Scenic roads in marcha italy. Mark. Italy. Geographic location and climate
Italy has long been facing the following problem: crowds of tourists stubbornly rush to the same places, “going wild” in Rome, creating traffic jams in Florence and even gradually trampling Venice.
While on the "boot" there is enough space, and endless beaches, and such cultural sites that you do not need to sign up ahead of time on the Internet or choke in the queues of the same suffering. And all this is almost in the heart of Italy.
One of the areas that is not geographically related to the Italian "bear corner", but undeservedly (relative to its potential) overlooked by tourists, can be called Marche region. It is located in the central part of Italy, with access to the coast Adriatic Sea. So that you do not immediately look at Google maps and imagine its location, I will say that it borders on Emilia Romagna, San Marino, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo and Lazio.
The Marche region consists of five provinces: the capital Ancona, Pesaro, Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno. All the names of the regions of Italy exist in the singular, and only Marche - in the plural. The Italians say that this expresses its essence - the diversity and variety of cultural, natural, historical and gastronomic attractions.
By tradition, in the summer season, Russians are considered primarily as a direction beach holiday, based on the coast and short (due to the rather hot climate) trips to the surrounding area. In Mark, everything is in order with this component: sandy and pebble beaches, 16 of which have blue flags, stretch for 180 kilometers, in total there are 26 towns in the region on the coast.
Marche beaches
Among the seaside resorts of Marche, I would highlight San Benedetto del Tronto, located in the southern part of the region, which is also called the Riviera of Palms. A long, neat promenade with palm alleys stretches along the sea; other features include wide beaches with fine golden sand, which makes it very popular place family vacation. What is important, in Marche you can always find free public areas of the beach (in some other regions of Italy, as you know, merchants are greedy and force all possible territory with paid sunbeds). Joggers and cyclists are also not indifferent to the long promenade here, who in Europe in general and in Italy in particular are always green light and an obligatory track in addition. Other sea resorts Marche is Porto Recanati, Porto San Giorgio, Lido di Fermo, Grottammare, Cupra Marittima.
Concerning cultural recreation, here the Marche is ready to compete with much more eminent regions. It is known that Italy has the largest number of attractions listed world heritage UNESCO, namely 49. At the same time, 80% of them are away from the most popular cities and mass tourist routes. Marche, one might say, carefully stores real treasures on its territory. The tourist offices of the region have counted and documented how many objects of cultural and historical heritage there are: 500 squares, more than 1000 monuments, 106 castles, 15 fortresses and 170 towers, thousands of ancient churches and temples, 96 abbeys and 73 theaters. Marche is also distinguished by a huge number of museums (about 400), art galleries and libraries, some of which are repositories of ancient unique tomes, such as the library of the aristocratic Leopardi family.
The names of many prominent Italians are associated with these lands: the composers Gioachino Rossini, Giovan Battista Pergolesi and Gaspare Spontini, the poet Giacomo Leopardi, the great artist Raphael, who was born in Urbino, and others.
Ancona, the capital of the Marche region, got its name from the Greek word ankon ("elbow"), because of its similar shape. A city located on a hill near the Adriatic Sea, the main sea port region (and in total there are 9 ports in Marche, from where you can go on boat trips or cruises). Ancona is literally "stuffed" with sights, churches, museums and galleries that keep evidence of history from the time of the Roman Empire to the present day.
Ascoli Piceno called the "city of a hundred towers", it is interesting for its heritage of the ancient Roman period, the city has an art gallery with works by Carlo Crivelli, Titian, Guido Reni, as well as an interesting Gallery of Modern Art, the Roman Theater.
City Macerata rises on a hill, from where a great view of the surroundings opens up and from where you can admire the traditional Italian landscape, captured so many times on the canvases of painters. Macerata is surrounded by bastions of the 15th century, its center is Piazza della Liberta, several palaces that house the administrative structures of the city, the city theater of the 18th century and several ancient churches.
