The history includes that of the Guals, Romans, church and state controlling the Marche. In the 17th Century, the Popes ruled the Region. After Napoleon took over the country papal control was lost and the region became a republic. It was later returned to the Church and in 1860 annexed to Italy during the Second War of Italian Independence.
The terrain is more rugged than Umbria or Tuscany, and the cities and towns are rich in history. It was back in 2005, our first concentrated visit to the Region, that we found because of the direction of the hills and mountains, travel between towns can a considerable time. All the mountains and valleys run East/West, so what could be a short drive North or South, could include a consideralbe drive East/West to find an appropriate cut-over road. We enjoyed the interior, as away from the coast, the most as this is where the bulk of the ancient medieval towns are found. A town on every hill! Along the coast, the towns are more modern although a few have small historical sections remaining.
In 2005 we used the town of Montalto delle Marche, just north of Ascoli Piceno, to be our base to visit the Region. Well as we found, it was a good plan, and it was not that far from Ascoli Piceno, but we did not take into account the mountains. Everything turned out to be a much longer driver than we thought. The Italian "tunnel machine" had not eaten through the Marche mountains yet.
This town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that we have visited on previous trips to the Region. It is renowned for its Renaissance architecture and art. In particular we enjoyed seeing the Ducal Palace. It also houses the National Gallery of the Marche. This time we will have to spend more time in the town as it has winding streets and there is a panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
This is the regional capital of the Marche, Ancona, it has a historic centre. The Cathedral of San Ciriaco is noted as it is perched atop a hill overlooking the city. There are ancient Roman ruins scattered throughout the historic center. A walk along the harbour is said to be enjoyable.
Marche has a stunning coastline. There are dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and crystal-clear waters. We stayed one year at a neat old hotel right on the beach at Sirolo. Numana is also noted as a good beach.
is known as the "City of a Hundred Towers," Ascoli Piceno is famous for its well-preserved medieval architecture. The Piazza del Popolo is one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, and admire the elegant palaces and Renaissance buildings that surround it. The local specialty, "olive all'ascolana" is deep-fried stuffed olives.
Visit the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy. According to tradition, it houses the house where the Virgin Mary lived in Nazareth, miraculously transported to Loreto in the 13th century. Despite our visit to this centre we were not immune to COVID! The sanctuary is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and a place of religious devotion for Catholics.
is a scenic hilltop town known for its well-preserved historic center and cultural events. Walk along the medieval walls for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
were visited this medieval town, perched on a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea, on a previous visit to the Marche. The Cathedral of Fermo has an impressive Romanesque facade and Gothic interior. We did not see the underground tunnels of the Roman cisterns beneath the historic center.
With pens, paper and ink being a big part of my life, and paper for art being part of Karen's, we had to visit Fabriano on our 2022 visit to Itay. That year we were staying in Gubbio and it was an easy drive to reach Fabriano. Fabriano, along with Rome, Parma, Torino and Carrara hold UNESCO Creative Cities Network status. This is a program launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities which have recognized culture and creativity as stragegic drivers of sustainable urban development. Fabriano is know for its handmade paper production.