One of our favourite regions of Italy to recommend to tourists is the lush and beautiful Le Marche area. With a long coastline full of great resort towns and excellent beaches, this region is well-known to Italian tourists as a perfect spot to escape to from boiling cities during the hottest months of the year. Visiting in July or August, therefore, will mean that you will be surrounded by throngs of Italians on their summer vacations. International tourists, meanwhile, seek out this remarkable part of the country far less often and many have never head of it before. But there are endless reasons to choose it for your next vacation. Impossibly green, full of pretty villages, boasting plenty of amazing beaches to choose from, and steeped in history and culture, a vacation rental in Le Marche means discovering a part of the country beloved by locals who are in the know and that perfectly combines many traits for which other regions are famous. In fact, many people describe it as all of Italy captured in one region. Here are five of its most captivating charms and some excellent reasons that we think make it a perfect spot for your next holiday...
1. Stunning Landscapes
Several other regions of Italy are famous for their verdant and fertile scenery but Le Marche can readily compete with all of them. Expect the kinds of rolling green hills for which Tuscany is famous, vast areas with trees that turn into a gorgeous collage of gold and red tones each fall, seemingly endless meadows full of wildflowers in the mountain plains of the Monti Sibillini National Park, glittering Medieval cities and hilltop villages, pale shores lapped by rich azure waters and pretty seaside resort towns, and much more besides. For those who like to explore, drive about, and take in their surroundings, Le Marche is constantly stimulating and making you catch your breath. Find a villa in Le Marche and be prepared to fall utterly in love with the truly magical scenes that will unfold right before your eyes...
2. Incredible Beaches
The lengthy coastline of Le Marche is worth highlighting in its own right and is marked by some truly incredible beaches. The stretch that is known as the Parco del Conero is home to the most beautiful examples; white pebble beaches are framed by striking white cliffs topped by a fragrant mix of beech, pine, oak, and oleander trees, while the intensely blue waters of the Adriatic lap against and contrast the pale strand. Some of the main seaside resorts of this area include Portonovo, Numana, and Sirolo and the beaches of Spiaggia Urbani, Spiaggia San Michele, and Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle (accessed only in the summer by a ferry that runs from Numana) are considered some of the best and most charming. Striking and clean, these beaches are popular among Italian tourists, as we mentioned, but have managed to avoid becoming overly touristy and to remain relatively unspoiled. For those who want to enjoy truly magic days by the sea, a vacation rental in Le Marche is ideal!
3. The City of Urbino
While there is no shortage of picturesque towns steeped in history in Le Marche, the truly spectacular city of Urbino is definitely well-worth seeking out and seeing with your own eyes at least once in your lifetime. Less famous than some of Italy’s great art cities, it was, however, a major centre of artistic and scientific production during the Renaissance and a seat of great power at the time. As a result, the city remains marked by extraordinary architectural gems and great works of art. The highlight is the 15th century Palazzo Ducale, home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche. Housing an incredible assortment of works by the likes of Titian, Signorelli, Guido Reni and Piero della Francesca, this brilliant collection is set within what was once the Duke of Urbino’s astounding home, which was created by bringing together some of the leading architects and artists and artisans of the period. In addition to this singular gem of a building, Urbino is also home to: the 15th century birthplace of great Renaissance artist Raphael, now open as a museum to the public; the 14th century red-brick Oratorio di San Giovanni church with its frescoes by Lorenzo and Giacomo Salimbeni; the Duomo and the adjoining Museo Diocesano Albani; the Casa della Poesia cultural and exhibition centre; and a historic core made up of picture-perfect narrow cobbled streets and elegant stone houses. For those interested in art, the history of art, history, and the history of science and mathematics, a visit to Urbino will add greatly to a holiday rental in Le Marche and really is a great art city that should rightfully put the region on the map!
4. Truly Astounding And Breathtaking Cultural Sights/Sites
In addition to all that Urbino has to offer, those who find a villa in Le Marche and decide to head out to explore the region further will discover that there are some truly extraordinary sights and sites to be taken in and visited throughout. In particular, Le Marche is home to plenty of attractions, Urbino included, that are so picturesque and magical and cinematic that they can border on seeming unreal or like something from a fantasy film. The major pilgrimage site that is Loreto is full of pale, elegant, and ornamental religious buildings that glimmer in the sun and attract thousands of people from all over the globe to worship. Even for the non-religious, it is a stunning sight to behold.
Similarly, the Temple of Valadier, located right at the opening to the Frasassi Caves, in the municipality of Genga, is a beautifully symmetrical white travertine chapel that is especially arresting set within the dramatically craggy natural beauty of this cave. The vast and impressive Frasassi cave system is itself magical, like a whole underground world of dramatic rock formations and large chambers – with one big enough to even fit Milan’s cathedral inside of it!
Outside of all this, then there is the Natural Regional Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi, where there are amazing hiking routes through breathtaking rocky cliffs and jagged peaks, past sulphur springs emitting smoke and the intensely turquoise waters of the Candigliano, and into dense and ancient forests.
And, while the town of Ancona is another picturesque gem with lots to see and do, a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of the Marche Region to see the 28,000 year-old Frasassi Venus statuette will serve to give a real sense of the depth of historical heritage on offer during a vacation in Le Marche!
5. A Distinct And Local Delicious Foodie Scene
Finally, though there is much more to say about Le Marche and many more reasons to find a holiday rental in Le Marche, foodies in particular should come explore the region. Le Marche has a very distinct culinary tradition, often with dishes made only in certain towns and found nowhere else. So, as you wander about the region, you will also uncover all sorts of delicacies and wonders that you won’t be able to sample elsewhere. Some examples include the moscioli or wild mussels of Conero that locals actually consider to be something separate from mussels, the stuffed and fried breaded olives of Ascoli, and Macerata’s, “spreadable salami,” called ciascolo. Wines are also unique in Le Marche, with lots of aromatic whites and wines made using ancient traditions. As you venture into the undulating fertile hills of Le Marche, you will discover plenty of incredible wineries where you can visit, taste, and learn all about the region’s wines!
So, if you didn’t know about Le Marche already, then this is your sign to plan a getaway in Le Marche today and discover this incredible part of Italy for yourself!