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Organize your Holiday to Le Marche!

• Marche and its excellence in several languages; • the articles in the national and foreign press; • the blog and the multilingual apps; • multilingual brochures • social networks in Italian, English and German; • accommodation facilities: hotels, country houses, farmhouses, bed and breakfasts, historic homes; • holiday packages, provided by the incoming tour operators

TRADE

Are you a tour operator, a travel agency, a tourist operator?

Are you interested in learning about the region and promoting holidays in Le Marche?

Please write to: turismo.promozione@regione.marche.it

COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING HOW TO GET THERE MOTORWAY A14 RAILWAY Milan -Bologna- Ancona- Lecce (Freccia Rossa and Italo available from Milan) Rome - Ancona -Falconara AIRPORT Raffaello Sanzio Ancona / Falconara M.ma Flights from Rome Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, London, Stockholm, Brussels, Moscow PORT of Ancona Ferries to Greece, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro

MARCHE REGION DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM DMO - Destination Management Organization - Marche Tourism 60125 Ancona - Via G. da Fabriano, 9 Marche, Italy Tel +39 071 8062431 Fax +39 071 8062154 www.turismo.marche.it

Are you a journalist, a blogger, a publisher and would like to receive information, images, in-depth analysis and suggestions about Le Marche?

Please write to: comunicazione.turismo@regione.marche.it

TOURIST INFORMATION

Are a tourist, a lover of Italy and wish to discover Le Marche and plan a vacation?

Please write to: numeroverde.turismo@regione.marche.it; free phone number 800222111

DISCOVER THE MARCHES

On the cover: The little village of Pievebovigliana in the National Park of Sibillini Mountains, one of the many Marche’s historical and art chitectural jewels

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Discover the Marche region by visiting the web site: www.turismo.marche.it:

THE EXCELLENCE IN THE CENTRE OF ITALY

Located in the centre of Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea, the Marche region, Italy’s “gateway to the east", is the only region in Italy with a plural name; it embodies so many aspects, being unique at the same time.

There are 239 towns on a human scale, full of treasures and beauties inspiring many poets, artists and musicians born here: Giacomo Leopardi, Raffaello Sanzio, Gentile da Fabriano, Gioachino Rossini, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Gaspare Spontini, Father Matteo Ricci, Frederick II from Swabia and Donato Bramante. The Marche is an ancient region and at the same time a land of great modernity and innovation; it’s an area open to changes, yet deeply rooted on its history and tradition All these elements together with social, cultural and environmental factors contribute the strengthen the

quality of life : The Marche is the Italy’s region where you live longer. The uniqueness of the Marche region is witnessed by the strong bond between past and present, rural and urban areas, archeology and art.

Discovering the Marches means searching for beauty and a for a great quality lifestyle.

The feeling of wonder is given by masterpieces of art, unspoiled landscapes, old streets and the many museums documenting yesterday’s and today’s civilizations.

There’s such a huge cultural heritage that has been made available to the public over the last few years. The region boasts natural parks, large designers factory outlets, locations for movies; delightful landscapes, ancient villages.. everything contributes to make “Made in Marche” famous all over the world.

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MADE in MARCHE

The reasons for a visit, the guarantee of an unforgettable holiday

Here is the tourist offer of the Marche region, a wide choice of tourisms all around the year.

THE SEA. The MARCHE IN BLUE The sea in the land of Infinite Discovery Why don’t you spend a summer at the seaside, as rang a famous song?

The Marche region is perfect for you: 180 kilometers of coastline, 26 towns on the Adriatic Sea, entertainment, sport and relaxation!

The coast: there are blue flags Mount Conero, whose steep slopes everywhere, sandy beaches for walks slide down to the sea, the coast is wild and outdoor games for any age; you and fairly rugged. Here water has bluish can relax in livable towns providing tones; its transparency allows seeing many services; there are itineraries the deep sea bottom. This stretch of that can suit all tastes in cities of art coastline features hidden coves and and fishing villages; great culinary the lovely resorts of Portonovo, Sirolo mastery/expertise that can combine and Numana. There are tourists both tradition with innovation, thanks to in spring, when Mount Conero is world renowned chefs. full of brooms, and in autumn, when Over the years in the sea resort there the strawberry trees (from the greek has been a remarkable increase of "Komaros") tend to have warmer tones. sports and bathing facilities together In a few words..: 180 kilometers of with hotels along the beaches; after coastline, 19 locations bordering the the post-war boom, they started to Adriatic Sea, the sea port of Ancona welcome tourists from Italy and abroad and 9 marinas; that’s the certified steadily. The coast actually features quality offer for a beach holiday in the endless and beautiful aspects. There Marche region. A cheerful vacation in are both sandy and pebbled beaches, the land of deep thinking: The Infinite starting from Gabicce, watched over by Giacomo Leopardi. from Mount San Bartolo and the castle of Gradara, Pesaro, Fano, Marotta, Falconara M., Porto Recanati, Porto Potenza, Civitanova Marche, Porto Sant 'Elpidio, Lido di Fermo, Pedaso, Porto San Giorgio, Cupra Marittima Grottamare until San Benedetto del Tronto, famous for its numerous and high palm trees evoking exotic beauty.

