Marche Region Information

Travellers who want the best of central Italy are now heading for Le Marche, the third region, alongside Tuscany and Umbria, that makes up the area. It is pronounced, "lay markay", is plural (Le Marche) and is sometimes translated into English as "The Marches".

The region lies on the Eastern side of central Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the high Apennine mountains and much of it remains unspoilt by the ravages of mass tourism.  Geographically, land morphology is comprised of 31% mountain territory and 69% hill-side. The Region hosts 344 museums, 70 historic theatres, 318 public libraries, and thousands of historic churches.

The Adriatic coast has been a focal point for "sun and sand" holiday visitors for decades. Inland, perhaps more so than anywhere else in central Italy, you will find places where time has paused completely revelling the wonders of an abundant historic past filled with medieval castles, forts and incredibly preserved historic towns that burst everywhere at the highest point over the woodland hills. Compared to its central Italian sisters (Tuscany, Umbra), here culture comes in more easily digestible proportions but quality of a visiting experience, as at Urbino, is very high.

A region of extreme natural and cultural beauty, you know you are traversing this region because immediately the landscape revels its incredible dramatic views of large green hills surrounding smaller ones that seem trapped in the middle of lost valleys in native forests of green and brown tones. Rivers, creeks and small curved stream ways decorate and divide the entire landscape, all leading to the Adriatic Sea, with it’s incredible turquoise colored clean water, alongside a coast that extends for 180 kilometers.

The Adriatic coast is bordered by two national parks (Regional Park of Mount Saint Bartolo and Mount Saint Conero), small cities and towns, nearby rolling hills, and nine tourist harbors. Everything within short distance travel. Most coastal cities can be visited internally by foot or bicycle.

LINKS:
www.regione.marche.it
www.turismo.pesarourbino.it