Places to visit in Le Marche
Abbadia di Fiastra
10 minutes drive from the house. A Cistercian monastery founded in 1142, the building material was taken from Roman city "Urbs Salvia" whose farmland stretched 30km to the coast in medieval times. Today the surrounding parkland is still cultivated by the monks. Wines and other produce is on sale to the public, there are two very good well priced restaurants, and the monastery has an archaeological museum and beautiful nature reserve is open to the public.
Urbisaglia
Adjacent to Abbadia di Fiastra, this impressive Roman site provides free tours of its frescoes, theatre and amphitheatre, which was water filled and where slaves fought on boats.
Ascoli Piceno
The city is dominated by numerous medieval towers and the Piazza del Popolo which is tiled with travertine and undoubtedly one of the most elegant squares of Italy. An amazing array of Gothic architecture, great riverside walks, shopping and art galleries, plus some wonderful bars to sample the local Piceni wines. On the first Sunday of August each year they have a Palio in Ascoli Piceno.
Caldarola
Caldarola is dominated by the Pallotta castle, started in the 9th century and transformed in the 16th by the Pallotta family, who still own the castle and now open it to the public, there are also 3 other castles in the surrounding countryside.
Camerino
This Panoramic university hill town has a history that goes back to Neolithic times. It has remained unchanged since its Renaissance heyday, when the local Da Varanno family governed much of the surrounding Le Marche. Imposing churches, palaces and art plus lovely gardens, outdoor cafes and some great shops.
Amandola
This touring centre for the national park has a wonderful gothic piazza, sit in one of the bars there and watch the world go by, or try getting up and sampling the museum of rural history.
Macerata
Has a number of central piazzas with stunning architecture, a beautiful theatre, Duomo, art gallery and museums of carriages and the unification of Italy/ wartime resistance. There are also a variety of tempting shops and some lovely bars and ristorante. Macerata is home of the Sferisterio Opera arena.
Tolentino
This vibrant medieval city is home to the shrine of St Nicola, and some amazing architecture including a medieval bridge and a bizarre clock tower in the main square and the nearby 12thC Castello della Rancia. Wander round the museum of cariacture and humour in art, or simply enjoy the shopping, cafes and trattoria.
Montemonaco
A pretty walled town with an information centre for the sibillini national park. From here you can walk in a couple of hours to the 'cave of the Sibyl' (the lair of Tannhauser's Venus), or more striking, follow the River Tenna up the amazing limestone Golla dell'Infernaccio,/ "Little Hell Gorge".
Frassassi
This awesome network of underground limestone caves is the largest in Europe and a must see for any visitor.
Abbadia di Fiastra
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Ascoli Piceno
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Camerino
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Macerata - Sferisterio Opera arena
Frassassi caves
Monte Amandola
Drive through the square and down the hill at Amandola, take the right turn for Montemonaco and the a right after 1km just after the cemetery, this road winds up and you fork right somewhere- it takes you to the "rifugio" or refuge, bar and ristorante, a playground and child friendly BBQ area with amazing views. If you are fit enough, you can walk from her to the top.
Lake Fiastra
Lovely lake set in the heart of the mountains. There's a beach, you can hire boats and quad bikes. There are a couple of little trattorias and a bar. Best to drive up the easy but longer way ( out of Sarnano, left for Caldarola) and then 1st left-beach is at the far end of the lake and come back the quick way for the views (follow the signs for Sarnano).
