentino 815' t: 0733 960778
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Urbino Italy's finest Renaissance architects worked on the Duke's Palace in Urbino, also the birthplace of famous artist Raphael. Don't miss this treasure to be seen in the northern region of Marche. The small hill town has preserved its ancient Renaissance look since the 15th century. The historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its art and architecture. The Ducal Palace was one of the first to be built in Italy, it is now home to the National Gallery of Le Marche and has one of the most important Renaissance art collections in the world.
Urbisaglia - the walls of this town were built using the stones from the Roman ruins, in the centrale piazza is a castle 'La Rocca' t: 0733 506566. The Roman Ruins of Urbs Salvia - can be found on the main road from Macerata to Sarnano SS78 at Urbisaglia. There is also a museum with Roman artefacts at nearby Abbadia di Fiastra and an amphitheatre and museum at Falerone.
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Visso - Centuries of travellers have passed through Visso, on route from Marche to Umbria. Pastel-coloured houses and lovely churches, a few tiny shops and the National Park information centre.
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Medieval re-enactments, Festas and Fairs:
Too numerous to list but July and August are full of activities, concerts - all types of music, in villas and castles and even at dawn on the beach in Porto San Giorgio. Look up the San Severino Blues Festival - different dates all through July, classical music in Roman ruins and churches, and the Opera festival in Macerata. Historical re-enactments in costume include San Ginesio's Palio on 15th August every year, horse and rider compete at jousting the rings, Servigliano has its "Giostra dell'Anello" usually the Sunday closest to the 15th, and Fermo also has its Cavalcata dell'Assunta" horse race. Buy - (if we have not provided in the house) the little book available in newsagents called "Corriere Proposte" - "Eventi nelle Marche" each month with listings for What's On www.corriereproposte.it
Museums
Museionline Marche, provides updated information concerning the museums of Le Marche as well as artistic events, exhibitions, news and cultural programmes in the Region. www.museionline.it
Shopping
Le Marche is home to many designer outlets and family factories. As well as Prada and Tod's outlets. Come shopping for Italian shoes, bags and fashion. Want to shop online? Selandari's Italian Collection website here. They can host you for a Shopping tour. Email us for tour details.
Wine
Find VinoCotto , a special condensed wine made in Loro Piceno
La Murola near Mogliano. See www.murola.it/
Winetasting at "Domodimonti", Natural wine vineyard at Montefiore dell'Aso. See www.domodimonti.com
Also "Capinera" located at Morrovalle - a family run vineyard and winery. See www.capinera.com
Paper-making
at the Paper and Watermark Museum in Fabriano. See www.museodellacarta.com
Lace-Making
at Offida, where the women grow up learning how to make lace by hand, fascinating to watch, pretty town, a church that used to be a castle S. Maria della Rocca and a museum.
ACTIVITIES
Mountains
Exploring the Sibillini National Park www.sibillini.net
Forest Camp Donkey Trekking
Marco does Donkey Trekking for children and runs Forest Camp. Website link (in English) www.forestcamp.it
Horse Riding
Riding centre at Maneggio San Lorenzo. On the Fermo road out of Amandola. Shetlands for the children, hacking round lake San Ruffino for adults. Website: www.dimensionenatura.org
Mountain Bike Hire
Bike Hire from Smerillo, a hilltop town off the road from Amandola to Fermo forestcamp.it and at Montelparo, in the hills near Santa'Vittoria in Matenano. Agricamp picobello OR right up in the Sibillini Mountains near Visso and Ussita Biocycle-Sibillini.it
Adventure Park Sibillini Adventures
Kayaking, adventure park for kids, survival courses. www.sibilliniadventure.it