The beach of Senigallia, the so called “velvet beach”, is particularly famous; it has been one of the best Italy’s destination for travelers since the nineteenth century. Near Ancona and

PARKS AND LIVE NATURE The holiday of wellness A few miles from the sea, the Marche region has a lot to offer: hills, parks, even above the sea, the peaks of the Apennines.

In the Marche region the relationship between man and earth hasn’t changed: the cultivated landscape is graceful and marked by rows of large trees, forests and hills crowned by thousand year old villages. Parks and nature reserves cover 10 % of the region’s surface: the National Park of the Sibillini Mountains and the four regional parks – Mount Conero Regional Park (above the sea), Sasso Simone and Simoncello Regional Park (above the sea), Sasso Simone and Simoncello Regional Park and Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Park - are certified according to the principles of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism. The protected area also include six amazing nature reserves ( Abbadia, Mount Torricchio, Ripa Bianca, Sentina, Furlo Gorge and Mount San Vicino and Mount Canfaito ). The Parks and mountain areas give the chance to practice all winter sports, or canoeing, kayaking, rafting, free flight, speleology and canyoning.

You can also enjoy cycling, playing golf and horseback riding; the coast is

perfect for sailing and many other water sports. The CEA (Environmental Education Centres) organize activities and events throughout the year such as the numerous educational farms.

For lovers of extreme sports the mountain streams offer the opportunity to go rafting, canoeing and kayaking with explorations of the river bed. This corner of Italy, full of green forests and rolling hills, is also suitable for a mountain bike holiday.

In the heart of the Marche region, the parks are well organized and the net of hotels, B&B, accommodation on farms and bike hotels ensure an integrated service that allows discovering the natural beauties, art treasures and learn about local food and wines.

The Marche region’s beauty favors self-knowledge and the search for well-being. There are different spas, wellness centers and retreats for Eastern disciplines in order to regenerate body and spirit and to increase physical and mental balance.

CULTURE. THE GENIUS OF MARCHE

THE REAL TASTE OF THE MARCHE

In any corner of the Marche region you breathe culture. It is the perfect destination for art lovers and those who wish to discover its treasures.

The walled urban centers, widespread all over the Marche region, witness an important past: the Middle Ages has deeply marked the region’s identity.

Furthermore the region boasts around 400 museums and art galleries; it is the first region in Italy for report people/ museums. There are actually 315 libraries; many of them are historical, with old collections, manuscripts and incunabula, that are classified according to the most innovative European guidelines.

In addition to museums, libraries, archives and theaters, there are also outstanding religious buildings, like abbeys, monasteries and churches. Do not forget masterpieces of military art, like castles, walled towns and fortresses, documenting a glorious past.

The visit at art cities will surprise you: Ancona, Macerata, Pesaro, Urbino, Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, Jesi, Fabriano, Tolentino, S. Severino Marche, Camerino, Recanati, Fano, Urbania, Offida, Ripatransone. The Marche region also offers a full program of cultural events, like, for instance, the Rossini Opera Festival taking place in Pesaro, the Macerata Opera Festival taking place in Macerata and the Pergolesi Spontini Festival, taking place in Jesi. Urbino, one of the capitals of the Renaissance, is the place where the Duke Federico da Montefeltro built the Ducal Palace, a palace that still stands as an eloquent memorial to this quintessential Renaissance man. Urbino’s historic centre boasts the honour of being included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Ascoli Piceno, Cathedral, Carlo Crivelli, Madonna and Child - particular of the polyptych depicted in the photo on the left.

Osvaldo Licini, rebel angel, Ascoli Piceno Gallery of Contemporary Art "O. Licini" Museums and art cities witness the cultural offer of the Marche region; take for example the Renaissance masterpieces, such as the ones made by Venetian painter Carlo Crivelli, who worked in the Marche region in the second half of the fifteenth century

Tasting good food is a must when you’re on a holiday: for those who love genuine food and tradition, the Marche region is perfect for you. There’s a wide a choice of products: good wines and recipes including savory fish dishes and country dishes that can satisfy the most demanding consumer.

Made in Marche: the taste and the flavors, the enterprise; the genius of the Marche’s men in the world: the quality footwear.

Jesi (AN), Teatro G. B. Pergolesi – It’s one of the Marche’s nicest theatres; it has hosted the celebrations dedicated Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, the famous composer born in Jesi.

Macerata, Arena Sferisterio, masterpiece made by Ireneo Aleandri; it hosts one of Italy’s most important an opera season.

