The treasures of the Marche between landscapes and wonder price starting from 221 €

> price starting from

221 €

Based on 8 adults

Created: Friday, July 12, 2024 - Departure: Saturday, October 12, 2024

Themes

ART & CULTURE GREEN & OUTDOOR LA DOLCE VITA

About

Let yourself be surprised by the many nuances of the Marche, an Italian pearl where traditions, landscapes, mountains and sea come together harmoniously in a single symphony. On a Vespa scooter, travel through the thousand colors of the region, an Italian icon of style and synonymous with freedom and adventure. Reach Mondavio, a few kilometers from the sea, with the Rocca Roveresca, an excellently preserved Renaissance fortification. Cross beyond the hills of the Marche and continue towards Corinaldo, a village perched on top of a hill, on the left bank of the Nevola river. Let yourself be enchanted by the medieval historic center and its streets, by the city walls with towers and bulwarks, by the squares and stone buildings. Get back on your Vespa, cross the Cesano valley and arrive in Senigallia, where sea and history intertwine endlessly. After a free stop to enjoy lunch and stroll along the seafront, head towards the village of Ostra. Let yourself be fascinated by the historic center, the alleys and the squares, then look out from its walls to admire the panorama of the Misa Valley, among olive groves, vineyards and sunflower fields. An unforgettable day, to fall in love with one of the most authentic regions of Italy.

About the area

Urban wonders and hills as far as the eye can see, a widespread museum of medieval villages and Renaissance splendour amidst vineyards and the turquoise sea. The province of Ancona is a compendium of Italian beauty.

Fortified villages and castles to be explored at a leisurely pace set in natural wonders such as the largest underground complex in Europe: the Frasassi caves. In the belly of the earth, rock carved by water with mineral sculptures up to 20 metres high. A fairy-tale atmosphere with lakes, wells, statues of giants, the Ursa, the Madonnina, the Castle of the Witches.

And then steep slopes with sheer trekking routes, such as the Parco del Conero, favourite oasis of the peregrine falcon and many migratory birds. The bays carved out of the promontory are a marvel: the Due sorelle beach with its large white stacks emerging from the transparent water, seabeds rich in life, and sand and pebble shores with the towns of Numana and Sirolo behind them. Further north is the velvet beach of Senigallia, a paradise seafront for sports enthusiasts with fitness trails and establishments equipped for every need. Here, every year, the Summer Jamboree is celebrated, a festival recalling the 1950s with music, fashion and vintage cars.

The Middle Ages live and revive instead in Offagna, the fortress, the defensive walls, the donjon that houses the Museum of Ancient Weapons and every year, in July, the tradition of the Contesa della Crescia, a challenge in arms between its four districts. In Barbara, which traces its roots back to the time of the Lombard invasion, you can admire the 13th-century castle, an admirable example of military architecture, and, passing through the doors of old buildings, the spectacle of the caves: tunnels and underground chambers dug into the sandstone rock and used not only for storing foodstuffs, but also for shelter or as an escape route during sieges.

Medieval towers, Roman remains, frescoes, abbeys, historic villas. An area rich in history and ancient crafts that have been handed down for generations. Jesi, the royal city, surrounded by a massive wall, preserves its Roman past and its splendour under Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, and also boasts an ancient tradition of goldsmithing. Fabriano is known throughout the world for its paper manufacturing; Castelfidardo, the city of Italian Unification with its museum of the Risorgimento and historical relics of the battle of 1860, is the capital of the Accordion because instruments that represent excellence in the world are produced here. See the museum in the town hall with 350 different models and the world's largest accordion in iazza della Repubblica.

For hiking enthusiasts, the Selva di Castelfidardo is a unicum of biodiversity with a forest of 35 hectares. On the other hand, it takes two days to complete the Cammino della Porta d'Oriente, which connects the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, in the centre of Ancona, to the Basilica of Loreto.

This is a land of spirituality where beauty and religion come together. In Loreto stands the Holy House of Mary of Nazareth, the original home of Mary, visited by 4 million pilgrims every year.

And of course this treasure chest of magnificence also spills over into the kitchen with aromas and flavours that unite sea and hinterland. On the coast, stockfish and brodetto all'Anconetana, an exquisite fish soup served with slices of toasted bread. Inland, there is crescia, a kind of piadina cooked on embers, to be enjoyed with foie de campo, a mixture of wild herbs, and then Vincisgrassi, similar to lasagne, gnocchi alla duck, and Fabriano salami. To be accompanied by fine wines now recognised throughout the world, such as Verdicchio and Rosso del Conero. To experience the infinite harmony of the Italian province.

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