Fermo is also distinguished by its majestic panorama from the sea to the mountains. On its territory there are evidence of the life of ancient people in the Iron Age, as well as large underground caves of the Roman period. Of particular note is the elegant Piazza del Popolo, as well as a whole museum complex, which includes the Palace of the Priori, the Cisterns I have already mentioned, the Teatro del Aquila, Villa Vitali and the Diocesan Museum.
Pesaro gained wide popularity thanks to the annual Rossini Opera Festival. In this city, it is worth seeing the Ducal Palace, Piazza della Liberta (with a monument of modern art in the center - the work of 1998 by the sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro), Rossini's house.
Urbino, another significant city of the Marche, is called the capital of the Renaissance, the famous painter Raphael was born here. Perhaps the largest number of masterpieces of painting is concentrated in the museums of Urbino - the works of Raphael, Titian, Piero della Francesca, Federico Barocci and others.
The Marches are also associated with the names of Francis of Assisi, a Catholic saint, founder of the medieval monastic order of the Franciscans, and Saint Benedetto di Norcia. A network of routes has been created in the region, including abbeys, monasteries and other objects of Franciscan culture.
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Excellent cuisine, clean beaches, historical heritage- all this is in the Italian region of Marche. While tourists prefer neighboring Emilia-Romagna, the Italians themselves choose Marche for its charming landscapes and silence. This is one of the quietest regions in Italy, where you can still relax without fuss.
Geography of Marche
The region is located in the east of Italy, in the center Adriatic coast. Its coastline stretches for 180 km, and the territory is a mixture of hills, plains and mountainous terrain. Marche borders Umbria, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo and Tuscany. The capital of the region is Ancona, a tourist and international port. There is an airport not far from the city, and Ancona also receives ferries from Albania, Greece and Croatia.
Region map Marche
Big cities
Capital and The largest city region - Ancona. It has a long history, and in the Middle Ages it was an independent maritime republic. Much of the historic architecture has been destroyed, but there is plenty to do in Ancona. You can visit art galleries, old churches or go to the nearest resort towns. Modern Ancona will delight you with excellent infrastructure and a rich selection of hotels.
Another major city is Pesaro. This is the resort center of the Marche, the coastal strip of which is dotted with hotels. However, Pesaro has a calm atmosphere. Vacationers slowly walk along historical center and enjoy cultural life cities. And it is very stormy in Pesaro: there are regular international exhibitions, Opera Festival and Theater Arts Festival.
Climate Marche
The south of the region is characterized by a typical mediterranean climate With warm winters(+8 °C) and dry hot summer (+ 32 °C). Precipitation here is rare - only in low season. In the northern regions, the climate is more capricious. Wet and cool days are not uncommon here. In summer, the temperature is kept at +28 °C, in winter - at +2 °C. Marche has an average of 200 sunny days.
Attractions Marche
The most famous landmark of the region is the Palazzo Ducale, or the residence of the Dukes of Urbino. This a prime example palace architecture of the Renaissance. Palazzo Ducale is located on a rock and today serves as a building for the National Gallery. It also features Renaissance masterpieces, but the interiors themselves are no less attractive. The rooms of the palace have preserved original furniture, sculptures, books and frescoes.
Near Ancona, in the town of Loreto, is the greatest Catholic shrine - the Holy Hut. According to legend, a basilica was once built in Nazareth. It was Elena Equal-to-the-Apostles herself who ordered to erect it on this place. But in order to prevent the destruction of the church under the onslaught of the Saracens, the Holy Hut was mysteriously transferred from Palestine to the vicinity of Ancona. The authenticity of the shrine was confirmed twice by the popes. The basilica itself impresses with its architecture, but the content is not inferior either: valuable frescoes, mosaics and sculptural groups are stored inside.
You can spend a few days in Ancona looking at the heritage of the city. First, attention should be paid to the Cathedral. It is a mixture of three styles at once: Gothic, Roman and Byzantine. The cathedral has a difficult past. Erected on the foundations of the Greek acropolis, it was destroyed and rebuilt again. Today, the cathedral attracts with a Romanesque portal of the 13th century, figures of lions made of Verona marble and a bell tower of the 14th century. The dome of the cathedral is one of the oldest in Italy. It was erected in the 13th century, and 300 years later a copper coating was applied.
