Winter in the Marche villages: the slow pace of beauty

Leave the noise of the coast behind and make your way towards the most evocative villages of the Apennines: here, winter turns into poetry. In Elcito, often blanketed in snow, silence wraps itself around everything; walking among its stone houses feels like stepping into a painting from another time. Esanatoglia, one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, carries the scent of woodsmoke and tradition in winter. Its ancient towers rising above the landscape and its narrow lanes clustered around the main street create an intimate, fairy-tale atmosphere. Further south, in the Ascoli area, Castel Trosino welcomes visitors with its narrow alleyways, well-kept balconies—even in winter—and views hanging above the valley below. And when sunset arrives, everything turns to gold: the perfect moment for those who love photography or simply enjoy being captivated by beauty.

During the Christmas season, several villages in Le Marche region are transformed into small gems of light and tradition. In Candelara, each year darkness gives way to candlelight: at the weekends between November and December, thousands of tiny flames illuminate the village, creating a truly unique setting of silence, golden hues and details that evoke the most authentic Christmas magic. In Mombaroccio, the air is filled with the scent of craftsmanship and age-old recipes: decorated workshops, nativity scenes and traditional sweets create a warm, homely atmosphere, perfect for anyone who loves the charm of Christmas as it used to be. In Urbania, the Epiphany becomes a real celebration: here, the Befana is not just a folkloric figure, but the undisputed star. With workshops, storytelling, smiling faces and ancient customs, the village comes alive with an energy that captivates both children and adults. Further south, at the foot of the Sibillini mountains, Cessapalombo embraces Christmas with a touching simplicity: its scattered nativity scenes— often nestled among woodlands, old mule tracks and stone cottages— offer an authentic, unpretentious way of experiencing the festive season.

If you’re looking to step away from the frenzy of the festive season, choose the villages where winter moves slowly, among silent woods, the scent of firewood and crackling hearths. In Sassoferrato, in the province of Ancona, the cold season embraces its tidy lanes, historic corners and paths that lead gently into peaceful woodland. Further south, Belforte del Chienti welcomes you with its intimate atmosphere: in winter, its quiet streets, Romanesque churches and rolling hillsides invite you to wander without hurry. A little further on, Sarnano looks like a small medieval jewel box— an intricate weave of arches, stairways and gateways that takes on an even more intimate charm in the colder months. And then the mountains call: Bolognola offers the tranquillity of snow- covered heights, while Amandola, the natural gateway to the Sibillini Mountains, rests on its hillsides and looks out towards white peaks, with artisan workshops and cosy eateries adding warmth to the stillness of the landscape. In these villages, nature sets the pace and every experience feels heightened: a walk through the woods, a stop in a mountain hut, a cup of hot chocolate by the fire. In local trattorias, traditional dishes await, warm and wholesome.

In winter, some villages in Le Marche region reveal a special kind of light— perfect for those who love to observe and capture authentic landscapes that, in other seasons, might easily go unnoticed. In Mondavio, the fortress rises sharply above the hills, while Corinaldo shows off the precision of its walls and its perfectly geometric lanes. Continuing southwards, Offagna offers medieval scenes that seem made for a flawless shot; Moresco surprises with its heptagonal layout and the tower that dominates the valley. From the viewpoints of Cingoli, Loreto and Recanati, winter delivers crystal-clear panoramas: on the brightest days you can clearly make out the peaks of the Apennines and, at the same time, the line of the sea. And further down in the Piceno area, Ripatransone also boasts privileged vantage points: from here, the view stretches from the Adriatic to the distant mountains, across a horizon that seems to go on forever. That’s why winter is the perfect season to discover these villages: it reveals a new perspective— sharper, clearer and more authentic.

To truly savour winter in the villages of Le Marche, treat yourself to at least one night on site. When the visitors drift away and silence settles once more into every corner, the atmosphere becomes even more profound. Choose a B&B tucked within the ancient walls of Camerino, Torre di Palme, Gradara, Offida or Ripatransone: waking up in the stillness of the village, with morning scents in the air and stone walls warming in the first light, is a special way to start the day.