MH TIPS - DISCOVERING LE MARCHE

Marcheholiday is made up of people who love their territory and therefore, with these few lines, we want to suggest places that deserve to be visited.

So, if you find yourself spending a holiday in this splendid area, perhaps in one of our villas with pool, you can keep this article at your fingertips and discover these wonderful places like true locals!

Find out what our Staff loves!

Enrico, CEO of Marcheholiday, recommends:

THE PARKS

1. Obviously the Sibillini Mountains National Park which is part of the Apennine mountain range. Beautiful landscapes, with green mountains and lakes, small villages and unspoiled nature. There are many paths for hiking and biking, many excursions organized for everyone, experts and families. Inside the Park there are numerous lakes, we invite you to visit Lake Fiastra, a large artificial basin with beaches and umbrellas, immersed in the green surrounding mountains, and Lake Pilato, a truly incredible place, which recalls a unique lunar landscape and unexpected. Created by melting snow, it is one of the few 'glacial' lakes, it takes about two hours to reach it on foot, but once you get there you will be amazed.

2. Monte Conero Regional Park: here you will find the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the region, Le Due Sorelle (reachable only by boat), the beaches of Mezzavalle and Portonovo. Here too trekking, night walks, unexpected places such as the underground caves of Camerano, which can be visited during the summer. The Conero offers wonderful landscapes and colours: we suggest an aperitif in the square of Sirolo to admire the promontory overlooking the sea after a day at the beach.

3. The Parco del Sasso Simone e Simoncello is located in the north of the region, always along the Apennine mountains. There are itineraries of over 100 km for trekking, biking and horse riding, and in winter a ski centre. Villages and pretty towns to visit and 'taste' such as Carpegna, where the sandwich with Carpegna ham is not to be missed.

4. Monte San Bartolo Regional Park: the narrow mountain that divides the Marches from Emilia Romagna along the coast. Vineyards by the sea, small treks, and 2 villages not to be missed such as Fiorenzuola and Casteldimezzo, and the beautiful Villa Imperiale can only be visited on Wednesday afternoons. A fish dinner in one of the restaurants along the panoramic road that runs along the sea from above is de rigueur.

THE FRASASSI CAVES

They are part of the Gola Rossa Regional Park, but they deserve a separate chapter, given that they are one of the symbols of this region. They are the largest karst caves in Europe and the 'Ancona room' could house the Milan Cathedral inside. The wonder that adults and children feel in front of this incredible spectacle of stalagmites, stalactites and lakes is truly unique. We suggest you book the entrance time and it is possible to make visits in a foreign language. Suggestion: since you are in the area, go and visit the Paper Museum in Fabriano, a brand known throughout the world and one of the few places in the world where paper is still produced using traditional methods; or walk down the river paths in front of the caves and if you are in the right spot you can find small hot sulphurous water springs.

Laura S., General Manager of Marcheholiday, is passionate about...

CITY OF ART

1. Urbino: Unesco world heritage, symbol of the Italian Renaissance together with Florence, birthplace of Raphael, seat of the Marche National Gallery. A visit is a must if you are in the north of the region: ducal palace, Raphael's house, historic centre. Tip: walk up to the Albornoz fortress, you will have a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding hills.

2. Macerata: the entire historic centre, the cathedral and other churches, the historic buildings and of course the Sferisterio, a beautiful open-air arena, symbol of the city. Tip: if you manage to book a ticket for a concert at the Sferisterio, don't miss it.

3. Ascoli Piceno: the city of a hundred towers, has the largest historic center in the whole region, a square considered among the most beautiful in Italy, many noble palaces and churches of incredible beauty. Suggestion: walk freely because in every street, every square, every corner you will breathe the beauty of this city.

VILLAGES

The Marche boasts as many as 25 orange flags which indicate what are considered the most beautiful villages in Italy. Everyone deserves to be visited and known as well as many other towns and villages of historical and artistic value. The suggestion is to know and visit those closest to your accommodation or your holiday home to breathe the true essence of this region: the small villages. We highlight a few for you:

1. Frontino: a perfectly preserved little medieval jewel

2. Sarnano: at the foot of the Sibillini Mountains, a very rich historic center and thermal waters

3. Staffolo: in the heart of the Verdicchio area, it has an almost round-shaped historic center and the wine museum

4. Corinaldo: the beautiful staircase that takes you from the walls to the historic center has become famous throughout Italy.

Laura D., Project Manager, and Silvia, Sales and Customer Care, love to discover...

CASTLES

There is no shortage of towers, castles and fortresses, so we suggest you visit those in your area. But even if you are further away, the 3 below are really worth the trip.

1. Castello di Gradara : one of the few castles near the sea, made famous by Dante for the love story of Paolo and Francesca, which is told in hell. There are many events and shows that take place especially in the summer. Restaurants and shops enliven the centre.

2. Castello di Mondavio: a beautiful fortress, excellently preserved, it is now a museum with the reconstruction of the rooms and crafts of medieval life. Also visit the small semi-precious stone shop, the flagship of local craftsmanship, which is located near the fortress.

3. Castello Pallotta: in the center of the Marche region, near Caldarola, it offers a truly suggestive visit. The rooms are all richly furnished with period furniture and tapestries, including carriages and weapons used by the noble Pallottas. Glitz and wealth are felt in every corner.

MONASTERIES, BASILICAS, ABBEYS AND HERMITAGES

The Marches have been under the dominion of the Catholic Church for centuries, so the whole territory is full of churches, cathedrals, abbeys and monasteries. There are truly hundreds in every small or large country in the region. We mention only a few that, in our opinion, are worth a visit.

1. Abbadia di Fiastra : in the heart of a nature reserve that is full of paths and trails for hiking or biking, this large abbey can be visited by tourists who can admire the cloister, the loggias and the church where the monks gather many times a day for prayers and songs.

2. Basilica di Loreto: the large basilica in the center of Loreto is one of the most famous places of worship in Italy and in the world. Christian tradition says that the angels transported the house of Nazareth, where Mary lived, up to Loreto; today this small house is located inside the basilica, and is visited every year by thousands of faithful to the Marian cult.

3. Hermitage of Fonte Avellana: peace, prayer, silence and unspoiled nature are the background of this stupendous hermitage in the heart of the Apennines. Still today home to Camaldolese monks, it is possible to visit the church, the guest house, and the botanical garden of the monks.

THE SEASIDE

Very long beaches of golden sand characterize a large part of the Marche coast. Equipped establishments and free beaches alternate along the coast, with 17 blue flags, which are awarded to the best locations for the quality of the sea water and for tourism services.

1. The Riviera delle Palme: this stretch of coast that goes from Grottammare to San Benedetto del Tronto takes its name from the many palm trees that shade the promenade designed by famous architects. Equipped beaches, restaurants, bars, beach clubs, hundreds of events, parties, festivals, for a truly lively and fun-filled summer.

2. Senigallia, the velvet beach: kilometers of golden sand and then a white building in the middle of the sea. All this is the sea of Senigallia with the famous construction of the Rotonda a Mare, now used for shows and exhibitions. Dozens of clubs animate the bathing season, which culminates with the Summer Jamboree, a 50's festival with artists from all over the world.

3. Beaches of the Conero: The 2 sisters, the beaches of Portonovo and Mezzavalle set in a mountain overlooking the sea are a truly unique spectacle that would be perfect to admire from the sea with a boat or dinghy. To reach the 2 sisters there are daily boats from the port of Numana.

Here ends our suggestions (just for now ;) ) and, tell the truth...

You've already fallen in love with Marche!

So book your villa with pool now and start discovering this wonderful place!