Inside the Cathedral, you can bow to revered icons, see ancient sculptures and paintings. Also in Ancona, the 500-year-old Sangallo fortress and luxury palace Mercanti is an example of Venetian Gothic. And in the port part of the city is the island of Lazaretto. In a huge pentagonal building, museums and cultural events are held on its territory.
Holidays in Marche
The main advantage of the Marche is its coast, on which there are many resorts for different styles recreation. One of the most popular is Gabbice Mare. People come here for the sake of cozy azure bays and bright nightlife. Its opposite is Pesaro. This resort seems to be created for relaxing on deserted beaches. In parallel, here you can enjoy fresh seafood in coastal restaurants.
Many tourists prefer Fano. This is a lively port city with a promenade and many shops, but its beaches are not crowded. Senigallia is also distinguished by the quality of water and tourist services. Its pure sandy beaches often referred to as "velvet".
Marche is good for gastronomic tourism. The basis of its dishes is seafood, and the prices in the region not spoiled by tourists remain acceptable. It is customary to accompany the meal with cheeses and local wine Verdicchio, which has been produced here since the Middle Ages.
shopping
Speaking of shopping in Marche, one cannot ignore the regional delicacies. Tourists stock up on local sausages and cheeses. The cheeses Ricotta, Cachotta, Vino Rosso (with the addition of red wine), as well as lemon cheese from the Metauro Valley are especially appreciated. Since the region has long been an agricultural center, Marche's products are organic and incredibly tasty.
Ascoli Piceno is a town that tourists deprive of attention. However, it is attractive for shopping. There is an old market with original antiques (monthly, on the third weekend). Also in the vicinity of the town there are small wineries, and local workshops are famous for high-quality leather shoes.
In Ancona you can buy wine from all areas of the Marche. In the center of the city, shops are concentrated, which mainly represent Italian brands. It is worth coming to the town of Fermo for products of local artisans and souvenirs - there are many shops in the Old Town. And in Pesaro and Macerata, excellent olive oil and quality wines are sold.
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When thinking about where to go to Italy, take note of Marche. The region has all the attractive components. clean beaches Adriatic, picturesque nature reserve Conero, lovely historical cities with sights and what we love about Italy especially - mouth-watering cuisine.
In the photo: the square of the Italian town of Ascoli
While the Marche has not been visited by numerous vacationers who fill the neighboring Emilia-Romagna in the summer, hurry to see and feel. We have already been there and have chosen the main points to pay attention to.
ADRIATIC SEA
180 kilometers coastline, 9 coves and 16 marked beaches blue flag. In Marche there is where to sunbathe and swim. There are several places that you can choose for a beach holiday: Senigallia, San Benedetto del Tronto, Gabbice Mare.
In the photo: the beach of San Benedetto del Tronto
Italians love Senigallia for its sandy beaches. In San Benedetto, palm trees are planted along the promenade, and on the shore - White sand, because of which they decided to call the town the Italian Miami.
In the photo: the promenade of San Benedetto del Tronto
RIVIERA CONERO
There are 12 state-protected natural parks in the Marche. We liked most of all the coast of Portonovo, surrounded by the picturesque Conero Park. Here and vegetation (connoisseurs of coniferous trees, the same as in Istria, will be happy with their abundance here), and mountains, and the sea.
As an original place to stay, we recommend the Hotel Fortino Napoleonico di Portonovo, a former Napoleonic fort, located right in the Conero Park, overlooking the Adriatic and an excellent restaurant for dinner.
But in general, the Marche landscapes sometimes resemble pacifying Tuscan ones - the same green hills and old houses, and in the distance you can also see the white tops of the Apennines.
LORETO
In the photo: the basilica in the town of Loreto
Moving from nature to cultural property. The town of Loreto, closest to the capital Ancona, is famous for its basilica, where pilgrims come every year. Inside the church is Santa Casa, the house where the Virgin Mary was born.