Pesaro, Le Comte Ory, opéra in two atti - libretto

by Eugène Scribe and Charles-Gaspard DelestrePoirson by Gioachino Rossini, who is dedicated ROF ( Rossini Opera Festival), one the most remarkable Marche’s cultural festivals.

Typical inland products are: pork and cured meats, such as Carpegna ham and salami alla cacciatore (salami with sweet pepper and tomato) known as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and boasting a centuries-old sharecrop tradition. For cheese lovers worth tasting is fossa cheese (strong, cavern-aged cheese) and a wide range of mountain pecorino ewe's milk cheese.

Casciotta di Urbino is a very tasty type of cheese; it was much appreciated by the famous painter and sculptor Michelangelo. Marche’s olive oil and honey are recommended too. Extra virgin olive oil from Cartoceto, protected under DPO (Protected Designation of Origin), and top quality Millefiori honey are well-known.

Healthy food lovers can appreciate the quality of products in “agriturismo” (any accommodation on farms) and in restaurants and can enjoy a wide range of events taking place in the Marhe region all around the year.

Excellent dishes, including hand-made pasta and delicious “maccheroncini di Campofilone (types of pasta, being mixed only with chicken eggs, 10 eggs

per kilo of durum wheat flour.) are well accompanied by outstanding wines: there are 5 DOCG (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) :wines (Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva, Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva; Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, Conero, Offida) and 15 DOC (Registered Designation of Origin) wines .You can taste and learn about them during the many food and wine festivals taking place in the Marche region. You can’t miss tasting the white and black truffles spread all around the region. The main species of truffle can be found in all provinces. The most valuable is the white truffle of Sant'Angelo in Vado and Acqualagna (PU). The black truffle is especially prevalent in Cagli, Acquasanta Terme and Roccafluvione, Cmuunanza, Montefortino, Camerino and Visso.

Another typical species of truffle is Bianchetto; its harvesting season is late winter.

Let’s go and try the specialties of the Marche region!

QUALITY SHOPPING Footwear for children and adults and much more..: Marche’s handicraft excellence...

Discover quality shopping in the Marche region!

A journey to the Marche region can be an opportunity to tour the most fashionable places and seek the numerous factory outlets; here you can find quality clothes, glamorous shoes, designer clothes and many other items at a reasonable price.

There are so many designers clothes and shoes: the major designers labels famous worldwide can be found all around the region.

Factory outlets often sell designer clothing and shoes at knock-down prices; some items are also on sale on internet.

SWEET HILLS AND ANCIENT VILLAGES You must know that the Marche Region - besides having a beautiful coastline, boasts many villages and castles: a must-see journey for those who want to dive into history and learn about fascinating legends The Touring Club Italiano has awarded 19 of its prestigious "Orange Flag" awards to Marche towns; in these places, full of culture and tradition, you can experience strong emotions and feelings. Beautiful fortresses dominate the highlands of the province of Pesaro-Urbino and the heart of Montefeltro. Mondavio, Sassocorvaro and Cagli hide an architectural treasure of fortresses built by Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Worth visiting is the impressive Brancaleoni Castle in Piobbico, an example of medieval fortification. In the province of Ancona, there are many places to be seen, such as the Fortezza Albornoz in Sassoferrato, the Rock of Offagna that preserves the Arms Museum and the magnificent Rocca Roveresca of Senigallia. The area around the medieval village of Arcevia is dotted by nine castles built between the eleventh and fourteenth century to guard the territory and defend the people. The route passes in the inland areas to Serra San Quirico situated on the slopes of the Apennines, with a unique defensive wall.

Corinaldo, a medieval and Renaissance town, is characterized by a circle of defensive walls that are almost a kilometre long. The town preserves imposing walls punctuated by gateways, ramparts and towers. In the Esino valley famous is the town of Jesi with its 16 castles that shared the same history for centuries. Some of the most impressive buildings of the region are to be found in the province of Macerata.

Here the Da Varano family surrounded the town of Camerino with an imposing system of fortifications, such as the Ajello and the Da Varano fortresses. In Castelraimondo the stately Lanciano Castle is an example of perfectely preserved fortified architecture.

All the villages near Macerata are worth visiting. Among them, Caldarola and its Pallotta Castle, San Severino Marche and the medieval part in the upper town; Tolentino and the imposing Rancia Castle which houses the Civic Archaelogical Aristide Gentiloni Silverj Museum. Very impressive is the Fort of Urbisaglia, a military fortificating dating back to the beginning of the 16th century. Must- see towns are also Visso, Montelupone, Montecassiano and San Ginesio, where the typical medieval layout really strikes the eye. Another delightful village is Sarnano and its perfectly preserved old medieval core. Valuable evidence of the past is also in the Fermo area, in Torre San Patrizio with its castle built in the 15th century. Not to be missed are the castles in Grottazzolina and Petritoli, both built by the Farfa monks. They had a great strategic importance in the Aso valley. In Moresco time seems to have stopped, the castle is in fact almost the same as in medieval times. Ascoli Piceno boasts the Malatesta fortress, the Pia stronghold and the territory around: the fort of Arquata del Tronto dating back to the 13th century, the Castel di Luco medieval fort near Acquasanta Terme and the castle of Acquaviva Picena with a medieval structured modified by Baccio Pontelli in the 15th century.

