Marche Things to Do Tips by deecat Top 5 Page for this destination

Favorite Place in Le Marche

My personal favorite places in Le Marche Region in Italy were Ascoli Piceno, Sirolo, Cagli, Urbania, but ASCOLI PICENO was perhaps my all-time favorite.

ASCOLI PICENOThis "Travertine City" with its historical center is compact and unique. This travertine stone is used in simple dwellings, churches, public buildings, as well as the the pavement of the squares. Just think, that stone has been used in this city for 2,000 years!

I found this city's history fascinating from the Piceno Civilization and the Longobards to present times. I smiled about the two hundred towers in medieval times. Today, 50 can be retraced (many transformed in some way). See The Twin Towers Via delle Torri; The Ercolani Tower Via dei Soderini, and the Rua delle Stelle in Ventidio Basso Square.

The Western Wall with its medieval gateway and circular tower still exist as well as the Malatesta Fortress. So, too, do the Tufilla and Soesta Bridge.

If you love art and architecture, (as I do) you will find the Baroque Era buildings and works of art just delightful.My favorite was the facade of Arengo Palace.

Other terrific places to see are the fountains of Arringo Square, the frescoes in the Government Palace (Palazzo del Governo), Historical Art Deco "Caffe Meletti", the Piazza del Popolo (People's Square), the Church of S. Francesco, and the Merchants' Lodge.

Oh, I almost forgot to include the Cathedral and Baptistry of S. Giovanni.

I must not forget to mention the Ascolan olives, Rosso Piceno, and Anisetta Meletti liqueur..

Most Naturally Attractive Town: Sirolo

I think that the small town of Sirolo was the prettiest town that we visited in the Le Marche. It just seems to "teeter above the sea". It's a pristine, elegant little place with narrow alley-ways, unique little shops and workshops, terrific restaurants that serve delicious fresh seafood, and extraordinary people.

It's also the headquarters to the Regional Park. Visitors have to pass through a tiny forest here to reach the enchantingly beautiful beach.

This is a very old town. Its origins date to remote times (over one hundred thousand years ago!)

This small resort town offers a theatre staged in an ancient quarry that has been converted into an arena; it has the beautiful Abbey of San Pietro al Conero as well as the Madonna del Rosario and the Parish church of San Nicolo. I loved its mediaeval walls, the Cortesi Theatre (I did not see the inside), but especially the elegant streets of the old town centre.

It's a great place to shop for locally handcrafted ceramics. Sirolo is also a great place to shop the Sunday Markets.

However, I really think that its finest asset is its natural beauty and location. What a place to meander, to wander, to explore.

If you like Military Architecture, Try Le Marche

Being a border area as the name Marches implies, there were many self-governing communites in ancient times. By the 14th and 15th centuries, these communities became independent states that were ruled by powerful families. Thus, the reason for so many castles, palaces, and fortresses. To build such structures, military architects were important.

In the powerful Montefeltro family, they employed the services and talents of Francesco di Giorgio Martini to do their defence work.

Unfortunately, we did not see Martini's famous fortresses at San Leo or Fossombrone; however, we were fortunate enough to experience his remarkable talents in Urbino,and Urbania.

The powerful Della Rovere family also had fortresses constructed. Once again, Francesco di Giorgio Martini designed one of my favorites...the fortress at Mondavio.

We did not see the palace of Pesaro or the Jesi castles of Verdicchio. But, we saw from a distance a castle in the heart of the Chienti valley just outside of Tolentino called the Castello della Rancia which was built by the lords of Camerino, the Da Varano family.

Also, we glimpsed the imposing Forte Malatesta in Ascoli Piceno. The list goes on and on, and we did not have the time to see any more. And, let's face it, after awhile, they start to look so similiar. Kind of like museums; one can only see so many in such a short span of time.

I do regret not seeing Arquata del Tronto's fortress which dominates the town. We were so close, but just had to make choices, and it was not on our agenda.

Regardless of which military architecture you are able to see in the Le Marche, I'm sure that you will be impressed as Allan and I were.