Le Marche (alternatively Marche or the Italian Marches) is a central Italian region, on the country's eastern, Adriatic coast, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and San Marino to the north, Umbria to the west and Abruzzo to the south.
Le Marche towns include Pesaro, Fano, Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata, Urbino, Civitanova and San Benedetto. Essential sights in Le Marche include the medieval town of Ascoli Piceno and the town of Urbino, created by Renaissance noble Federico da Montefeltro. Urbino has a fine Duomo and museum and some pretty Romanesque churches. The Conero promontory has beautifully clear waters and good walking: look at for resorts such as Sirolo, Numana and Portonovo, also the fine resort town of Fano.
Pesaro is a lively resort with an old centre, while Gabbice Mare has a fine beach. Inland, Marche has beautiful, unspoiled countryside. There is the dramatic hillside fortress at San Leo, in the Sassocorvaro, the Monte Sibillini mountains (Apennines). A major destination is the shrine at Loreto, which draws 4m pilgrims each year. Regional cuisine is heavy on seafood, with fish broths (brodetto), porchetta (roast suckling pig), rabbit and lamb. Wines include Verdicchio, Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, just to whet your appetite,
as well as links to individual towns in Le Marche (top left);
See also Le Marche hotels (full listings) and our map of Le Marche.
