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A castle on a ridge among the hills

Culture

Villages, Art and History

From Urbino to Ascoli Piceno, the Marche region holds an extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage: medieval villages, Renaissance palaces and millennial traditions.

Explore by Province

Discover the five provinces of Marche, each with its own identity, its villages, art and traditions.

Province of Pesaro and Urbino

The northernmost province of the Marche, a land of gentle hills sloping towards the Adriatic and the Apennine hinterland of Montefeltro. Pesaro, city of music and birthplace of Rossini, overlooks the sea with a long sandy beach. Urbino, a UNESCO heritage site, is the cradle of the Italian Renaissance with its Ducal Palace. The area is rich in medieval villages, fortresses and castles immersed in landscapes of rare beauty.

Urbino UNESCORossiniMontefeltro

Province of Ancona

The provincial capital of the region stretches from the Conero Riviera, with its white beaches nestled between cliffs overlooking the sea, to the green hills of the hinterland. Ancona, the Doric city, is a lively port overlooking the Adriatic with a millennial history. The Conero Park, Jesi and its Verdicchio lands, Fabriano with its paper-making tradition complete a territory rich in history, nature, and food and wine traditions.

Riviera del ConeroAncient portVerdicchio

Province of Macerata

The green heart of Marche, where the gentle hills cultivated with vineyards and olive groves progressively rise towards the Sibillini Mountains. Macerata, with its famous Sferisterio hosting the Macerata Opera Festival, is an elegant and lively university city. Recanati, Leopardi's hometown, offers views ranging from the sea to the mountains. The area is dotted with historic villages, Romanesque abbeys and a deeply rooted culinary tradition.

SferisterioLeopardiSibillini

Province of Fermo

The youngest of the Marche provinces, established in 2004, it encompasses a compact but extraordinarily rich territory. Fermo, an ancient city perched on Colle Sabulo, dominates a landscape that descends from the Sibillini to the Adriatic Sea. Piazza del Popolo is one of the most beautiful in Italy, while the underground Roman Cisterns bear witness to the city's antiquity. The Fermo coast alternates sandy beaches and seaside villages, while the hinterland holds treasures such as Torre di Palme.

Piazza del PopoloRoman CisternsFermo coast

Province of Ascoli Piceno

The southernmost province of the Marche, where the Sibillini Apennines meet the Adriatic coast of the Riviera delle Palme. Ascoli Piceno, the 'city of a hundred towers', enchants with its Piazza del Popolo entirely in travertine, the Art Nouveau Caffè Meletti, and the famous Ascolana olives. San Benedetto del Tronto, with its palm-lined promenade, is one of the main seaside resorts on the Adriatic. The hinterland hides timeless villages and ancient traditions.

Piazza del PopoloOlive ascolaneRiviera delle Palme

The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in the Marche region

The Marche region boasts 32 certified villages among "The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy". Click on each to discover its history, genius loci, and what to see.

Province of Ancona

Arcevia

The Pearl of the Mountains

Nine castlesSignorelli

Province of Macerata

Cingoli

The balcony of the Marche

360° PanoramaPope Pius VIII

Province of Ancona

Corinaldo

A thousand meters of inviolate walls

Unviolated wallsSanta Maria Goretti

Province of Macerata

Esanatoglia

The city of seven bell towers

Seven bell towersEsino Springs

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Frontino

A corner of paradise in Montefeltro

MontefeltroGiovanni Bellini

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Gradara

The fortress of Paolo and Francesca

Paolo and FrancescaMedieval Rocca

Province of Ascoli Piceno

Grottammare

The Pearl of the Adriatic

Pope Sixtus VSea view

Macerata Feltria

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Macerata Feltria

A corner of paradise in Montefeltro

FossilsRoman ruins

Mercatello sul Metauro

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Mercatello sul Metauro

The Small Market

14th-century crucifixMetauro River

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Mondavio

Military practice and cult of beauty

Roveresca RoccaFrancesco di Giorgio Martini

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Mondolfo

An Adriatic fortress

Double city wallsSea view

Monte Grimano Terme

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Monte Grimano Terme

Living according to nature

Sulphurous thermal bathsMontefeltro

Province of Macerata

Montecassiano

The Village of Associations

Historic squareAssociations

Province of Macerata

Montecosaro

The wind on the hill

Historic theaterHills

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Montefabbri

The village that leaves speechless

Walled villageIntact

Montefiore dell'Aso

Province of Ascoli Piceno

Montefiore dell'Aso

The painters' hill

Carlo CrivelliVal d'Aso

Province of Macerata

Montelupone

A village to love

Renaissance squareHandicrafts

Province of Ascoli Piceno

Monteprandone

Monteprandone in color

MuralsSan Giacomo della Marca

Province of Fermo

Moresco

The marvel of the Aso valley

Heptagonal towerVal d'Aso

Province of Ancona

Morro D'Alba

A divine village

Lacrima di Morro d'AlbaLa Scarpa

Province of Ancona

Offagna

A lookout on the sea

RoccaMedieval Festivals

Province of Ascoli Piceno

Offida

Laces and smiles

Bobbin laceSanta Maria della Rocca

Province of Pesaro-Urbino

Pergola

The city of gilded bronzes

Bronzi DoratiWhite truffle

Province of Fermo

Petritoli

The wedding village

WeddingsPanoramas

Province of Ascoli Piceno

Ripatransone

The belvedere of Piceno

Italy's narrowest alleyPanorama

Province of Macerata

San Ginesio

The dancing mime

Saint of comediansSibillini

Province of Macerata

Sarnano

Under the wings of the angel

Thermal bathsSpiral center

Province of Ancona

Sassoferrato

Fermo in time

SentinumBattle of the Nations

Province of Fermo

Servigliano

Ideal city

Ideal citySquare plan

Province of Fermo

Torre Di Palme

The Romans' wine port

Sea viewCrivelli

Province of Macerata

Treia

Land of heart and dream

Disfida del BraccialeNeoclassical arena

Province of Macerata

Visso

The pearl of the Sibillini

Sibillini ParkReconstruction

Marche villages: a visit beyond the photograph

Villages deserve time: walk their streets, discover historic places and understand their relationship with the landscape. Use the guides to choose what to see, then explore local stories in more depth. A museum, fortress or event can become the focus of your day: check opening times before planning your trip around a visit.

Can I visit everything in one day?

It depends on the distances and visits you choose. Explore one place in depth and leave room for a break rather than fitting in many villages. Do not use map distance alone to estimate the time you need.