Le Marche is one of the twenty regions of Italy and is located in the centre of the country.  The Italian name Le Marche is the plural of marca, and literally means “the Marches”. This refers originally to the medieval March of Ancona and the nearby marches of Camerino and Fermo. The region is divided into five provinces:  Macerata, Ancona, Pesaro and Urbino, Ascoli Piceno and Fermo.  The Marche extends over an area of 9,694 sqkm of the central Adriatic slope, between the Adriatic Sea and the high Apennine mountains; much of it remaining unspoilt. The region offers 180 km of coastline, with stunning beaches and 26 cities facing the Adriatic Sea.  It is home to the largest number of museums and galleries in Italy, whilst offering 71 historical theatres. Marche boasts 2 national parks and 4 regional parks, let alone the 3 smaller nature reserves. Most of the region is mountainous or hilly with numerous little rivers dotted about, making it a fantastic place for walkers, trekkers and nature lovers.  The national parks offer an abundance of outdoor activities, including trekking, mountain biking, paragliding, nature trails, hunting, fishing and skiing.
Le Marche has something for everyone, from cultural attractions to typical local Marche cuisine, horse riding or windsurfing to designer shopping, from museum visiting to visiting the stunning beaches or climbing the local mountains.
It is easily accessible from abroad, and travelling around the region is comfortable with most of the major towns being very well served.

Access
Ryan air serves a number of airports accessible to Le Marche: Ancona, Pesaro, and Bologna Forli. Both Alitalia and British Airways offer regular flights to Bologna airport (2-3 hours to Ancona). Rome airport (3 hours by car to Ancona) also offers a wide choice of airlines.
The Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), the Italian State Railways has two main lines in the Marche – the coastal Milan-Bari line that links up most of the seaside resorts and the trans-Italy Ancona-Rome line that joins up a few of the larger towns in the central part of the region. A car is the key to discovering the Marche if you are not in one of the larger towns. Car hire is available.
Metered taxis are easily available in larger places – you’ll usually find them in ranks by the station or by the main square. While a few of the larger centres are served by trains, much of rural Marche relies on a good network of private bus services. Comfortable modern coaches are used but fares are often more expensive than the train.

Activities
Le Marche hosts a variety of festivals across the region throughout the year.  The main festivals are: La Quintana jousting festival in August in Ascoli Piceno, the Rossini Opera Festival in August in Pesaro, the Sagra della Lumaca snail festival in June in Pianello, the Sagra della Castagna chestnut festival in October in Monte Monaco, and the Formaggio di Fossa cheese festival in November in Talamello.
Look out for arts, crafts and antique markets on every day of the week in various locations across the region. In terms of music, the region is famous for Opera, with four main Operatic events held in Pesaro, Ancona, Macerata and Jesi.
Le Marche has a long and varied coastline along the Adriatic Sea, and has everything from sandy beaches which you can get to by boat, to the more easily accessible beaches ideal for families. 572 metres above sea level is one of Marche¹s best known landmarks; Monte Conero, near Ancona. Here you will find a stunning regional park, unusual wildlife and beautiful coved beaches.
Some of the best sites include the San Leo castle in Urbino, the Museo della Civilta Contadina in Urbino, the Chienti Valley, and the world renowned Grotte (caves) di Frassessi. There are a number of smaller historic villages which are worth a trip too: Montefortino, Morrovalle and San Severino Marche. San Benedetto Del Tronto is a stunning beach that must be visited.
A good way to explore the area’s beautiful landscape, villages and towns and to enjoy the rich variety of local produce is to go on a Wine Tour. These can be arranged by professional agencies or by yourself with friends.
Other regional activities include skiing, horse riding, climbing, cycling, rambling and hang gliding. Art, architecture, museums castles and forts and many more important cultural sites are not to be missed.

Food and drink
Cooking in the Marche is deeply rooted in peasant tradition. As with any rural diet, much use is made of food gathered from the wild; fungi, game, nuts and field herbs.  The traditional foods are porchetta (a whole pig stuffed with flavouring and roasted on a spit), free-range chickens, game, vegetables, olives, salamis, hams and sausages. The dressing used most is oil, but for some foods, also butter and, above all, lard.  In addition, the province of Pesaro is the biggest truffle producer in Italy, particularly of the prized white truffle. The highly fragranced tubers are a regional speciality and add character to many dishes; served in an array of colours: white, black, grey, purple, hazelnut- and earth-coloured.
The region also produces some quality wines. The Marche’s pride is Verdicchio made from the local grape with the same name. This green-tinged wine with a distinctive bitter finish goes well with the region’s Adriatic fish.
While the Marche is internationally renowned for its white wine, the region also produces some outstanding reds. Around the Conero peninsula, Rosso Conero, made from the Montepulciano grape, is an enjoyable, rich, perfumed wine.
Spirits of Le Marche include homemade Grappa and other infused liquors but the most popular is Mistra, an anise liqueur used as a digestivo.

Restaurants
Trattoria Laliva, Piazza della Viola, 13, 63100 Ascoli Piceno Tel: (00 39) 7362 59358
Da Rosa, Via Leopoldo Armaroli, 17, 62100 Macerata Tel:  (00 39) 7332 60124
Angolo Divino, Via S. Andrea, 14, 61129, Urbino Tel: (00 39) 7223 27559