Art and culture holidays in Marche are a fun and exciting way to explore the central region of Italy. The region's art and culture dates back to the time of Etruscans and the Roman era. Le Marche is home to stunning pieces of Renaissance art, impressive museums, magnificent architecture and exciting carnivals. The region of Le Marche has preserved much of its historical past. Urbino is one of the region's principal towns and is where Duke Federico of Montefeltro set up his renowned court in the latter half of the 15th Century. The magnificent Palazzo Ducale or Ducale Palace displays exquisite paintings by Piero della Francesca, and a beautiful portrait by Raphael. The palace also houses fascinating Roman artifacts. Further south is Ascoli Piceno, where many painters and sculptors lived. You will find works from Guercino, Crivelli, Titian, Guido Reni, and Tintoretto. Art and culture holidays in Marche would be incomplete without exploring the many cultural events such as Urbino Festa del Duca, which is a carnival in honour of Duke Federico. The festival takes place on the third Sunday in August. Another cultural event is the always popular Rossini Opera Festival. It is held in Pesaro, and usually takes place in August. In July and August, the town of Macerata hosts an open air opera in the outstanding Sferisterio arena, which includes productions of Puccini's La Bohème and Verdi's Rigoletto. For lovers of jazz, the Ancona Jazz Festival is not to be missed.
On a mountain holiday in the Marche region there are opportunities to sit back and relax or participate in a range of outdoor activities. The Marche countryside is stunning and abounds with tracks and walks that wind through untouched areas of Italy. The diversity of the mountain region offers enjoyable holidays for everyone. There are many small medieval towns in the area Treia, Camerino, Cingoli, Jesi, Offida, Tolentino, Recanati and Sarnano. Discover the rich history of these ancient mountain villages and enjoy local products and wine in the region's restaurants. Fermo has a splendid main square that is built on a Roman cistern. Marche is a starting point for many short and long distant hikes. It is situated on the edge of the Sibillini Mountains National Park that protects part of the Appenine mountains. The Marche region has rolling hills making it ideal for walking, cycling and horse riding holidays. Mountain in Marche is an Italian holiday destination for those who love unspoiled corners of the world. It is a year round destination for nature lovers. There are mountains to view or explore and the flora and fauna are rich. Local produce is plentiful, there are vineyards and museums to explore.
From the Apennine Mountains towards Italy's Adriatic Sea, Le Marche's renown precedes it. Out-of-the-way relaxation, gorgeous countryside, long sun soaked beaches giving way to crystal blue waters stretching endlessly. Slowly becoming known to visitors, Le Marche traditionally served knowledgeable frequent visitors expecting to avoid overpriced tourist traps. Historically, Le Marche dates back to Pre-Roman times; museums overflowing to capacity with ancient statues upto renaissance art, palaces, fortresses, castles, churches, quaint villages, river crossed mountains, and those ever present beaches. Some say the best beaches only exist in the north, in the Parque Naturale del Monte San Bartolo, colloquially known as the Riviera of Hills, while the region's terrain seems flatter and more accessible southwards. Resort-style living includes large hotel swimming pools and easy access to local beaches defining holidaying in Le Marche. Including Gabicce Mare, Le Marche's northernmost seaside town, extending to San Benedetto del Tronto in the south, every resort should be considered a beachcombers paradise accompanying gorgeously breath taking Adriatic views and sunsets, golden miles of sand beaches, sun chairs under thatched umbrellas, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, kiting, and every family holiday staple, sandcastles, trenches, plus grinning children. Most resort hotels organize inhouse family activities too; barbecues, beach volleyball, games, competitions, and moonlight discos. Le Marche really should be considered a special place, far too long under-appreciated. Local restaurants cater to all tastes, offering traditional Italian fare of pizza and pasta, and seafood with mouth-watering Mediterranean salads. Renowned beaches showcasing fine dining include Pesaro, Ancona, Fano, Senigallia, Civitinova Marche, and Porto Recanati and each offers something family oriented. Winding roads, mountain backdrops, golden sands, rolling surf, history, culture, and the Italian seaside dream await, greeting everyone equally, ensuring unforgettable memories within Le Marche.
Marche is a region of two diverse parts: a long Adriatic coast, and an inland dominated by the foothills and peaks of the Appennine mountains. As you'd expect, this mari e monti landscape has had a strong influence on the food. A local speciality all along the coast is brodetti, a rich fish stew served as a main course, usually with a slice of toasted bread in the bottom of the bowl. Up to 12 different kinds of seafood are present in a typical brodetto, although few cooks can agree on exactly which combination is correct. The seafood theme continues with clams and mussels in the Pesaro area, which are considered to be among the best in Italy. Further inland, it is the pig that is the undisputed culinary king. The famous dish of porchetta was said to be invented here - a single suckling pig, boned and rolled with offal, herbs and garlic, and then spit-roasted as a centrepiece for the saint's day festivals of local villages. The mountains also produce a wide range of cured pork products from salami to prosciutto. Other meat is eaten from time to time, including lamb, fowl and horse meat, often cooked with sweet spices such as cinnamon - unusual for Italy, and a clear hint of the influence of Greece over the sea. Wild mushrooms are also a much-prized delicacy, often finding their way into stews with meat and wine as Cacciatora or hunter-style dishes. Olives and grapes are widespread, producing delicate oils and vibrant wines using Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Verdicchio grapes, of which Rosso Piceno and Verdicchio Castello di Jesi are perhaps the best known outside of the area.