Marche, Between Mountains and Sea
The Area – Marche, Between Mountains and Sea
The Marche region is one of Italy's quiet beauties. Rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards. Medieval towns on the hilltops, and the sea just a short drive away. Within an hour, the landscape stretches from the peaks of the Sibillini Mountains down to the beach. Historically the region was a patchwork of small border territories, hence the name "Marche". To this day almost every town has kept its own character and its own cuisine.
The beaches of the Conero Regional Park are reachable in a short drive: Portonovo with its small cove, chic Sirolo, and family-friendly Numana. Fine pebbles, clear water, and the cliffs of Monte Conero. Just a few minutes away lies Porto Recanati, different and just as lovely: nearly nine kilometres of sand and pebbles, a car-free promenade for walking and cycling, and a colourful fishermen's quarter. The Pineta Volpini pine forest offers shade, and plenty of beach clubs add comfort.
The Beaches:
Cuisine:
Marche cooking is one of Italy's most underrated — hearty yet refined. Classics include vincisgrassi, a festive baked pasta dish with meat ragù and béchamel, and olive all'ascolana, meat-stuffed and fried olives made with the local Tenera Ascolana DOP variety. Then there's ciauscolo, a soft, spreadable salami with IGP status, wafer-thin maccheroncini di Campofilone, and crescia, a hearty flatbread. Along the coast, including in Porto Recanati, there's brodetto: a fish stew that every town prepares differently. Pair it with a glass of Verdicchio, Rosso Piceno or Lacrima di Morro d'Alba. White truffle from around Acqualagna and Casciotta d'Urbino cheese also belong to the region. A first taste awaits right at breakfast at Il Nido, with estate olive oil and produce from the garden.
Inland, the Sibillini Mountains offer hiking trails and wide-open plateaus. Along the wine route, Verdicchio ripens. Tastings at small wineries are common, as are truffle hunts with local guides around Acqualagna.
Excursions:
Recanati is the birthplace of the poet Giacomo Leopardi. A charming, largely undiscovered town with a historic centre. Just a few kilometres away is Loreto. Its basilica sits visible for miles on its hilltop and has been one of Italy's most important pilgrimage sites since the Middle Ages. Legend has it that angels carried the Holy House of the Virgin Mary here from Nazareth. Bramante contributed to its design, and its art treasures include works by Lorenzo Lotto. Osimo is also worth the detour: beneath the old town lies a roughly 2,500-year-old labyrinth of caves and tunnels, open for guided tours. Above ground, the Piazza del Comune and the Cathedral of San Leopardo set the tone. More culture awaits in Macerata, about 20 minutes by car. This university town is home to the Sferisterio, an open-air arena with the longest stage wall in Europe and host to the Macerata Opera Festival since 1921. Add the elegant Piazza della Libertà with its 16th-century astronomical clock. Further afield lie Urbino, with its Renaissance old town, and baroque Ascoli Piceno.
Places worth seeing:
Activities
Pilates- und Qigong
On the platform with its remarkable view, Pilates and Qigong sessions are offered on request. A peaceful start to the day looking out over the hills.
Road bike and gravel tours
Advice on road bike and gravel routes in the area is available on request, including with a guide.