In the photo: Santa Casa, the house where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary was born
According to legend, the house was moved by angels in 1291 from Nazareth, according to documents, it was moved in parts in the thirteenth century by ship with the participation of a noble Italian family. By the end of the fifteenth century, a basilica was built for the relic. Now Santa Casa is located in a separate chapel along with an unusual statue of the Black Madonna.
ASCOLI
Ascoli founded the Italic tribes even before Rome, the road and the bridge have been preserved from ancient times. In the Middle Ages, the city became known as the "city of a hundred towers", which were visible even at the entrance to Ascoli.
In the photo: the central square of Ascoli, Piazza del Poppolo
Now there are much fewer Romanesque and Gothic towers left, while walking you can try to count them. central square Piazza del Poppolo, paved with gray marble, is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy.
The latter is debatable, but don't miss the historic Café Meletti located here. Anisetta anise liqueur has been produced under the Meletti brand for 140 years. In 1903 the Meletti family bought former building post office and turned it into a sophisticated Art Deco coffee house.
The vaults in the cafe are painted with frescoes, the chandeliers are made in the form of anise leaves, the marble tables and Viennese chairs look like 100 years ago.
You need to drink anise liqueur, snacking on a coffee bean, or just coffee with the same liquor. Meletti is so beautiful that it is impossible to leave quickly.
In the photo: anise liqueur in the Meletti cafe, anise liqueur should be drunk with coffee beans from glasses with a thick stem.
URBINO
In terms of attractions, Urbino is considered the most attractive city. Firstly, this is the birthplace of Raphael, here the house of the artist's parents has been preserved, which functions as a museum.
Secondly, the city flaunts its own Palazzo Ducale - the ducal palace of the Renaissance. It is included in the UNESCO heritage and is one of the most remarkable palaces in Italy. Palazzo Ducale was built under the supervision of Duke Federico da Montefeltro, who ruled Urbino from the middle of the fifteenth century.
A portrait of Federico by Pietro della Francesca hangs in the Uffizi, and behind the duke is just a view of the city from the windows of the palace. The palace is designed as a fortress, on the facade there are round towers inspired by the architecture of minarets. The duke was a great admirer of antiquity, ordered the construction of a pagan “Temple of the Muses” in the palace, and hung portraits of Ptolemy, Plato and Aristotle in his office.
The walls in the cockpit are covered with inlaid wooden panels with an optical effect, it seems as if there are astronomical instruments and books on the shelves. The palace has an impressive spiral staircase, as if endless, and balconies with an impressive panorama. Get ready, there are often school tours around the palace, so it will be noisy.
PURCHASES
There are many factories in the region Italian stamps, and with them - shops and outlets. It's easy to buy Tod's, Hogan and Santoni shoes at a significant discount. To get to the shops, you will have to take a car, the factories are far from tourist places.
GASTRONOMY
We will pay special attention to gastronomic pleasure, there are many of them here. The proximity of the Adriatic provides seafood.
Pictured: Lobster at Fortino Napoleonico
In Portonovo they catch wild mussels, which are served with butter and bread. The main pastas are those with langoustines, shells and shrimps.
Try local variations of prosciutto, such as Prosciutto di Carpegna. The Marche has wonderful country cheeses - pecorino, stracciatela (stretchy cheese in cream), ricotta, buffalo, as well as formaggio di fossa (hard cheese like pecorino, eaten with apple jam).
Special attention to the wonderful white wine Verdicchio. In Italy, friulano from Friuli is traditionally considered the king of white wines, but, as we see it, if Marche winemakers take up the promotion of verdicchio, the position can be reconsidered.
Verdicchio is a delicate aromatic wine that has been made in the region since the 14th century, and its modern variations go well with seafood cuisine.
In the photo: pasta with seafood and wine Verdicchio
And, finally, to everyone who, at the word “truffles”, begins to dreamily move his nose. Here they are found! Black and precious white truffles are harvested in the mountains of the northern Marche. The region loves to tell stories of how cyclopean-sized mushrooms were sent to John Paul II and recently to Barack Obama. So Piedmont has a competitor.
