A path that runs entirely through the forest and large boulders that have slipped down the slopes create a fairytale atmosphere at Sasso Simone. The Parco Naturale Interregionale del Sasso Simone e Simoncello covers 4,791 hectares and lies in the provinces of Pesaro-Urbino and Rimini. If you plan to hike there, check the park’s guidance and information about military areas in advance, as they may affect access.
Between forest and the Adriatic coast
On the Adriatic Sea, the Parco Naturale Regionale del Monte San Bartolo offers a different landscape: the park has a spectacular cliff-lined coast. Its highest areas are on the hills of San Bartolo and Castellaro, as well as near Casteldimezzo and Fiorenzuola di Focara. The area is important for bird migration and the wintering of various bird species. The coastal landscape and seasonal bird movements offer nature lovers two different ways to experience the park.
Itinerario 2 runs from Fiorenzuola di Focara through the village of Casteldimezzo to Tetto del Mondo. Check access and trail conditions before setting out. The park administration organizes nature excursions, motorboat trips, festivals and cultural tours; programs and dates vary by season. History is also present here: the Colombarone archaeological site lies along the ancient Via Flaminia.
For orientation, the official provincial tourist map presents eight themed routes: the sea, gentle hills and old villages, parks and nature, culture, regional products, Roman heritage, family activities and events. This lets you organize your interests without having to settle on a fixed itinerary right away. Printed copies in Italian and English are available from the IAT tourist information centers in Pesaro, Urbino, Fano and Gabicce Mare; check local availability before your trip.
Renaissance and musical history
The historic center of Urbino is in the Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino, in the Marche region. Its architectural heritage includes Renaissance walls with bastions that have been almost entirely preserved. Other highlights include the Ducal Palace, the cathedral, the Monastery of Santa Chiara and a complex network of oratories. Urbino is considered a high point of Renaissance art and architecture; the city is exceptionally harmoniously adapted to its natural setting and medieval predecessor. The walls, religious buildings and palace each show a different side of this architectural ensemble.
In Pesaro, the Museo Nazionale Rossini is located on the piano nobile of Palazzo Montani Antaldi. In ten rooms, it documents the life of Gioachino Rossini and his extensive operatic work. It adds a distinctive musical focus to a journey through the province’s cultural highlights. The Bronzi Dorati da Cartoceto offer a link to antiquity: they are the only gilded bronze group from Roman times to have survived to the present day.
Olives, truffles and regional experiences
Acqualagna is known as the truffle capital of the Marche. The Furlo State Nature Reserve offers opportunities for trekking, cycling and birdwatching. In the Acqualagna area, CEA Furlo e Valle del Metauro offers activities including archaeological trekking. Check whether the program is currently available.
An official route exploring the olive-growing landscape of the Marche begins in Sassocorvaro Auditore, near Lago di Mercatale. The town is known for producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil and is surrounded by extensive olive groves. The landscape and local specialty come together as a shared theme for discovery. In Gradara, the “Il Medioevo a Tavola” initiative holds medieval cuisine days throughout the year, when the town’s restaurants are transformed into 15th-century taverns. Exact dates and participating restaurants vary, so it is worth checking the details of the specific event before your visit.
Trails and activities for different interests
In Urbania, CEA San Martino offers guided educational visits for schools and families along the approximately 1,500-meter-long Bosco dei Folletti nature and fantasy trail. Goblin statues and their little houses tell the story of an imaginary family. If you plan to visit, ask whether the program is currently available.
For a walking or cycling tour, the Pesaro-Fano route follows a dedicated track and is well signposted. As signs and surface conditions can change, check them before your ride. The province’s varied themes range from Renaissance architecture and music to birdwatching and hiking trails, as well as olive oil, truffles and special events.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Bargni, Fano, Fermignano, Fratte Rosa, Gabicce Mare, Mombaroccio, Monte Cerignone, Monteguiduccio, Monte Porzio, Montemaggiore Al Metauro, Montesecco, Pesaro, San Costanzo, Tavoleto, Urbino, Acqualagna, Apecchio, Belforte All'isauro, Cagli, Piobbico, Urbania, Fiorenzuola Di Focara, Marotta, Macerata Feltria, Chiaserna, Calmazzo, Villagrande, Trebbiantico, Montecalvo In Foglia, Gradara, Carpegna, Montelabbate, San Lorenzo In Campo, Mercatale, Mercatello Sul Metauro, Pergola, Candelara, Fossombrone, Colbordolo, Montegrimano, Tavullia, Piagge, Serra Sant'abbondio, Borgo Pace, Sassocorvaro Pu, Montevecchio, Cuccurano, Smirra, Villa Del Monte, Rio Salso-Case Bernardi, Cartoceto, Frontino, Canavaccio, Mondavio, Cantiano, Monteciccardo, Massa, Saltara, Peglio, Montefelcino, Mondolfo, Santa Veneranda, Novilara, Tranquillo, CittĂ Di Castello, Frontone, Auditore, Piandimeleto, Fenile, Calcinelli, Orciano Di Pesaro, San Michele, San Giorgio Di Pesaro, Barchi, Montebello, Torrette, Sant'angelo In Vado, Santa Maria Dell'arzilla, Casinina, Ginestreto, Isola di Fano, Pieve di Cagna, Belvedere Fogliense, Petriano, Sassofeltrio, Case Bruciate, Montesoffio, Lunano, Borgo Santa Maria, Gallo, Sant'Ippolito, Mercatino Conca, Ca' Romano I, Lucrezia, Sorbolongo.
For the wider travel overview: Marche.
