We are planning a 3 week trip to Italy next fall. We have traveled extensively in Italy and would like to explore a new region. For 2 weeks we plan to stay in Le Marche. We would like to find an apartment or home to stay for the 2 week period. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the town or province to anchor our trip? We plan to rent a car.This is an area of Italy we have no experience in. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2329 posts
Our very first trip to Italy was to Urbino in 1999, when we stayed in college dorms (at age 55) for a college/adult "music camp." We fell in love with Urbino and have been back since, but just for brief periods in hotels. Our friends, Graziella and Franco, own Le Fontane, an agriturismo (hazelnut farm) near Urbino. We have visited there but not stayed. Graziella was an English teacher for many years. Another place that's on my list to go is Ascoli Piceno, which is a larger place. In one of my guidebooks, Urbino is given three stars, while Ascoli Piceno and San Leo are given two stars and any other towns they cover in Le Marche are given one star. We liked Pesaro as well, but haven't yet see a whole lot of it. Maybe this will help as a starting place for you. Sometimes I choose where I'm going to go by where I find the most enticing place to stay!
Posted by
OP
Minnetonka, MN
66 posts
Thanks. I appreciate the thoughts. What guide books have you found most helpful?
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2329 posts
Well, since Rick does only a page and a quarter on Urbino and nothing else in Le Marche, so I've had to go outside! I get the most help from Lonely Planet and Rough Guide, though I own at least ten different Italy guidebooks (and we've been to Italy ten times!).
Posted by
Denver
803 posts
La Marche is a geographically large area, with not many highways, so driving from place to place takes a while. Several years ago, we spent a week in Le Marche. We started from Bologna (not in Le Marche, I know), drove to San Marino for one night (fun for 1 night), then spent 3 nights in Urbino, then 3 nights in Macerata, then ended our trip in Rome. I would have liked to also visit Ascoli Piceno, but we just didn't have time. I would suggest that you spend one week in the northern part of Le Marche (around Urbino), and one week in the southern part (Ascoli Piceno). We (me, husband and 10yo daughter) loved Urbino. A vibrant small city (it's a university town) that's not touristy. Macerata was nice, but nowhere near as interesting as Urbino. In preparing and researching for the trip, the most helpful guidebook I found was the Cadogan guide to Le Marche. I also used the Fodors website (some) and the tripadvisor forum on Le Marche. As I'm sure you've noticed, there's not a lot published on this lovely area of Italy. Do be prepared for a lot of driving if you want to get out and about and see other small towns, castles, etc.
Posted by
London
3 posts
A great place to stay is at an Agriturismo - my favourite (in the south of the region) is Agriturismo Il Sentiero owned/run by the very hospitable (normal in Marche) Antonella and Guido. In september you will still be able to relax at the pool overlooking the Marche landscape including Sibillini mountains ... and they farm acres of fruit throughout the year - in Sept you will catch fig season. I didn't appreciate the flavour of figs until I picked and ate them straight from the tree! Il Sentiero nestles just below Montalto delle Marche (I spend a lot of time here because of the Palazzo Sacconi project) and is a straight-forward 20 minute drive inland from the Adriatic motorway, exiting at Pedaso. www.bbilsentiero.it