Serra S. Abbondio (PU), the hermitage of Fonte Avellana is in the Marche in the heart of the Apennine. Mentioned

by Dante in the Divine Comedy, the hermitage is one of the most visited places in the Marche, as it’s an oasis of peace, spirituality and monastic art.

Ancona, the abbey of Santa Maria in Portonovo in the heart of the Mount Conero Regional Park (AN).

The delightful coast of the Marche is dotted with historic villages overlooking the sea and with monuments such as this beautiful Romanesque abbey.

SPIRITUALITY AND MEDITATION A holiday in the Marche at the search for oneself, in monasteries, abbeys, millennial landscapes and places of faith that attract the modern man.

After the fall of the Roman Empire the Marche were dominated by the Byzantine Exarchate to the north of Ancona and by the Lombards of the Duchy of Spoleto. Then they became a land of contention between the Empire and the Church State, until the latter became the only ruler. The long period of uncertainty and the distance from the centre of papal power, i.e. Rome, favored the spread in the region, from the eighth and ninth centuries, of the Benedictine monasticism in the centers of Norcia and Farfa. The monasteries and abbeys were built mainly along the main Roman roads the Via Flaminia and the Via Salaria - and along the river valleys that climb towards the Apennines, such as the valleys of the rivers Esino, Potenza, Chienti and Metauro. The Benedictine monks left their mark in the following churches: S. Michele in Lamoli,in the upper valley of the Metauro river, S. Vincenzo al Furlo along the Via Flaminia, S. Firmano in Montelupone near the mouth of the river Potenza, Saints Ruffino and Vitale in Amandola, near the Tenna river at the foot of the Sibillini mountains. The Farfensi settled in Ascoli Piceno’s area, coming from Lazio along the Via Salaria; one of the most remarkable places of worship founded by the Farfensi is the church of Santa Vittoria in Matenano. The only examples of Franco- Burgundian Cluniac architecture are: the church of Santa Maria of Portonovo., at the foot of Mount Conero and the church of S. Maria a Pie ' di Chienti in Montecosaro. The region also includes two magnificent examples of Cistercian architecture: the Romanesque-Gothic: abbey of S. Maria in Castagnola in Chiaravalle, founded by the monks of Clairvaux, and the Abbey of Fiastra, near Tolentino and Urbisaglia, founded by the monks of the homonymous church in Milan.

St. Romualdo, founder of the Camaldolese order, built the large abbey of San Salvatore in Valdicastro in 1006 near Fabriano, where he died in 1027; he also inspired the monks of Fonte Avellana, at

the foot of Mount Catria, to create the first form of organized life. In this hidden place, that Dante visited and mentioned in his Divina Commedia (Canto XXI ), in 1035, San Pier Damiani became monk; he it was very likely that he was in the abbey of St. Maria of Portonovo at the foot of Mount Conero. The most striking buildings of central plan are: S. Ciriaco in Ancona, built upon the foundations of a Greek temple dedicated to Venus Euplea and San Giusto and San Maroto in Pievebovigliana. The churches of Byzantine origin are: S. Croce dei Conti in Sassoferrato, S. Vittore alle Chiuse in Genga,S. Maria delle Moje in Maiolati Spontini, S. Claudio al Chienti, featuring an upper church and a lower church, built one above the other, with separate entrances and flanked by two cylindrical towers.

The itineraries of faith in the Marche region can be identified in three main roads, where there are abbeys, monasteries and shrines.

Laid down by Consul Gaius Flaminius in 220 BC, the Via Flaminia crosses the Apennine mountains to reach the Adriatic coast at Fanum Fortunae (modern-day Fano). Senigallia is the birthplace of Pope Pio IX, while Corinaldo is the birthplace of Santa Maria Goretti. The Roman Via Lauretana, starting from the Basilica of Loreto, with its holy house and place of pilgrimage since the fifteenth century, crosses the Romanesque route along the Chienti valley; here there are the Basilica of St. Nicola from Tolentino and the fifteenth century Sanctuary of Macereto, surrounded by the peaks of the Sibillini mountains. The Via Salaria leads to the lands of Pope Sixtus V ( Grottammare and Ripatransone ), St Giacomo della Marca ( Monteprandone ) and Farfa, full of Romanesque monuments, monasteries, abbeys and shrines.