LE MARCHE
Le Marche means borderlands in English and its geographic borders have kept this Italian region a secret for centuries. Known as “Italy in one region,” Le Marche is where you can experience the best of real Italy without crowds.
From the soaring backdrop of the Sibillini Mountains in the west, rivers flow eastward down valleys to Le Marche’s Adriatic shore. Medieval hilltop towns overlook a rolling countryside of patchwork farmlands of sunflowers, grapevines, olive trees, and crops.
Residents with a tradition of warm hospitality will welcome you, and there’s something for everyone here, year-round. A heritage of sustainable farming and fishing ensures you’ll eat well, and locally. Le Marche’s talented winemakers produce a variety of award-winning wines. There are even some local breweries.
For outdoor pursuits, the Sibillini Mountain National Park is a half hour away and has 70,000 hectares of paradise. In addition to frequent themed and seasonal events, the park offers: hiking and biking trails, rock climbing, museums, hermitages, and the Lago di Fiastra for swimming. Skiing and snow shoeing are popular in the winter. The nearby Abbadia di Fiastra is a sanctuary of shaded walking paths. The caves at Frasassi are an hour away and the largest in Europe. Our paved countryside hill roads are ideal for cyclists.
For beach lovers, Le Marche has 180 kms of sandy coastline and 15 Blue Flag beaches. Civitanova Marche, with a Blue Flag beach and its award-winning restaurants and beach establishments, is a 35-minute drive from Casa Pace e Gioia. The famous Conero beaches and Sirolo are just a little further.
For food and wine lovers, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how amazing Marchigiani food and wine is. From the unusual but fantastic sparkling red Serrapetrona, to the local favorite Rosso Piceno, and the famous white Verdicchio di Matelica and Jesi, Le Marche’s wines are superb - and you’ll most likely get your tour from the owner. We cover food in-depth on the La Cucina Marchigiana page but the stuffed and fried Olive Ascolane are to die for, as is the Vincisgrassi.
For those into art, architecture, and history, the many preserved hilltop castles, monasteries, churches, museums, and Roman ruins deliver. The nearby 12-15 thcentury La Rocca in Urbisaglia is only 10 minutes away, as are the 1stcentury Roman ruins of Urbs Salvia.
If you want to party like a local, festivals, reenactments, sagre (food festivals), concerts, shows, and performances are held almost every weekend in the Spring-Fall. Winemakers often host dinners in the vines with live music. You don’t need to speak Italian to have fun, it’s universal!
For those who want to relax and unwind, Le Marche’s slower pace will soothe. The lack of big cities and industries makes this rural area a haven. The noises you’ll hear come from church bells and cowbells.
We post regular blog updates about the region here. We have guidebooks and brochures in the house, and will send you our Digital Welcome and Area Guide prior to your arrival and help you enjoy the vacation of your dreams.