Marche
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The region of Marche is one of six regions in central Italy, situated north of Abruzzo and south of Emilia Romagna. To the east it occupies a long stretch of coastline on the Adriatic Sea while to the west it shares land borders with the regions of Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio.
Sometimes referred to as "Le Marche" ("The Marches" in English), the region has a total population of around one and a half million, with just over 100,000 living in its capital city of Ancona. As with all of the twenty regions of Italy, Marche is split into a series of provinces of which there are five in total. |
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Across the five provinces of Pesaro & Urbino, Ancona, Ascoli-Piceno, Fermo and Macerata, you'll find a diverse range of sights from endless sandy beaches to rolling hills of vineyards and rugged mountain areas.
Along its coastline Marche can boast lots of great seaside towns including the likes of San Benedetto del Tronto, Senigallia and Gabicce Mare, but for me the seaside highlight of the region is the Riviera del Conero. Whereas most of Marche's coastline follows a long, unbroken stretch of beach, the Conero Peninsula offers something a little different. Here you'll find a group of towns and beach resorts such as Numana, Marcelli and Portonovo. The crown jewel here however is the town of Sirolo with numerous beaches including the famous Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle (The Beach of Two Sisters); arguably the most beautiful beach in the region and best reached by boat.
Head inland of Marche's coastal areas and the landscape changes dramatically. The interior terrain is elevated and characterised by its seemingly endless undulating fields. These agricultural areas of Marche are punctuated by large tracts of vineyards which provide some of the most memorable images of the region with something a little different in each season. In winter you'll find snow covering much of the ground, spring brings it blooming flowers and summer the parched golden fields. It is however during autumn that the vineyards come to life; the patchwork shades of green, brown and orange create an expansive canvas of which Cézanne would be proud.
Among these rolling hills, the landscape is punctuated by medieval and Renaissance towns such as Urbino and Ascoli-Piceno while smaller hill towns like Ripatransone, Corinaldo and Acquaviva-Picena are equally beguiling in their own ways. The religious hill town of Loreto close to the Conero Peninsula is not to be missed and neither is the town of Grottammare to its south which is a charming hill town and important summer seaside destination all rolled into one. Just to the north of Marche is the tiny republic of San Marino with its hilltop fortress while lovers of the medieval period will be charmed by the town of Gradara with its castle just a short distance away.
Away from the towns and cities, Marche offers some unique areas of natural beauty to discover. The area between Marche and neighbouring Umbria is occupied by the rugged landscapes of the Monti Sibillini National Park while smaller areas such as the Furlo Pass and Gola Regional Park offer something quite different with valleys enclosed by rocks and given life by narrow waterways. The most famous natural site of Marche are the Frasassi Caves with their haunting displays of stalagmites and stalactites, while just a short distance away is the unusual and perhaps confusing sight of a churched placed into the mouth of a cave: the Santuario Madonna di Frasassi.
Along its coastline Marche can boast lots of great seaside towns including the likes of San Benedetto del Tronto, Senigallia and Gabicce Mare, but for me the seaside highlight of the region is the Riviera del Conero. Whereas most of Marche's coastline follows a long, unbroken stretch of beach, the Conero Peninsula offers something a little different. Here you'll find a group of towns and beach resorts such as Numana, Marcelli and Portonovo. The crown jewel here however is the town of Sirolo with numerous beaches including the famous Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle (The Beach of Two Sisters); arguably the most beautiful beach in the region and best reached by boat.
Head inland of Marche's coastal areas and the landscape changes dramatically. The interior terrain is elevated and characterised by its seemingly endless undulating fields. These agricultural areas of Marche are punctuated by large tracts of vineyards which provide some of the most memorable images of the region with something a little different in each season. In winter you'll find snow covering much of the ground, spring brings it blooming flowers and summer the parched golden fields. It is however during autumn that the vineyards come to life; the patchwork shades of green, brown and orange create an expansive canvas of which Cézanne would be proud.
Among these rolling hills, the landscape is punctuated by medieval and Renaissance towns such as Urbino and Ascoli-Piceno while smaller hill towns like Ripatransone, Corinaldo and Acquaviva-Picena are equally beguiling in their own ways. The religious hill town of Loreto close to the Conero Peninsula is not to be missed and neither is the town of Grottammare to its south which is a charming hill town and important summer seaside destination all rolled into one. Just to the north of Marche is the tiny republic of San Marino with its hilltop fortress while lovers of the medieval period will be charmed by the town of Gradara with its castle just a short distance away.
Away from the towns and cities, Marche offers some unique areas of natural beauty to discover. The area between Marche and neighbouring Umbria is occupied by the rugged landscapes of the Monti Sibillini National Park while smaller areas such as the Furlo Pass and Gola Regional Park offer something quite different with valleys enclosed by rocks and given life by narrow waterways. The most famous natural site of Marche are the Frasassi Caves with their haunting displays of stalagmites and stalactites, while just a short distance away is the unusual and perhaps confusing sight of a churched placed into the mouth of a cave: the Santuario Madonna di Frasassi.
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Regional capital: Ancona
Regional population: 1,525,271 Size: 9,366 km² Provinces: 5 Highlights: Riviera del Conero, Urbino, Grottammare, Loreto Borders: Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Abruzzo, Umbria, Tuscany |
PROVINCES OF MARCHE
Senigallia, Ancona Province
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