In the photo: pasta with crumbs of truffles
We had a chance to taste black truffles at the excellent Osteria Dalla Peppa in Fano. The mushroom, cut into pencil shavings, is placed on toasted white bread as an appetizer for spumante, and then the same shavings are added to tagliatelle in butter sauce. We know that truffles are not for everyone, but for our taste, they are breathtaking.
In the photo: classic antipasti (snacks) from the Marche region
By the way, if you are in Fano (and then you definitely need to find this osteria), order the traditional La Moretta Fanese as a digestif - hot coffee with rum, anise liqueur and brandy. The ingredients are poured in layers, when mixed, it turns out great.
We thank the Marche region and the tour operator for organizing the trip ICS Travel Group . Charter flights to the regional capital of Ancona are operated by ICS from 1 June to early September.
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Lyudmila Egorshina- Lyudmila Egorshina - former columnist for Afisha magazine and columnist for travel, culture and fashion on elle.ru. She has traveled half the world, but she has a special inclination towards Asian culture and Italian cuisine.
Marche is an amazing region of Italy, although not the first in the list of tourists' preferences, but it definitely deserves to be in the top. Beautiful place with its own features and attractions, where you can relax without being distracted by large crowds of travelers. Beaches, climate and infrastructure are in no way inferior to more popular resorts.
General information about the Marche region (Italy)
The Marche region is located in the center of the Adriatic coast of Italy, it is washed from the east by the Adriatic Sea. The mild, warm climate characteristic of this country is also observed here. The area of the Marche is 9,366 square kilometers.
Marche (Italy)
Provinces
The region consists of five provinces:
- Ancona,
- Ascoli Piceno,
- Macerata,
- Pesaro e Urbino,
- Fermo.
The neighboring regions are:
- Emilia-Romagna (in the north),
- Tuscany (in the northwest),
- Umbria (in the west),
- Abruzzo (in the south).
Additional Information! Administrative center- the port city of Ancona, it is he who often becomes the starting point for tourists.
How to come to Ancona
You can get there in almost any way: fly by plane, sail by ship or come by train. In extreme cases, you can take the bus - the cheapest, though not very comfortable option. Unfortunately, there are practically no direct flights to Ancona: most likely, you will have to fly with transfers, stopping in cities: most likely in Rome or Munich. But finding transport from these cities to the Marche will not be difficult.
Economy Marche
The region is primarily famous for its light industry, for example, the manufacture of very good shoes, and Marche is one of the main centers of shipbuilding. Tourism infrastructure, certainly developed enough to receive tourists and travelers from all over the world: a large number of well-groomed beaches, many attractions, various hotels and other places for recreation, shopping tours and, of course, unsurpassed Italian flavor in everything.
Port City of Ancona
Sights of the region
The architectural sights in the Marche cannot be counted. In the capital of Ancona, the following ancient buildings are worth attention:
- Partially destroyed Roman amphitheater, which could give interesting spectacles to 10 thousand spectators at once. For some time it served as a defensive point, after which it began to be dismantled for building materials. Fortunately, part of this building has survived to this day.
- Ancona Cathedral, dedicated to Judas Cyriacus - the main church of the city and at the same time an important religious monument. Built in the 10th century, it expanded over three more centuries.
- Ancona citadel - built in the 16th century on the hill of Astagno, the citadel is an old historical defensive structure.
Interesting! The Palace of the Elders is an interesting building where the Council of the City Fathers met. It is worth noting that during the Second World War the building was extremely damaged.
This is only a small part of the sights of the capital. But other cities of the Marche can boast interesting places:
- The Frasassi caves, discovered in 1948, are approximately 30 kilometers long. Everyone can look at the beautiful stalagmites and stalactites of this long network of caves - the tour for tourists is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day, the length of the route is one and a half kilometers.
- The Castle of the Dukes of Urbino is a small castle erected in the city of Urbino by Florentine architects, which, at the behest of Duke Federigo da Montefeltro, was turned into a real palace. Although the fortress was not completed before the death of the duke, it became a popular cultural attraction even in its unfinished form. Now the castle of the dukes is used as National Gallery Mark.
