Archive for 'The Marches'

There is absolutely no lack of things to see and do in Italy. The food is almost universally delicious, the shopping is great, it is home to some of the best beaches in the world and natural delights, and is rich beyond belief in historical, cultural and artistic gems. However, it is also home to many strange and incredible sights that could be called the “Wonders” of Italy. Here are just seven that we have picked out. Here are the Seven Wonders of Italy.

The Temple of Valadier doesn't look real but like something from a fantasy novel. Perched just inside the Frassassi mountain caves in Genga, Le Marche with views across an amazing landscape, it seems like a mythical temple or the home of some magical creature. It is actually a neoclassical church which was built in 1828 for Pope Leone XII, set inside the fantastical Frassassi cave system, which is made up of crags, stalagmites and stalactites, and has a theatrical and breath-taking appearance. To visit just, find a holiday rental in Le Marche and spend a day exploring this special place.

One of the great joys of Italy is discovering the small, and beautiful, towns which dot her countryside. You can stumble upon food festivals that make the best Italian restaurant in your hometown look pitiful by comparison but cost little, works by famous artists tucked away in tiny churches and castles and palaces right out of your favourite childhood story. Camerino is one such magical small town in the centre of the Le Marche region of central Italy, south-west of San Severino. A stunning walled medieval city, it has outstanding works of art and architecture that rival that of anywhere else in the world. In order to explore this little wonder, just find a vacation rental in Le Marche and make your way to the hill on which the town is perched.

Italy is a land with boundless riches when it comes to cultural heritage. The wealth of art and historical monuments is endless with sites and objects of major international importance dating from pre-history to the present day. One of the periods for which she is most well-known is the time of the Romans. Their control of vast swathes of the world lasted for hundreds of years and their power and longevity ensured that much remains of their life and times, particularly in Italy, their base of operations and homeland. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome itself are the most famous sites but other parts of Italy are also imbued with rich sights.

Pollo alla Cacciatora is a reasonably well-known dish outside of Italy due to the fact that it is often on the menus of Italian restaurants around the world and has even begun appearing among the pre-packaged ready-meals from Italian food ranges in supermarkets. Literally meaning “hunter's chicken” (more literally, "chicken cooked hunter-style"), the name probably comes from the fact that this dish has typically always been made with rabbit and game birds – the types of meat brought back to the home by hunters as most Italian food has peasant roots. The slow, gentle braise employed by this recipe is ideal for delicious meats that can potentially become dry and stringy if not carefully prepared. Coming from the Le Marche region, this dish is best tasted while holidaying there but you can also try it out for yourself with the recipe below. Once you've tasted it, you're sure to be in need of an Italian escape. Find a villa with pool in Le Marche and spend a vacation eating, swimming and enjoying the perfectly picturesque surroundings.

If you are visiting Urbino and have already stopped by the Palazzo Ducale to see the National Museum and palace itself, then you might think about taking a few moments to stop at the Duomo, or cathedral, just next door. Both buildings are part of Urbino's UNESCO heritage and were at the centre of the urban renewal of the beautiful city by the ducal family in the Renaissance, though the cathedral was altered in the 18th century and now bears a neoclassical edifice instead. The Duomo is the perfect complement to a visit to the palace as many of the same artists and designers who worked in the palace also lent their skills to the redesign of the church.