The Marche reveal their natural beauty on different scales: the Grotte di Frasassi lead into the underworld, the mountain landscape reaches 2,476 metres at Monte Vettore, and the landscape of Monte San Bartolo is shaped by a clifftop coast rarely found along the Adriatic. Urbino adds a cultural contrast: its historic centre has preserved its Renaissance appearance to a remarkable extent.
Caves, mountains and protected landscapes
The Grotte di Frasassi are open to visitors all year round, except for a few days in January. As access conditions may change seasonally, check them before your trip. Caving routes for visitors are also available in the caves. Check the participation requirements and booking arrangements before your trip as well.
The Parco Naturale Regionale Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi covers 10,026 hectares and is the largest protected area in the Marche. In the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, Monte Vettore sets a different benchmark at 2,476 metres. The park offers 17 major routes for discovering its landscapes and nature; their availability may change with local conditions. So check before setting out on a hike.
The Grande Via del Parco offers another way to explore the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini. It runs for more than 190 kilometres along existing roads and can be travelled by car, motorcycle and campervan. Check route conditions before setting off. This means that the same park offers routes for discovering its landscapes and nature, as well as a long road route with clearly specified modes of transport.
At the Parco Naturale del Monte San Bartolo, a sea cliff meets a rural landscape on the inland side. The park is characterised by a high, actively eroding cliff coast, a type of coastline rarely found along the Adriatic as a whole. Together with Monte Vettore’s elevation, this coastal area has a very different landscape character from the mountains of the Sibillini.
Renaissance and theatre culture
In Urbino, the historic centre and its Renaissance walls are key landmarks. The centre has preserved its Renaissance appearance to a remarkable extent; the almost completely intact walls enclose the Ducal Palace, the cathedral, the Monastery of Santa Chiara and historic oratories. Its appeal therefore lies not only in a single building: the walls and the buildings they enclose together form a richly layered historic ensemble.
The Teatri Storici delle Marche also offer insight into the region’s cultural history. They comprise 62 historic indoor theatres built between 1600 and 1930. To this day, the theatres retain their fundamental structural, decorative and functional features. This heritage encompasses not only the architecture, but also the design and use of the theatres.
Cycling routes and regional specialities
The Marche’s many cycling routes follow the main river valleys and cross the region from east to west. Two specific features can help you find your way: the routes’ distribution along the river valleys and their east–west direction across the Marche.
Regional products also offer a distinct way to experience the character of the Marche. The protected designation of origin Oliva Ascolana del Piceno refers to preserved or stuffed olives of the Ascolana Tenera variety. In the administrative area of the municipality of Campofilone (Fm), egg pasta is made with an exceptionally thin pasta sheet and a very fine cut that distinguish it from other pasta. The olives are defined by their variety and preparation, while the egg pasta is defined by its sheet and cut—two distinct culinary features to look out for when discovering regional products.
The subregions of the Marche
Discover the subregions: Ascoli Piceno, Pesaro - Urbino, Ancona, Macerata and Fermo.
Discover more destinations: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont and Molise.
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