- Monte Conero Natural Park is located on the Adriatic coast, while it lies on the slopes of the mountain of the same name. Those who decide to take a walk here can see many species of wild plants, as well as animals and birds. Moreover, there are a number of extremely interesting places. For example, beautiful churches and unique systems grottoes and caves.
On a note! One of the main tourist cities Marche - Ascoli Piceno.
Extraordinarily beautiful city, most of which is built of travertine, boasts well-groomed streets, interesting architectural style and many attractions. It is also worth paying attention to the cities of Fano and Pesaro. At the same time, it is not necessary to have a lot of money - first of all, vacationers are waiting for walks around cities, etc.
Castle of the Dukes of Urbino
Excursions
On the Internet, you can easily find a Russian guide who will tell you in detail about the places of interest to tourists. The cheapest group tours cost 40…50 euros* per hour.
Urbino is very popular among fans of excursions - medieval city, in which such iconic historical monuments as the castle of the dukes were built, Cathedral Urbino, Monastery of Santa Chiara. It is because of the saturation of historical monuments that excursions are so popular here.
Important information! Payment is not always hourly! All details must be discussed with the guides in advance.
How to relax in Marche
Despite the large number of attractions, in this region you can not only drive around the cities, looking at the streets and nature. There is also a well-developed beach resort and shopping, many restaurants, lovers active rest have the opportunity to visit local discos. There are both fairly cheap (very decent) hotels and five-star all-inclusive hotels.
A large selection of beaches for family holidays will not leave indifferent those who like to swim or just want to lie in the sun. Given the mild warm climate and beautiful pictures nature, the Marche coast is in no way inferior to the beaches of other regions of Italy. The most famous of them are: Spiaggia di Velluto, Riviera del Conero, Porto Sant'Elpidio beach and others.
Important information! You need to pay in hotels and when shopping in the country's currency - the euro.
The coast of Spiaggia di Velluto
Useful information for tourists
The climate in Italy is quite temperate. It usually makes no sense to take warm clothes with you, especially in summer. Be sure to need sunscreen, otherwise you can spoil yourself appearance in just a few hours.
Marche is far from the most popular region among tourists, but at the same time you can enjoy this place in the same way as in the most popular resorts. The map of the region is full of interesting places: this is a great option for those who like to explore cities, consider their architectural curiosities and those who want to lie on spacious and clean beaches.
*Prices are current as of September 2018.
The Marche region is located in eastern Italy, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Its capital is the city (Ancona). During its history, these lands successively passed from hand to hand: first it was owned by the ancient Greeks, then the Romans, after them the Goths invaded here. After the Byzantine rule, the lands passed to the ancient Germans, from whom they got their name (mark - region). There are many shipyards in the Marche, tourism, trade, and fishing are well developed. The region is famous for its developed light industry: fashionable Italian shoes, popular all over the world, are mostly made by Marche craftsmen, so at least it’s worth stopping by for shopping.
The administrative center of one of the five provinces of the region, Ancona is the capital and largest city of the Marche with a population of about 100,000 people. It is a major port and is famous all over the world. balneological resort. Ancona has many ancient monuments preserved from ancient times. The city is very popular with tourists, but the Italians themselves also strive here, some to improve their health, some to take a walk in the surrounding hills. Not far from Ancona, in the late 1940s, speleologists discovered the Frasassi caves (Grotte di Frasassi), which became one of the main attractions of the region. The total length of the underground labyrinth is about 30 kilometers; in one of the caves there was once a monastery of the Catholic order of the Sylvesters.
The monuments of Ancona that caught the ancient Roman era are the Arch of Trajan (Arco di Traiano) and the dilapidated amphitheater (Anfiteatro romano). Numerous tourists go to them first of all; not every day you see the creation of human hands, created at the dawn of our era, in 115 (the amphitheater is even older).
Traditional for everyone Italian city cathedral, several churches of the X-XI centuries, ancient palazzos - there is so much to see in Ancona. Its convenient location makes the city attractive even for those who did not originally plan a trip here: it is difficult to resist the temptation to spend only 2-3 hours on the road and see unique buildings and architectural monuments. The nearest popular resort is located just 100 km. The road from Rimini to Ancona along the coast will take you about 1.5 hours, and about an hour.
