Things To Do in Marche

One of the most beautiful places in the Marche region is the Conero Riviera, where spectacular beaches meet the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea at Mount Conero, a promontory south of Ancona. It offers a beautiful stretch of sand for just about everyone, from remote beaches that can only be accessed by boat like Spiaggia dell Due Sorelle and its surreal blue waters to stretches with hotels and a wide range of other facilities. From Mezzavalle Beach, you can reach the two large rock formations that rise from the sea known as the Two Sisters. The beach itself is one of Italy’s best, with water that ranges from brilliant cobalt blue to emerald green. You won’t find any sunbeds or umbrellas, just unspoiled nature, although there is one restaurant serving the freshest fish. The northern end is the most tranquil and wild, with a green clay quarry that serves as a natural spa.

Gradara isn’t the only hilltop village worth visiting in Marche. There are a wealth of these picturesque villages that take visitors back in time, including some recognized by UNSECO. You might spend a day or more exploring the small towns of Mondolfo, Treia, Cingoli, and Offida, all of which boast cobbled streets and imposing castles. Urbino is a must-visit. The walled medieval hilltop town overlooks a lush valley with the Adriatic in the distance and was a critical fortress for the Romans in the 6th century. From the terrace of Fortezza Albornoz, one can gaze out at the Apennine Mountains, the Metauro River, Foglia Valley, and the sea beyond. One of the most well-preserved villages, much of its architecture dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries when Urbino was at its most prosperous, including the Palazzo Ducale, a triumph of Renaissance design and a temporary home for many prominent figures of the time.

Furlo Pass, or Gola del Furlo, is a stunning gorge that slices through the surrounding mountains with the emerald waters of the Candigliano River running along the bottom. It can be viewed on a scenic drive, although it might be hard to keep your eyes around the road while traveling Sant’Anna del Furlo, with the mountains on both sides. You’ll get the best and safest views by going for a walk along the river or one of the other many paths that wind through the canyon. Admire the picturesque overhanging rocks and Roman emperor Vespasian’s tunnel where the ancient Via Flaminia passed through at the narrowest point of the gorge. Built in 77 B.C., it allowed travelers to cross the mountains from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic side. A wealth of flora and fauna may be spotted as well. Keep an eye out for fallow deer, wild boars, wolves, peregrine falcons, and golden eagles.

Discovered by a group of young cave explorers in 1971, the Frassassi Caves have been captivating locals and visitors ever since. Just 31 miles from Ancona, they’re one of the largest subterranean systems in all of Europe with nearly a mile of underground walkways featuring stalactites and stalagmites to discover. It’s so vast that it could easily hold Milan’s entire Duomo. Today, in order to enter the caves, you’ll have to join a tour. Your guide will take you through this fascinating subterranean world to see the individual chambers, some of which are nearly 800 feet tall. The distant areas of the cave are illuminated while the center features a group of stalagmites known as the Giants with their diameters ranging from 6.5 to over 16 feet while soaring nearly 66 feet in height. While you marvel at their beauty and immensity, your guide will tell you about the geology and history of the cave.

There are impressive olive groves and vineyards spread throughout March, with many family-owned wineries and olive oil companies that are open to visitors for tasting and buying. Marche is still undiscovered territory for most wine enthusiasts. It’s most popular for its white wines, from the Verdicchio and Trebbiano varieties, but some outstanding red wines are produced too, mainly in the southern areas. In Campofilone, renowned for its long tradition of pasta production, you can visit Cantina di Ruscio and enjoy a wine tour that will bring you through the vines while learning about how the wine is made, concluding with three glasses of wine served with a generous antipasti platter. Casa Tre Querce in Colmurano offers tours into its organic olive grove to learn about the olive trees and Marche’s olive culture as well as enjoy a tasting of four different local olive oils from one of the best producers in the region.

Thanks to the fresh ingredients provided by the sea, fertile farmlands, and mountains, Le Marche produced mouthwatering seasonal cuisine that can be sampled throughout the region. Many products come from farms, including cold cuts, cheeses, and vegetables. Marche is particularly known for its fried olives, Olive all Ascolana, stuffed with beef, chicken, pork, eggs, and Parmesan cheese. A soft smoked pork sausage flavored with garlic, fennel, and vino cotto, a local non-alcoholic cooking wine, called ciauscolo is popular and the region also has its own version of lasagna called vincigrassi. The rich dish features 12 layers of pasta interspersed with lamb, chicken, or veal ragu, wild mushrooms or truffles, and béchamel sauce. In Fano, San Benedetto del Tronto, and Porto Recanati, many menus include a tasty fish soup called brodetto. Food festivals are great for trying many Marche dishes, including Festa del Ciauscolo in Sarnano in mid-September which features traditional local food, including ciauscolo, of course.

If you’re interested in ancient Roman ruins, the town of Fano along the Adriatic coast at the mouth of the Metauro River, sits on the site of the ancient Fanum Fortunae, founded around the 3rd century BC as the oldest Roman settlement in the region. The Arch of Augustus was the main gate to town and is one of its most important symbols, marking the access to the sea from Via Flaminia, an ancient Roman route. It dates to 9 AD and is in the form of a triumphal arch with three vaults and an inscription on the frieze. You can learn more about Fano’s ancient history by visiting Palazzo Malatestiano. Built in the early 15th century, it includes a small turret and a magnificent, vaulted hall as well as hosting an archaeological museum that displays items from various periods, including prehistoric finds from Fano as well as Roman artifacts.