Le Marche
Deep in the hill country near the remote village of Genga, the Grotte di Frasassi is one of Europe’s largest cave systems. This karst wonderland, gouged…
Must-see attractions in Le Marche
Le Marche
This majestic hilltop sanctuary is one of Italy's most celebrated pilgrimage sites. The basilica, built between 1469 and 1587, is a stunning hybrid of…
Musei Civici di Palazzo Buonaccorsi
Le Marche
Deep in the historic centre, the 17th-century Palazzo Buonaccorsi houses three of Macerata's best museums. The Museo delle Carozza boasts an extensive…
Ancona
Ancona's fascinating civic art gallery houses Le Marche's most important art collection. Spread over two 16th- to 17th-century palazzi, the museum traces…
Museo Archeologico Nazionale delle Marche
Ancona
Housed in the beautiful 16th-century Palazzo Ferretti, whose ceilings are covered with original frescoes and bas-reliefs, this museum presents a…
Palazzo Ducale – Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
Urbino
Urbino’s great architectural masterpiece, the 15th-century Palazzo Ducale provides the monumental setting for the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche and its…
Le Marche
The poster child of the Parco del Conero's beaches is this dreamy white-pebble beach named after two rock stacks (the Due Sorelle or two sisters) that…
Ascoli Piceno
This harmonious piazza has been Ascoli's salotto (drawing room) since Roman times. The elegant rectangular space is flanked by the Chiesa di San Francesco…
Ascoli Piceno
Set around a tree-shaded courtyard, the second-largest art gallery in Le Marche sits inside the 17th-century Palazzo Comunale. The palace's aristocratic…
Ascoli Piceno
Topped by a pair of mismatched towers, Ascoli's cathedral was built in the 16th century and dedicated to St Emidio, the city's patron saint. Its most…
Le Marche
There's fine walking to be had in the spectacular mountain country near the village of Montefortino. A stunning, and relatively accessible route, leads…
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Piazza
Ancona
Contrasting sharply with the industrial scenery of the nearby port, the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Piazza is one of Ancona's showpiece churches. Its…
Le Marche
Once the residence of a powerful noble family, the 16th-century Palazzo Mosca provides the aristocratic setting for Pesaro's premier museum. Of the…
Ancona
At the northern end of the port, the Arco di Traiano is one of Ancona's treasured ancient relics. Built between AD 110 and 116 by a Syrian architect known…
Ascoli Piceno
This monumental church, its southern flank edging onto Piazza del Popolo, is named after St Francis, who is said to have visited Ascoli in 1215. It was…
Ancona
A stiff but scenic climb up from the old town, Ancona's domed cathedral dominates the city skyline. Guarded by two marble lions, it commands sweeping…
Le Marche
Conceived as early as 1492 but not completed until 1653, Macerata's 64m-tall civic tower looms over Piazza della Libertà. It's most obvious feature is its…
Ancona
With its distinct pentagonal form, the waterfront Mole Vanvitelliana (also knownas the Lazzaretto) is one of Ancona's signature buildings. Designed and…
Urbino
This 15th-century house is where Renaissance artist Raphael was born in 1483 and spent his first 16 years. The museum, which displays copies of many of…
Le Marche
Sarnano's medieval centre sprawls up the hillside in a tangle of steep cobbled lanes and attractive red-brick houses. Climb to the top and you'll come to…
Ancona
Crowned by the baroque Chiesa di San Domenico, this sloping cafe-lined square has been Ancona's favourite meeting spot since medieval times. At its head,…
Le Marche
A stunning outdoor theatre, the neoclassical Arena Sferisterio is a grand colonnaded affair that was built between 1820 and 1829 to resemble an ancient…
Ancona
The din of central Ancona fades to a distant hum at this 35-hectare park north of the centre. Straddling two hills – the Colle dei Cappuccini and Monte…
Urbino
Rebuilt in the early 19th century in neoclassical style, the interior of Urbino's duomo commands much greater interest than its austere facade…
Ancona
With its two-tone brick and marble facade, this 18th-century baroque church sits at the head of Piazza del Plebiscito. Its prize possessions are two…
Le Marche
In 1792 composer Gioachino Rossini was born in this four-storey town house on what is now the main drag through Pesaro's historic centre. The small museum…
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli's archaeological museum holds a small collection of artefacts from the Piceni and other European peoples dating back to the first centuries AD, as…
Ascoli Piceno
The 14th-century Chiesa di San Pietro Martire is dedicated to St Peter of Verona, the 13th-century saint who founded the Dominican community at Ascoli…
Ancona
Built by Luigi Vanvitelli in 1738, this portside arch takes its name from Pope Clement XII who boosted Ancona's fortunes by declaring the city a free port…
Le Marche
This glorious long beach, sandwiched between crystalline cobalt waters and low white cliffs coated in Mediterranean macchia (shrubland), is a favourite…
Urbino
This 14th-century red-brick church features a series of brightly coloured frescoes by Lorenzo and Giacomo Salimbeni. Behind the main altar is a gripping…
Ascoli Piceno
The Museo dell'Arte Ceramica traces the development of ceramic production in Ascoli and displays works from Italy's famous pottery towns, including Deruta…
Ancona
Head along Corso Mazzini to see the Fontana del Calamo, a 16th-century fountain featuring 13 masked spouts representing mythical fauns and satyrs…
Le Marche
A gentle arc of gravelly sand backed by steeply banked woods, the Spiaggia Urbani is the closest beach to Sirolo, accessible on foot or via a summer…
Ancona
Overlooking Piazza dell Repubblica, Ancona's ornate theatre has been a city landmark since 1826. Its columned neoclassical facade is capped by Greek-style…
Ancona
At the southern end of the port, the baroque Porta Pia was built as a monumental entrance to the town in the late 18th century at the request of Pope Pius…
Ascoli Piceno
This 40m-high tower is closed to the public but is the tallest of the town's medieval towers. Abutting it is the Palazzetto Longobardo, a 12th-century…
Urbino
Adjacent to the Duomo, this museum showcases a modest collection of religious artefacts, vestments and paintings, including Andrea da Bologna’s Madonna…
Ascoli Piceno
Next to the Cattedrale on Piazza Arringo, the Romanesque-style octagonal battistero (baptistry) has remained unchanged since it was reconstructed in the…
Galleria d'Arte Contemporanea Osvaldo Licini
Ascoli Piceno
Housed in an ex-convent, this gallery has a small collection of Italian contemporary art, including a number of graphic works. There are works by several…