Big cities
In addition to the province of Ancona with the center of the same name, the Marche includes four more. The city of Pesaro is the second largest in the Marche (just over 90 thousand people live in it), it is the center of the province of Pesaro e Urbino (Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino). Next in descending order are Fano, Ascoli Piceno - the center of the province of the same name, Macerata and Fermo. The last two cities are the centers of the provinces of the same name.
Pesaro is primarily a resort town. It is not hot here in summer, quite warm in winter, and 8 km of beaches attract citizens and visitors.
It is easy to get here by train from, and Ancona; regular bus service links the city with Rome and Ancona.
Gioachino Rossini was born in Pesaro, so the main attraction for tourists is his house. The cost of the entrance ticket is from 8 to 10 euros. It is not surprising that the city theater (Teatro Rossini) bears the name of a famous composer.
Of the other interesting places in Pesaro, you should pay attention to the ancient Villa Imperiale (La Villa Imperiale). It is famous for being the home of the Dukes of Sforza, archrivals of the Medici dynasty, for several decades. The beautiful mansion is located on the top of the hill, from which one can see beautiful view to the city.
If you are going to Pesaro, arrange your schedule so that your stay in the city coincides with the third Sunday of the month. On this day, the city festival La Stradomenica takes place here. You can not only have fun among the townspeople, but also take advantage of a number of profitable offers: sales are organized during the holiday, city markets open, and cafes and restaurants serve their customers at special prices.
Fano
The city of Fano (Fano) was well known back in. In those days it was called the "Temple of Fortune" (Fanum Fortunae). Evidence of the ancient past of the city is the city fortress wall, partially preserved to this day, as well as the arch of Augustus (Arco d’Augusto). It was built by Emperor Augustus in the first years of our era. Today, the arch represents the symbolic gate of the city and is its main tourist attraction.
Another gate, Porta della Mandria (la Porta della Mandria), is less often mentioned in guidebooks and less known to tourists, but no less interesting. They are part of the old city walls that the Romans surrounded the city, and were in a ruined state until 1925.
One of the mandatory points of the program when visiting Fano is Malatesta Castle (Palazzo Malatesta). The palazzo was erected at the beginning of the 14th-15th centuries by order of Pandolfo Malatesta, a representative of a noble family who ruled the city for 200 years, known for his cruelty and rejection of church laws. Now the castle is Archaeological Museum with an extensive and interesting exhibition.
The ancient and beautiful Ascoli Piceno is not always given much attention in guidebooks around the country, although there are a large number of unique historical and architectural monuments here.
The city is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in the region due to the fact that many of the buildings in its center are built of travertine, a beige-colored calcareous tuff.
To understand what we are talking about, imagine also made of travertine. The entire center of Ascoli, including the squares and sidewalks, is just that - beige, either pink or pearl gray.
The heart of the city is Piazza del Popolo, or People's Square. It is elegant and ceremonial, not for nothing that many consider it one of the most beautiful in Italy. Closed along the perimeter by the walls of monumental historical buildings, it looks like a front hall, above which there is no ceiling - only a bright blue sky. The effect is amazing, especially if you stand facing the hills that are visible behind the buildings surrounding the area.
The Cathedral of the city, bearing the name of Ascoli Picene's patron Saint Emidius (Cattedrale di Sant'Emidio), is radically different from the main temples of other Italian cities. Religious buildings were located on the site of the cathedral in IV-V centuries, and its most ancient parts date back to the VIII-IX centuries. In the 11th century, a crypt was built for the relics of the saint. The cathedral acquired its current appearance in the 1530s, when its facade was dismantled and rebuilt.
The city has many monuments of antiquity. Entire streets built by the ancient Romans have been preserved here, walking along which you understand very well how old this city is. One of the surviving buildings of that era is the bridge over the river Tronto (Tronto). Its length is 62 meters, width - 6.5 m. Experts believe that the bridge was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, that is, no later than the second decade of our era.
Of the most famous buildings in the city of Macerata, it is worth noting the university, founded in 1290 by Pope Nicholas IV. It is considered one of the oldest in Europe.
