The Marches (or Le Marche) region in Italy is nothing short of spectacular. Bordering Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo, it is home to an incredibly varied landscape, including mountains, hills and beaches. As well as the picturesque surroundings, you can enjoy rich culture, good food and wine and an array of exciting outdoor activities.
Due to the Apennine mountains, this region is well suited to those of you who like skiing and other snow sports. The hilly landscape also makes it a great place to go trekking along one of the many footpaths or choose an exciting route for mountain biking.
The Sibilini Nature Park is perfectly suited for these activities, but it isn’t the only one. The Regional Park Gola della Rossa is a wonderful place to get back to nature and make the most of the astonishing Marches landscape. This particular park is a green oasis, full of rare plant species and various birds and animals; you can spot royal eagles, owls and wolves, to name but a few. Coupled with the rich wildlife and marvellous views, there are also a number of medieval castles dotted on the landscape.
The famous Frasassi Grottoes also belong to this park. Formed over an astonishing 1,4 million years yet only discovered a few decades ago, this magical labyrinth is a complex system of caves, chambers, tunnels and lakes, full of stalactites and stalagmites. Why not take a tour with a professional guide, and get the most out of your visit? As one of the main speleological sites in Europe, this is not to be missed.
As well as the abundance of natural wonders, there are also many towns and villages to see in the Marches. Try Ascoli Piceno and explore its medieval historic centre and many craft workshops, or perhaps Ancona, the ‘Gateway to the East’ is a coastal town with a pleasant beach and one of the most important medieval churches in the region- the Cathedral of San Ciriaco. Urbino can be found right in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its outstanding Renaissance architecture.
Last but not least, there are also a number of gorgeous beaches to explore and enjoy. Senigallia is a great place to enjoy clear waters, beach sports or a relaxing evening stroll by the seaside, and Gabicce Mare is a pleasant cliff top resort, with a sandy bay down at sea level.
Why not discover the incredible variety of this region for yourself? Just choose your perfect Marches holiday country house from our wide selection and you’ll find yourself right in the midst of this beautiful, unspoilt region. We have Marches villas available for 4-14 people, so whether you have a small family or a really big one, we have the perfect villa for you! So what are you waiting for? Get back to nature and make your next holiday to Italy a Marches one!
The picture has been kindly taken from Brian Jannsen web site.