The Marche is a region with an extraordinary wealth of history and natural beauty , the cradle of famous artists and scholars in the Renaissance. Today it offers a vibrant example of a well balanced economic-business model, it is the region in Italy where the life expectancy is longest. This is a land rich of natural and artistic excellences although relatively pristine when compared to the over exploited Tuscany. People is genuinely friendly and happy to welcome visitors and share with them their ancient traditions, their unique landscape, the craftsmanship and social experiences have led to a nutritional model which is not only gastronomic but also cultural. Through good food, lovely wines and traditional custom Le Marche reveal the formula of the elixir for longevity.
The Marche territory offers to the visitor a variety of gastronomic delicacies: the extra virgin olive oil, its highly reputed white wine (Bianchello del Metauro, Verdicchio), cheese and local salame – the Ciauscolo; the Roverella downy oak is a kind of oak from whose roots a highly-prized tuber grows : the truffle.

Nearby highlight

For a romantic tour head to Gradara , an historical landmark with its Middle Age castle that hosted the scenery of the famous love story between Paolo and Francesca, described in Dante Alighieri’s Divina Commedia.
At one hour drive through nature reserves, lies the coastal town of Pesaro. The city has a vibrant cultural scene with theatres, restaurants and a long sandy seaside and in August hosts the International Rossini Music Festival .
The enchanting Urbino (half an hour drive), famous for its artistic and architectural marvels is a city considered the heart of the Renaissance and the “ideal city” thanks to its wealth of works of art and truly special lifestyle. Raffaello’s birthplace, it is in Urbino that the Duke Federico da Montefeltro built the Ducal Palace that still stands as an eloquent memorial to this quintessential Renaissance man. Urbino’s historic centre boasts the honour of being included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Fermignano, a pleasant medieval village few km apart, is world famous Renaissance architect Bramante’s birthplace.
Beautiful fortresses dominate the highlands of the province of Pesaro-Urbino and the heart of Montefeltro. Worth visiting is the impressive Brancaleoni Castle in Piobbico, an example of medieval fortification.