One of amazing places in the city, which has no analogues - the Sferisterium (Arena Sferisterio). The arena, partly similar to the ancient Roman circuses, was built in 1829. It was intended for a sports game popular in Italy since ancient times. At the beginning of the 20th century, interest in this entertainment faded, and now the building is used for opera and ballet performances and music festivals.
Another unusual building in Macerata is the so-called Diamond Palace (Palazzo dei Diamanti). It was built in the 16th century, and got its name from the exterior cladding. The facade of the building is completely covered with stones, hewn in a special way - as if faceted.
Small Urbino is a unique city that must be visited. Its peculiarity is that, despite its more than modest size, it is a real cultural center of the region. About 15,500 people permanently live in Urbino. At the same time - attention! - about the same number of students at the local university.
The University of Urbino (Università degli Studi di Urbino) was founded at the very beginning of the 16th century, first as a medical, and then expanding the list of disciplines.
Urbino itself was founded in the 4th century BC. Its main buildings, erected in the Renaissance, have almost completely survived to this day, therefore historical appearance city has come down to us unchanged. The main decoration of the city, the ducal palace (Palazzo Ducale) of the 15th century, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The residence of the Dukes of Urbino was not completed, but even in this form it is a unique monument of a bygone era.
Two more outstanding examples of architecture of different years are the church of St. Bernardino (la chiesa di San Bernardino degli Zoccolanti), built in 1491, and the city's neoclassical cathedral (Duomo di Urbino) of 1801.
You can not ignore the house-museum of the great (Raffaello Santi), a native. The exposition dedicated to one of the best painters in the world has been located in the house where he was born since the 19th century. The personal belongings of the artist and his family have not been preserved, the furniture and other interior items presented in the museum are typical of that time. The museum is open daily, the price of an entrance ticket is 3.5 euros.
The easiest way to get to Urbino is from Pesaro, which, in turn, can be reached by train from Bologna or Ancona. There is a bus from Pesaro to Urbino. The fare is 3 euros, the travel time is from 45 minutes to an hour with a little. 35 kilometers between the two cities can also be traveled by taxi, the average price is 45 euros.
Resort Marche
Since the Marche and the sea are inextricably linked, it is impossible not to mention the resorts of the region. We list the main ones, “moving” from the north of the coast to the south.
Gabicce Mare and Gabicce Monte is a single resort, consisting of two levels, "beach" and "mountain", located on top of a hill. Below are hotels, beaches and promenades; upstairs - restaurants, noisy bars and discos.
Pesaro: the total length of the beaches of this city is about 8 km, of which three belong to municipal beach. The coast is mostly sandy, the entrance to the water is sloping, the depth is shallow.
The already mentioned Fano has two beaches - the pebbly Spiaggia Sassonia, along which the townspeople like to stroll in the evenings, and the sandy Spiaggia Lido, more suitable for sunbathing and swimming, and therefore more popular. The farther from the city center, the more chances find a free quiet, not crowded beach.
A little further from Fano towards Ancona lies the town of Senigallia. Its long (more than 13 km) resort area, called Spiaggia Di Velluto, "velvet beach", is known as perhaps the best beach on the Adriatic coast.
South of Fano and Ancona, all the way to San Benedetto del Tronto, there are many small towns and villages offering spa services to visitors: Portonovo, Sirolo and others. One of them, Civitanova Marche, is also well known to tourists who come to the Marche not only to wander through the historic streets, but also to relax in comfort at seaside resorts.
San Benedetto del Tronto, located in the south of the Marche, is one of the main centers of the resort life of the region. Its main attraction is a long palm avenue that runs parallel to the coastline. It has seven thousand trees.
If you are more attracted to a secluded vacation away from expensive hotels and bustling restaurants, you can arrange a romantic trip to the beaches around the town of Numana (Numana) south of Sirolo - take a boat and go along the coast in search of a small deserted bay.
Halfway between Sirolo and San Benedetto del Tronto, not far from Fermo, there is a place called Porto Sant'Elpidio, where a whole pine forest grows along the coast.
