If enjoying your holidays is a relaxing activity, having to schedule them may not be at all - and right now, I can confirm that! We often postpone until the last minute because we have no idea of the destination, or we are undecided between a cultural holiday and one reserved for total relaxation.
So I thought I'd give some suggestions to those who choose to visit my region, the Marche. You often ask me for advice via social media or in person, when we meet in our shop in Sirolo, so I have collected in this article the places and experiences that I believe are worth not missing.
Whether you are passionate about excursions, lovers of relaxation, aficionados of history and culture or connoisseurs of good food, the Marche they will be the perfect destination to spend your holidays.
The Conero Riviera
If you want to spend some time in contact with nature, then I recommend that you explore the 18 trails that are found within the Conero Park. During your excursion you will be enveloped by the scent of pines, lavender and broom, which will keep you company while walking, cycling or riding a horse.
Sirolo is also a seaside resort that hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Marche. The most famous is that of Two sisters which takes its name from the two white stacks, inspirers of myths and legends. To better appreciate it, I suggest you rent a canoe or book a boat trip: you will be impressed by the majesty of this place. Advice: the Murè Hotel in Numana offers the possibility of renting the "Ginetta", a typical wooden boat of this area, for a mini-cruise. This is the fascinating little boat you saw in our photo shoot dedicated to MiTì. The excursion lasts three hours and allows you to admire the Conero Riviera from the sea, a magical and unusual point of view.
The beach of Black stones is another unmissable destination: the dark rocks on the seabed make the sea an intense midnight blue. If you prefer pristine beaches, you will love the beach of Half-valley, dominated by the majestic mountainous scenery of the Conero.
History, art and culture
Walking through the Marche villages you will be amazed by the stories that still echo in the streets.
There Headless City, better known as Osimo, is still protected by the Roman walls. Its name derives from the 12 headless statues found in the Town Hall. This beautiful village is known for Underground Caves dating back to more than 2500 years ago, which are divided into three underground paths.
Also Camerano it is very popular for its underground caves, so much so that it is known as The Underground City. Most of the rooms that unfold underground in the historic center are embellished with refined architectural details.
Of considerable cultural and artistic interest is the historic center of Picena Power, where numerous churches and noble palaces reside. To better appreciate this village I suggest you admire the sunset from Pincio, the Belvedere from which to appreciate a suggestive glimpse of the Sibillini Mountains and Monte Conero.
If you are a music lover you cannot miss it Castelfidardo: the City of Accordion and Music. Here you can discover all the evolutionary phases of the accordion in the museum dedicated to this instrument. This village also hosts an enchanting green oasis, the Selva di Castelfidardo, where you can discover unique species and varieties of fauna and flora.
Do not leave the Marche without saying goodbye Recanati and its great poet, Giacomo Leopardi. You can visit the places that inspired his works, the house where he lived and the library where the volumes he consulted are still kept today. If art is your passion, I suggest you stop by Villa Colloredo Mels, a majestic and imposing noble villa which since 1998 has hosted the civic Museum. The works inside it range from the medieval period to modern art: among these we find The Annunciation, by Lorenzo Lotto.
A church among the rocks
In Genga, nestled between the inlets of the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi, is the Valadier temple, a neoclassical sanctuary built by the will of Pope Leo XII. An octagonal structure in travertine marble and an imposing lead dome. Inside, on the altar, we find the white marble statue of the Virgin with Child, created by Antonio Canova. If you are in the area you cannot miss the Frasassi Caves: choose the path that suits you best and let yourself be amazed by the work of Mother Nature that over time has forged stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes.
A day on a Vespa
You can also choose to explore the Marche region in an alternative way. Thanks to the initiatives promoted by Vespa Tour Marche is Brands Full Experience, you will have the opportunity to rent one Wasp for a day and go to discover the wonders of the area. Alone or in the company of a guide, you will spend a whole day discovering the secrets of this region.
Glamping in the countryside
Have you ever slept in a barrel? The Refuge of the Marsi is a farmhouse located in Roccafluvione where the lodgings are real larch barrels immersed in the countryside. The idea comes from a childhood memory of Ezio, the owner, who together with his wife Norma transformed a farmhouse in the hills into a farmhouse. Ezio grew up in a rural setting, where agriculture played an important role in daily life. For his family the cultivation of the vine was a tradition, in fact, a part of the harvested grapes was used to produce the cooked wine. At the end of the process, the compound was aged in large wooden barrels. Ezio's task was precisely to enter these barrels and clean them of wine residues. Precisely these barrels today house accommodation for visiting tourists.
Among the hills of changing room, at the Country House Le Calvie, you can have a similar experience. In 2008 Cristina's family decided to renovate an 18th century farmhouse and turn it into a farmhouse. In the past this structure was renowned for raising livestock, especially bulls. Today it is possible to stay in wonderful rooms and also relax in the wellness area surrounded by nature. Experience to try: sleeping in a Tipì Glamping.
I still have many places to recommend, but I conclude here, hoping to have made you fall in love at least a little with mine Marche. If you pass this way, please: come and see me in Sirolo! And then I hope that this land will have the same effect on you as it has on me: find the amazement for the little things, a good reminder for the whole year, even when the holidays are long gone.
