Discover Marche between nature, culture and regional flavor

Nature between caves, mountains and coast

Marche combines impressive protected areas with distinctive landscapes and diverse experiences. The Grotte di Frasassi are open to tourists all year round, except for a few days in January. The Grotte di Frasassi offer speleological routes suitable for visitors. The Parco Naturale Regionale Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi covers 10,026 hectares and is the largest protected area in Marche. In the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, Monte Vettore reaches an elevation of 2,476 meters.

The protected-area network of Marche includes two national parks, four regional parks and six nature reserves. At Monte San Bartolo, a high cliff coast with an active cliff face meets a rural landscape on the inland side. Cliffs of this kind are rare along the entire Adriatic coast. For travelers who want to combine nature experiences with different types of landscapes, the range therefore extends from caves and mountains to the coast.

Routes for active days

The Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini offers 17 major routes for exploring its landscapes and nature. The Grande Via del Parco is a route of more than 190 kilometers along existing roads. It is accessible by car, motorcycle and motorhome. For cycling, numerous bike paths run along the main river valleys and cross the region from east to west.

The mountains and streams of Marche offer opportunities for winter sports, mountaineering, snowshoeing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, free flight, caving and canyoning. The nature of Marche also provides scope for cycling tourism, golf, horseback riding and sailing. Depending on personal interests, a trip can therefore focus more strongly on activity, landscapes, culture or regional cuisine.

Renaissance and historic theaters

The historic center of Urbino has preserved its Renaissance appearance to a remarkable extent. The almost completely preserved Renaissance walls enclose the Ducal Palace, the cathedral, the Santa Chiara monastery and historic oratories. Urbino therefore offers a particularly vivid introduction to Renaissance architecture and urban history.

Another cultural highlight is the Teatri Storici delle Marche. They comprise 62 historic indoor theaters built between 1600 and 1930. The theaters continue to preserve their fundamental structural, decorative and functional features. Those who want to discover historic interiors and an established cultural heritage alongside landscapes will find several different points of interest in Marche.

Regional specialties and nearby destinations

The protected designation of origin Oliva Ascolana del Piceno is part of the region’s culinary identity. It refers to preserved or stuffed olives of the Ascolana Tenera variety. In the administrative area of the municipality of Campofilone (Fm), egg pasta is produced that differs from other pasta through its particularly thin sheet of dough and very fine cut.

In the immediate surroundings of Marche are the Pianetti Palace, the Museo “a. Colocci”, the Colocci Palace, the Signoria Palace, the Clementine Arch natural arch, as well as the Parco Del Ventaglio and Parco Dell'esedra parks. In the wider regional area around Marche is the Parco Zoo Falconara. These destinations complement the major nature and cultural themes with individual sites, buildings and excursion destinations.

Regional orientation

For further orientation in the subregions, you can compare Macerata, Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, Pesaro - Urbino and Ancona with one another.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Marche holidays - Marche travel guide.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Umbria, Sicily.