Marche

Between the Metauro valley and the Foglia valley, in the hills of the Marche region facing the Adriatic Sea, lies the city of Urbino, one of the most important centres of the Italian Renaissance, whose artistic charm and architectural heritage are still preserved today. Embellished with sandstone buildings and surrounded by a long wall of brickwork, Urbino is a city of vast historical and artistic wealth. From a simple village, it became the “cradle of the Renaissance” and, even today, walking through its historical centre you can breathe in the 15th-century air. In 1998, Urbino was honourably included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for being a point of attraction for the most illustrious Renaissance scholars and artists from all over Italy and the world, and for having influenced cultural progress in the rest of Europe, while managing to keep its exceptional urban complex almost intact.

Thanks to its generous nature, its extraordinary historical-artistic heritage and food-and-wine itineraries that criss-cross it far and wide, Le Marche has now established itself as the destination of choice for slow and sustainable tourism in Italy. From the Sibillini Mountains to the beaches of the Conero, here will find, even in peak season and at reasonably affordable rates, vistas and oases of peace and beauty worth exploring slowly, listening to the rhythms of nature and staying in the area's typical dwellings. Many B&Bs and agritourisms in the Marche region preserve within their walls the true spirit and traditions of an ancient region that is so closely linked to its environment. We have selected for you 5 charming destinations in Le Marche immersed in nature, for your ideal summer in Le Marche.

The splendid City of Loreto, tucked inside the countryside of the Marches Region, owes its fame to the Sanctuary (or Basilica) where the Santa Casa della Vergine Maria (Shrine of the Holy House of the Virgin Mary) is preserved and venerated. It is a holy place defined by Pope John Paul II as “the true Marian heart of Christianity.” The sanctuary has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites for the Catholic faith for centuries, having been visited by approximately 200 saints and beatified persons, as well as by numerous Popes. According to ancient tradition, and today substantiated by historical and archaeological research, the Santa Casa is the house from Nazareth where the Virgin Mary was born, educated, and where she received the Annunciation. The house was composed of one room in masonry, with three walls in stone placed so as to enclose a rock cavern. This cavern is worshipped by pilgrims who flock to Nazareth, that is to the Basilica of the Annunciation, while the three stone walls, as legend has it, were brought to Italy (first passing through Illyria) by crusaders expelled from Palestine in 1291. The walls arrived in Loreto in 1294. Not only, but documents and archaeological excavations have continued to reinforce the hypothesis that the walls of the Santa Casa were transported to Loreto by ship, an initiative undertaken by the Angeli Family, nobles who ruled over Epirus at the time.

This is one of the Italian adventure parks with the most fascinating natural scenery: between the rock walls and the green waters of the Sentino river. Here, the relatively low number of available routes is compensated for by the infinite resources offered by the surrounding area: the park is a stone's throw from the extraordinary underground spectacle of the Frasassi Caves and the sulphurous San Vittore water spa. There are also a series of picturesque itineraries through the Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi Regional Park.

All the best of opera under the stars Located in the city's historic center, Macerata's Sferisterio is a magnificent semicircular arena that was formerly used for the ball game with an armband. Today, it is a true open-air opera house and venue for cultural festivals and concerts. Giuseppe Verdi's Aida was the first performance to be staged here in 1921, and leading the way for the arena's new, enduring path of opera and entertainment. With 2,500 seats and perfect acoustics, this venue has seen some of the most famed singers and conductors take turns on its stage. The Sferisterio is known for the Macerata Opera Festival, a summer opera season in which opera, film and symphonic repertoire come together to create a true cultural and entertainment event under the stars.

Don't expect the usual parade of papier-mâché floats: the Carnival of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region of Italy, is a sparkling and unusual event. Rather than following a programme or a theme, here the celebrations focus on individuals and the community, exalting light-heartedness and the desire to party, encouraging citizens and tourists to take the initiative and make themselves the stars, if only for five minutes, of a party that lasts almost a week, from Thursday to Shrove Tuesday.